Raxel Kempenaar
dancer ~ choreographer ~ artist
Raxel Kempenaar is a neurodivergent, agender (they/he) artist from Toronto, Canada. They graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee in 2024, earning their BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance, Minor in Psychology, and Arthur B. Whitney Medal for Highest Academic Rank. During their time at the conservatory, Raxel has grown exponentially as a contemporary dance artist and choreographer. They have worked with and performed works by choreographers such as Aszure Barton, Jennifer Archibald, Heather Stewart, and Tricia Dietrick and have presented multiple of his own choreographic works, including an evening length project. They enjoy the idea of play, and their movement and choreographic style is heavily influenced by the six senses, especially sight, sound, and touch.
Photo by Ian Travis Barnard
Artist Statement
Dance is BoUnDLesS, a way of expression that’s nOT always understood. I crEaTE works that may be AMbiGUoUs to the audience but mean eVErYTHinG to the artists involved. These artists and I should LeARn more about each other and ourselves, being able to have FUn while doing so. When ChorEOgRaPHinG, I provide a stRUCTurE for dancers to decide how to bring THeMseLves into the work, finding LibErATiOn in their movement. It may be my choreography, but it is theirs to bRiNG to life.
I aim to open the bodies SenSEs and use the information gathered as inSpiRAtioN. In everything I do, I explore not just my physical BOdY but also my mind and spirit and try to allow myself to be completely vULNeRabLe and openminded to whatever may happen in a CrEAtiVe space.
i ExiST SimPLy tO shArE mY aRT AnD
hoPEfuLLy BriNG a seNSE oF JOy aND
bELonGinG tO ThosE wHo ExpERieNCE iT.