After an extensive global search, Cameron Basden has been selected as the new director of the dance program at Interlochen Center for the Arts. In her new position, Basden will lead the dance programs at the summer camp and the fine arts boarding high school. She will begin her work at Interlochen on June 1.
Basden brings more than thirty years of dance experience. Most recently, Basden spent fifteen years as Ballet Master and Co-Associate Director for the Joffrey Ballet. Among other projects, Ms. Basden developed the first Joffrey Summer Intensive, which led to the development of a Joffrey Academy in Chicago.
“We are very excited about the experience and artistic vision that Ms. Basden will bring to the dance program,” said Jeffrey Kimpton, president of Interlochen Center for the Arts. “She brings passion and spirit to her art – along with a keen sense of management and organization.”
Basden has staged ballets, both nationally and internationally, by Sir Frederick Ashton, John Cranko, Leonide Massine, Vaslav Nijinsky and Bronislava Nijinska as well as more contemporary works. She worked closely with Gerald Arpino as he was creating his ballets. She now stages his works and serves on the Board of The Gerald Arpino Foundation. As a performer, she danced in a variety of styles and performed works by such choreographers as Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, John Cranko, William Forsythe, Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharpe. Roles were created for her by Mark Morris, James Kudelka, Laura Dean and Choo San Goh. As a choreographer, Basden has worked with summer intensives and schools across the nation.
She is a master instructor for professional and non-professional organizations and maintains relationships with dance academies, universities, and professional dance companies where she is a guest teacher, choreographer and consultant. In addition to her extensive career in dance, Ms. Basden has worked in film and television, both staging works and performing.
“It is an honor to be a part of such an extraordinary community,” said Basden. “I am looking forward to building on the strengths of the dance department at Interlochen to train dancers and artists who will be the creative visionaries of tomorrow.”
Basden will begin her work at Interlochen in the summer of 2009.
