May 2010
Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival June 3-6, 2010 : On the Stage, In the Park, and On the Street
We are on the brink of a dense, action-packed 4 days celebrating the art of contemporary dance here in the fair city of Guelph. Beginning this Thursday, with our In The Park performances, 7:00 p.m. at Exhibition Park and extending to Sunday’s 2:00 p.m. Youth Moves performance, we welcome and encourage you to come and be uplifted by the inspiring and physically charged arms of this year’s GCDF!
When navigating through the GCDF brochure please take note of our new series names. We have given most of our series new names to better reflect the space and place in which they are performed. The Site Specific Series has become In the Park and takes place at Exhibition Park. What was The Nooner is now called On the Street and is held in St.George’s Square. What was previously known as the Mainstage Series is now called On the Stage, and takes place at the Co-operators Hall at the River Run Centre. This year all On the Stage
performances, including the Youth Moves
Series, whose name remains unchanged, will be performed only once, so book your tickets quickly to avoid missing out. Better yet, with so many great shows to choose from, we encourage you to take advantage of our incredible new festival passes (please see ticket information box).
Top StoriesInterview with Andrea Nann
Dreamwalker Dance Company is featured this year in the On the Stage C. Hailing from Toronto and directed by renown dancer/choreographer Andrea Nann, Dreamwalker Dance Co. will be presenting “Reveries”, a collaborative work between Nann and The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie. In Guelph Saturday, June 5 at 9pm, “Reveries” will be performed by Nann and her life partner Andy Maize of the Skydiggers appearing in Downie’s role. The following is a candid interview by GCDF Co-Artistic Director, Janet Johnson with Nann about the collaboration:
JJ:“How did the piece, Reveries, first evolve/commence? The initial seed/spark?”
AN: “Reveries began with my desire to create a duet for dancer Gerald Michaud and myself. We had been dancing together professional with Danny Grossman for years but it was the personal connection and trust we felt as dance partners in improvisational work and the fun we had dancing together ‘after hours’ that inspired me to create a new work to celebrate this extraordinary partnership. Around this time Gord was venturing into a new era, stepping aside from his role as lead singer/songwriter of iconic Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, to enter a candid and intimate new way of sharing of his words and music. He would release his first book of poetry and solo album later the same year. The time seemed right for all of us to collaborate on a live dance/literature performance!”
JJ: “Have you worked with Gord Downie before? What were previous projects?”
AN: “Reveries was our first collaboration. Since that time we have worked on developing some of Gord’s solo songs and poems for the stage. I have also been working with dancer Brendan Wyatt for the past year to create a 60 minute collection of duets performed to Gord’s music titled Beside Each Other. This new work will premiere in Toronto at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in December 2010. There will be preview presentations in July 2010 at the Sound Symposium in St. John’s, NFLD and in Nanaimo, BC.”
JJ: “How did you find working with text as an initiation for movement?”
AN: “Actually the movement and the text were developed simultaneously during the creation of Reveries. Gord wrote the text as Gerald and I developed the physical language of the piece. When Gord was unable to attend rehearsals Gerald and I would capture new material on video and send it to him. Even though we were creating the vocabulary in response to each other, when we finally began to put the elements together all three of us had to make huge shifts in order to find the right dynamic tension for the piece.”
JJ: “Did Gord have any impact on the physical choices you made?”
AN: “Absolutely. His text shaped a simple kinetic vocabulary into meaningful physical expression.”
JJ: “How direct was the collaboration?”
AN: “There were days that the verbal communication between the three of us was very indirect, Gord would sit silently, crouched on the floor, observing the unspoken give, between push and pull, of our two bodies as we negotiated a complex sequence of lifts and counter balances.”
JJ: “How is it now collaborating/performing with life partner, singer- songwriter Andy Maize?”
AN: “A-Maizing!! “
JJ: “ How has the piece evolved or changed with the change in cast?”
AN: “When I find the right people there is nothing more exciting than to remount a work from my repertoire. Andy and Brendan are truly excellent, intuitive and deeply expressive interpreters. It was exciting for me to watch how they each investigated the original material and then made very unique personal choices. Although there are few alterations to the original text, melodies and choreography, this version of Reveries is dramatically very different because it is true to the people who are performing it now. I invite these changes because my work is based in the senses and in communicating deeply personal experiences, so I must allow the interpreters to find their own way into the work, eventually finding something there of themselves.”
JJ: “What does performing in Guelph mean to you?”
AN: “It is always a pleasure for me to bring my work to the GCDF. Guelph audiences possess a unique willingness and activeness that creates a feeling of engagement and sharing during a performance. Guelph audiences are also immensely generous!
FESTIVAL OVERVIEW
STAGE A & GALA
Friday June 4, 2010 | 8:00 pm.
Join us in the Co-Operator's Hall at the stunning River Run Centre for three outstanding contemporary dance works from Menaka Thakkar Dance Company (Thornhill), Susie Burpee (Toronto) and The Choreographers (Montréal). These performances will be followed by a talkback session in the theatre and a Gala Reception in the Canada Company Hall.
STAGE B
Saturday June 5, 2010 | 7:00 pm
Dive head-first with three innovative contemporary dance works from Zata Omm Dance Projects (Toronto), Animals of Distinction (Vancouver) and Helen Husak (Calgary).
STAGE B
Saturday June 5, 2010 | 9:00 pm
Featuring three dazzling contemporary dance works from Blue Ceiling Dance (Toronto), Olga Barrios Contemporary Dance (Toronto) and Dreamwalker Dance (Toronto).
YOUTH MOVES
Sunday June 6, 2010 | 2:00 pm
Seven groups showcase the charm, energy and creative ambition of dancers under the age of 19. Companies include: Guelph Youth Dance Company (Guelph), YMI Dancing (Toronto), Dance Inc (Guelph), Contemporary School of Dance (Waterloo), Carousel Dance (Waterloo), Swansea School of Dance (Toronto) and Kinesis Dance Company (Kitchener).
IN THE PARK
Thursday June 3, 2010 | 7:00 pm
Saturday June 5, 2010 | 12:00 pm
Sunday June 6, 2010 | 12:00 pm
Virtuo Danse (Montréal), Suddenly Dance Theatre (Victoria), Floating Seed (Montréal), Lady Janitor (Toronto) and long-time fan-favourites Company Blonde (Toronto) perform outdoors in beautiful Exhibition Park.
IN THE STREET
Friday June 4, 2010 | 12:00 pm
Join emerging choreographers Larchaund Dance Projects (Toronto), Rachel Cyr (Toronto), Laurel Koop (Montréal) and Cryptozoology Playground (Toronto) as they perform at the crossroads of Guelph, surrounded by the bustle and buses of St. George's Square.
PUBLIC WORKSHOPS
Two workshops are being offered to the public. No dance experience required!
Contemporary Indian Dance with Menaka Thakkar
Saturday June 5 | 9:30 - 11:00 am
Afro Modern with Ghislaine Doté
Sunday June 6 | 9:30 - 10:30 am Back to top
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