Lori Hamar is a contemporary dance artist who lives on the traditional unceded territory of the Lekwungen speaking peoples, represented by the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations, commonly known as Victoria, BC. She is an occupier who was born on the original territories of Beaver, Sarcee, Sekani and Blackfoot peoples, in Northern Alberta, to a second generation Ukrainian immigrant family. Her choreographic works focus on her perception of the continually developing inner landscapes her life designs. Later in her career at the age of forty she engaged in the facilitation of improvisational dance for preschoolers and was inspired to better collaborate with young children. Lori trained in Early Childhood Care and Education. She is continually swept away by the far-reaching implications the early learning and care field presents. Her work in movement with young children continues to reveal invigorating aspects of her chosen art form.
Lori is actively involved in Biospheric Art Practice, deepening her study of inner landscape in choreographic works. She facilitates movement with preschoolers and has practiced as an educator in various childcare settings. The Camosun College ECCE program engaged her to teach prospective educators dance workshops where she taught annually until 2016.
I humbly recognize that I may have questions that I can contribute to my work as an early learning and care provider. I have a strong sense of commitment to the profession. I also humbly embrace my curiosity as a dance artist. This attribute affords a specialty in working with children that research has proven to be of immense value. I strongly believe there are opportunities to integrate relevant dance movement within early learning and care practice.
Lori graduated from the University of Victoria, which stands on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen peoples, with a Bachelor of Child, Family, and Youth Care and a Master of the Arts in the same school. Her research dance supporting the healthy development of human beings. She endeavours to engage with the world as an artist, provoking thought through dance experience. Her studies open her to more nuanced understandings of the world. As she regards her social location and practice of white privilege, she strives to change her perceptions and behaviour.
Lori’s focus and energy has allowed her to experience the integration of contemporary dance and early childhood education within a practice. Many times direct connections between work in early learning and care and dance have astounded her. A mutual give and take occurs, where physical knowing and cognitive learning constantly build upon one another.
Lori has been invited into various communities to explore and co-create dance. She has received the honour to dance and choreograph with diverse abilities groups, perform and co-direct movement involving languages from all over the world, and create and perform a piece that invited audience members to talk about ‘that one pair of shoes that made you feel like you’.
LORI HAMAR 