Aszure Barton was born in Alberta, Canada, where she was the recipient of a "Most Promising Dancer" scholarship from the Alberta Dance Educators Association. Her formal training was at the renowned National Ballet School in Toronto, from which she graduated after receiving a recurring annual scholarship. She also received training at The Royal Winnipeg, Alberta Ballet, and John Cranko Schule in Germany. It was at the National Ballet School where her love for choreography was discovered!

Ms. Barton set in motion the ongoing Stephen Godfrey Choreographic Showcase at the National Ballet, and upon graduation she danced with the company. In 1994, she was awarded the prestigious Canada Council Grant to explore European dance & choreography. Touring to over 10 countries, she had the opportunity to train with Nederlands Dans Theatre, Dutch National Ballet, Scapino Ballet, Béjart Ballet Lausanne, Grand Théâtre de Genève, and Nacho Duarto's Compania Nacional de Danza, among others. In 1995, she returned to Canada to dance & to tour internationally with Les Ballets jazz de Montreal.

Ms. Barton has enjoyed the privilege of working with international chorographers, Jiri Kylian, Itzik Galili, Lar Lubovitch, John Neumeier, Jennifer Muller, David Parsons, Rodrigo Pedernieras, Eduoard Lock, Margo Sappington, Desmond Richardson, Dwight Rhoden, Ruth Davidson Hahn, Wendy Osserman, Robert Battle & Paul-Andre Fortier. In 1998, she was featured on CBC Television as an 'Accomplished Canadian Artist', and Conseil des arts et de letters Quebec presented her with a grant to study Comtemporary Dance & Choreography in New York City, with Ms. Sara Neece (former assistant to William Forsythe, Frankfurt Ballet). In 1999, she joined the Wendy Osserman Dance Company & in 2001 she was featured on the cover of Dance Spirit Magazine, & is profiled in its leading articles.

To this date, Ms. Barton's choreography has been seen at the Juilliard Theater, Joyce SoHo, Jacob's Pillow, The Miller Theater, John F. Kennedy Center, Dancenow/NYC, Joe’s Pub – The Public Theater, Upper Manhattan Arts Project, Williamsburg Arts Nexus, Symphony Space (Elan Awards), St. Mark's Church (DRA), Marcus Garvey Amphitheater - Dance Harlem, D.U.M.B.O Dance Festival, Danza Washington Heights, STEPS on Broadway, FIT Theater, Espace du Maurier Arts danse. MAI Montreal, The National Ballet School, Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, Maison de Culture de Montreal, Montreal Fringe Festival, New Arts Festival Florida, TRN Fest in Slovenia & many other venues.

IN 2002, ASzURe & Artists was founded and made its world premiere to rave reviews in Montreal, Canada. "The best of the best, without a doubt...complete originality & mastery" wrote La Presse. Later that year ASzURe presented 'Assorted Goods - An Evening of Dance, Film and Video' in collaboration with Nell Breyer and Robert Battle @ Williamsburg Art Nexus, and in 2003, ASzURe & Artists made a “stunning NYC debut” to outstanding reviews!

Aszure Barton was the 2003 winner of the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's National Choreographic Competition. She was commissioned to create an original work for Hubbard Street 11, which made its world premiere in New York City and continues to be performed in their current repertoire. She has also created several works for the Juilliard School, the most recent being "Sweet Dream". She has performed and choreographed in several films, including ''7 Universal Solvents” directed by Daniel Conrad and aired recently on BRAVO Television.

In the fall of 2004, Ms. Barton created & premiered a new work for Barnard/Columbia University. Her piece, entitled 'extremity' (“hauntingly beautiful” Barnard Bulletin), shared the program with renowned works by Mark Morris, Paul Taylor, and Laveen Naidu (Dance Theater of Harlem).

In 2005, Ms. Barton will be teaching master classes and choreographing a work at the Juilliard School, setting a piece at Adelphi University (under the directorship of Frank Augustyn), hosting several events @ Joe's Pub-New York's Public Theater, participating in a three week residency in Santa Barbara, and traveling to the Queen Charlotte Islands where she has been commissioned to choreograph a new dance film directed by Daniel Conrad.

ASzURe & Artists will showcase their second NYC Season April 14th-16th at the Joyce SoHo Theater. Log on to www.aszureartists.com for more information.

Banning Roberts
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Banning Roberts began her dance training at the Nashville Ballet under the tutelage of master teacher Janek Schergan and Paul Vasterling, where she was a member of the corps de ballet. She completed her training at the Juilliard School on scholarship under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy, graduating with a BFA.

Upon graduation she joined Hubbard Street Dance Chicago II, performing the works of Robert Battle, Aszure Barton, Ayman Harper of Frankfurt Ballet, and Alex Ketley, co-founder of the Foundry in San Francisco. She participated in Buglisi/Foreman Dance_s 10th anniversary season at the Joyce Theater, NYC. Directly following, she was invited by Lar Lubovitch to dance in his creation Pentimento for his 35th anniversary New York season, in which she was a featured dancer. She also joined Lar Lubovitch Dance Company at Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival.

Banning is a proud member of ASzURe & Artists, fronted by choreographer Aszure Barton.