Dance students at Sudbury Secondary School have been studying under the tutelage of an internationally recognized and award-winning choreographer and filmmaker for the past week.

Allen Kaeja has been teaching students his unique technique of elevations and partnering.

“We are delighted to have a dance professional of Allen Kaeja’s calibre serving as artist in residence,” said Principal Paul Camillo in a news release. “His work will culminate with a choreography created specifically for the students of the dance program that will be performed in the upcoming Let’s Dance show on May 16, 2013 in the Sheridan Auditorium.”

Kaeja has worked extensively with both students and dance professionals for more than 20 years throughout the world. During his week in Sudbury, he is also working with the students from Arts North, introducing his unique style to dancers within the Sudbury area.

Invited in 1981 by the Ontario Olympic Wrestling Federation to compete for the team, he chose to pursue dance as his career instead. Since then, he has created more than 100 stage works, written two books and directed/choreographed for 26 films.

Kaeja is co-artistic director of Kaeja d’Dance with his wife Karen Kaeja and co-founder of the CanAsian International Dance Festival. He teaches master workshops in Kaeja Elevations worldwide, and his dances have been presented in festivals around the globe.

Over the years, Kaeja has received dozens of national and international commissions, including in Norway, Sweden, UK, India, the USA, and Mexico. His newest work, Jericho for Ut I Scenekunsten, has been touring Norway for two years.

Most recently, Allen Kaeja was the international guest choreographer and judge for Mexico’s Canal22 and their reality dance series Opera Prima. Allen and Karen were finalists in the Now Magazine Best Local Choreographer 2011 and Canadian Assembly National Awards for Innovation and Community, of which they won the latter.