Dutch Girl Productions
Originally from Kitchener, ON, Christel grew her love for acting early on. Having grown up in competitive dance at Bojangles Dance Academy, she thanks her teacher there, Margo Smith, as an early mentor. In her teens, she trained at the Becket School for Drama (Waterloo) and as soon as she graduated high school, she moved to Toronto. She did one year at George Brown College (IPAC) and then trained at the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, as well as spending one summer at the New York Academy for Dramatic Arts.
After graduating RAPA, she got her start in comedy and improv at The Second City Toronto, (Conservatory Program) and formed the physical comedy duo The Burnt Marshmallows in which she co-created and performed in the toronto comedy scene for over eight years, earning rave reviews, and nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award.
Soon after, she took a Pochinko Clown workshop, under the direction of Sue Morrison, and fell madly in love with the art form. She studied extensively with Mike Kennard and John Turner (Mump and Smoot) and even performed with them in “Mump and Smoot in Something”, at the Westbury Theatre (Edmonton). She has also studied clown with Philipe Gaulier, Francine Cote, John Beale, Shannan Calcutt.
As a solo artist, Christel has wowed Fringe audiences and beyond, with her one-woman shows including CHAOTICA, ONEymoon, Significant Me, All KIDding Aside, The Surprise and Encore. She has been nominated twice for a Canadian Comedy Award and has earned rave reviews. She has toured every major Canadian fringe festival, as well as several in the U.S. & has performed twice at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, & also in London, UK.
She is currently developing a new solo show.
She is the producer and co-host of the hit storytelling show "But That's Another Story" running for four years now. And also co-produces and hosts the high energy cabaret with Chris Sawchyn "Chris and Christel's Collection" hosting some of Toronto's hottest talent.
As a teacher/coach, director, she is a long serving faculty member at Humber College, in the Comedy & Writing Program, teaching physical comedy. And also teaches Clown/Movement at the Toronto Film School. She is a guest instructor at George Brown College and also Etobicoke School for the Arts and is a sought after clown, improv, solo show, storytelling instructor in workshops all over.
Please contact christel at christelbartelse@gmail.com for updates, show & coaching info.