Gerald A. Trentham, M.F.A.

Gerald (Gerry) Trentham's (he/they) life-long dedication to the art of performance has created their own cannon of over 40 original works for stage and screen, garnered international performance acclaim and more recently international film awards. As both a US and Canadian citizen they manage a binational reputation and focus on bi-national US/Can collaborative projects. They have originated roles in works of some of North America’s most renowned choreographers including during a seven-year tenure with Serge Bennathan’s Dancemakers, numerous works with the acclaimed Claudia Moore, renounced Butoh artist Denise Fujiwara and most recently with the extraordinary Zab Maboungou. They continue to perform, teach and mentor internationally through the Art Charity they founded almost 30 years ago, see poundspersquareinch.net.

Their experience in both text and movement-based work has led to international directing, choreographic, teaching and mentoring opportunities. Their art and teaching focuses on the transdisciplinary - a voice/body’s range and depth of presence in performance. With a lifetime of inter-arts dance/voice practice, an MFA in Theatre, a graduate diploma in Voice and Speech Teaching from York University, 30 years as research faculty of the acclaimed National Voice Intensive (now the Moving Voice Institute) and in the past decade with Denise Fujiwara in their new frontier of training, Butoh/Voice, and with Diane Roberts in the development of Arrivals Legacy Voice sourced in her Arrivals Personal Legacy Process. They have been invited to teach their synthesis of theatre and dance practice in major performance training programs in Canada and the United States including full time positions at Canada’s National Theatre School in Montreal, University of British Columbia in Vancouver, York University in Toronto and SUNY Buffalo State where he taught, directed and choreographed from 1998 - 2008. They have and continue to be offered Artist in Residence opportunities at universities, colleges and arts programs in Canada, The United States, Argentina, England and Australia.

They have served as the Chair of the Dance Committee and a Director on the Board of Toronto Arts Council and on the inaugural Steering Committee of the Toronto Artist Health Centre and as an early board member in the creation of Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists. Through his company lbs/sq”’s Fulcrum Associate Project he has mentored, been directorial advisor and co-produced many artists in Canada and the United States. Over 20 years he has hosted many artists from the US, Canada and abroad in residence as part of his 331 Collective in Amherst, NY and his past students have found success in many fields including the arts from successful film and theatre playwrights, theatre and dance company founders, artistic directors, Broadway, Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival performers and internationally acclaimed actors, dancers, directors, choreographers and voice, acting and dance teachers.

Gerald Trentham’s works have evolved to deal directly with issues of race, white privilege, mental illness, colonization, gay and queer oppression and environmental impact. Their work with collaborators fight to lead change and research new ways to create justice for all and invite all to the challenge, as well as supporting the next generation of artists through education, mentorship and community outreach.