Gilles and his son, Christian, in Oslo, Norway, 1987
Gilles Obermayer (GO) is a French percussionist and composer born in 1959.
Gilles is currently living in New York City and is the Music Coordinator at
Barnard College, Department of Dance. Gilles is also a Certified Ohashiatsu®
Consultant. He is currently giving sessions at his own private practice downtown.
Education:
2002-2004: Ohashiatsu® studies at
Ohashi Institute in NYC. Graduated in summer of 2004.
1999-2000: Shiatsu and Swedish massage studies at the Axelsons Institut in Stockholm.
1995: Study tour in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. Studying Atabaque drums with Zé-Ricardo director of the "Baile Folklorico de Bahia" and Berimbao (music bow) with Ney teacher at the art-school of "Olodum".
1992–93: Study tour in the Dominican Republic. Studying Tambora and Palo drums with Andrès de Jésus, percussionist from the Folkloric Troupe of the University of Santo Domingo.
1992: Studies in Arabic percussion in Cairo- Egypt, with Professor Abd–El Malak Hana from the Conservatory of Arabic music.
1985/87/89/91: Study tour in Gambia. Studying the Sabar drum with Wally Djéjou and the Balafon (African xylophone) with Mawodou Sousso from the Gambian National Dance Ensemble.
1982: Study tour in the Ivory Coast. Studying Djembé drum with the musicians of "Les Ballets d'Adjamé".
1979-81: Studies in Central African percussion with Luky Zébila and in Music-Dance Therapy with Erns Duplan and France Schott-Bellmann at the American Center for Students and Artists in Paris, (France).
1978-80: Percussion lessons with Hector Bartélémy from the Music Conservatory of Pantin, Paris (France).
1979: Baccalaureate of philosophy at Lycée Jean Jaurès, Reims-France.
Gilles and Lucky Zebila, Paris, 1981
Grants:
1997: The Cultural Council of Stockholm, (Sweden)
1996: Balettakademien, the Stockholm Academy of Ballet, (Sweden)
1985,94: Fond for Utøvende Kunstnere, the Norwegian Association of Performing Artists, (Sweden)
1994: Norsk Kassettavgifsfond, the Norwegian Audiocassette Taxes Fund, (Norway)
1990,94: Norsk Komponist Forening, the Association of Norwegian Composers, (Norway)
1988,91,94: TONO, the Norwegian Copyright Organization, (Norway)
Teaching experience:
2000-: Professor of "Music for Dance" at Barnard College (NYC, USA).
2000-20001: Guest teacher in "Percussion for Dancers" at Groundwerx Studio in Providence (RI, USA)
1998-99: Part time teacher in "Music for Dance" at Balletakademien, (Sweden).
1995-98: Part time teacher in "Music for Dance" at the National School of Dance in Stockholm, (Sweden).
1995: In residence at the Conservatory of Dance in Savador de Bahia, Brazil (Escola de Danza de La Fundaçao Cultural de l'Estado de Bahia) topic: the use of the afro-brazilian rhythms in the modern dance studio.
1994: In residence at the Dans Prosjektet (Conservatory of Modern Dance), Copenhagen (Denmark) teaching "Music for Dance".
1994: In residence at the University of Santiago De Compostela (Spain) teaching master classes in "Medieval Percussion".
1988–96: In residence at the Conservatory of Music-Therapy in Oslo and Sandane (Norway) teaching "Ethnic Percussion".
1988–94: Guest teacher at the ØMK, Oslo Conservatory of Music (Norway) teaching "Ethnic Percussion".
1981-83: Teacher in residence at the African Culture Center in Oslo (Norway) teaching "African drumming".
Dance accompaniment:
2003-: Florida Dance
Festival: Juliet Mapp, Larry Keigwin, Bambi Anderson, Keith Thomson, Michael
Foley...
2000-:
Barnard College Departement of Dance (NYC, USA): Mary Lisa Burns, Mary Cochran, Jeff Moen, Ted Thomas, Carla Wolfangle, Janet Soares...
1996-: Bates Dance Festival, Bates College (ME, USA): Cornelius Carter, Sean Curran, David Dorfman, Doug Elkins, Aleta Hayes, Katiti King, Vincent Mantsoe, Gabriel Masson, Dwight Rhoden, Kevin Wynn, Ron Wood, Cathy Young.
2000-02: José Limòn Institute (NYC, USA): Alan Danielson, Laura Flowers, Risa Steinberg, Daniel Charon.
2000-01: Merce Cunningham Studio (NYC, USA): Jeff Moen, Janet Charleston, Mary Louise Burns
Alvin Ailey Dance Center (NYC, USA): Denise Jefferson.
2000: Roger Williams University (RI, USA): residency with Doug Elkins
Dance Space (NYC, USA): Gabriel Masson, Jaclynn Villamil (ballet).
2000: Workshop with Ailey II in the New York public schools
1999: Roger Williams University (RI, USA): residency with Sean Curran and members of his company
1995-00 : Balletakademien the Stockholm Ballet Academy (Sweden)
1998: Alvin Ailey Dance Center (NYC, USA): Denise Jefferson.
Dance Space (NYC, USA): Kevin Wynn, Lynn Simonson, Lisa Race, Jon Heginbotham, Tina Fehlant.
1996 - 97: Danshögskolan the National College of Dance in Stockholm (Sweden).
1997: Merce Cunningham Studio (NYC, USA): Mary Louise Burns, Cathy Kerr, David Kulick, Gary Reigenborn.
Dance Space (NYC) , Mary Anthony Dance Studio (NYC) Mary Anthony.
1987-95: Norsk Ballettforbund, the Norwegian Association of Dancers, Oslo (Norway). Guest teachers: The Martha Graham Dance Company (company classes taught by David Hochoy).
1982-95: Statens Ballett Høgskole, the National College of Dance in Oslo (Norway). Guest teachers: Jacqulyn Buglisi, Kazuko Hirabayashi, Berth Terbogh.
1994: Danse Prosjektet, the National Danish Conservatory of Modern Dance in Copenhagen (Denmark).
1981-84: Dansloftet Oslo (Norway): Elsa Quale, Lisa Ferner, Lise Nordal, Jorma Uotinen.
1979-81: The American Center for Students and Artists in Paris (France): Luky Zebila, Ernst Duplan.
Commissioned music for dance:
2006: commissioned by the Bates Dance Festival
to write a new score to Gabe Masson's choreography.
2005: "open field", choreography by Laura Flowers.
2005: "Tango Metafour", with composer Carl
Landa and choreography by
Laura Flowers.
2004:"Sirenes" choreography by Jeff Moen
2003: "Moraines - Ice": choreography by Jeff Moen
2002: "ahead... stop", commissioned by Hope Stone, choreography by Jane Weiner (Houston, TX).
"Rhythm Changes" commisioned by Barnard College, choreography by Margaret Morrison (NYC, USA).
2001: "Maze" commissioned by Barnard College.
2000: "Island, Bridges & Highways" commisioned by Barnard College, choreography by Kathryn Sullivan.
1999: "Freaky Flow" commissioned by Bounce Dance Company (Sweden); "What if...", choreography by Charles Moore, commissioned by Balletakademien.
1998: "Atmospheres", choreography by Gabriel Masson, commissioned by Goucher College, (MD, USA).
1997-98: "Jazz Jävlar", a co-score written with Jan Desner for The Modern Jazz Dance Ensemble (Sweden).
1996: "Menn", for The Modern Jazz Dance Ensemble.
1996: "Shift", choreography by Annika Noter.