A guide to the dance: made in canada / fait du canada Festival 2023
Written by Deanne Kearney.
Welcome to the comprehensive guide to the dance: made in canada/fait au canada Festival. This guide walks you through the many different aspects of the festival, from what is happening in the mainstage performances to workshops, dance films and more! I have bolded the different locals of Canadians involved to see the breadth of what’s going on and from where in Canada.
A note about the 2023 festival: When COVID-19 hit in 2020, the festival’s curators had to make a difficult decision. Despite the uncertainties brought by the pandemic, the team decided to honour their previous commitments. This move underscored their belief in curation as a form of guardianship rather than just selection, preserving the festival’s commitment to extending the life of Canadian choreography.
MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCES
There are three curated Mainstage performances this year:
The Morrison Series, alongside 2023 Guest Curators, Santee Smith (The Smith Series) and Robert Binet (The Binet Series)
What is in The Morrison Series
The Morrison series is curated by Artistic Director and Festival Co-director Yvonne Ng. It is named after the late David Morrison, a lighting designer, production manager, technical director and friend of Ng. It presents two pieces:
- You Touch Me: A Toronto premiere, this duet unfolds the narratives of Emmalena Fredriksson and Arash Khakpour from Vancouver, British Columbia. The duo uses dance and text to probe into concepts like the self, the other, cultural identity, race, and gender as they entertain, inquire, and challenge each other.
- L’ENCRE NOIRE: Another Toronto premiere that emerged from the mystical landscapes of Ireland. Created by Geneviève Boulet, Laura Toma, Erin O’Loughlin from Montréal, Québec, this piece delves into rituals drawn from their cultural origins, invoking folklore, fantasy, and the sacred, providing a window into the narratives of women through the ages.
WHEN:
- Wednesday, August 16 at 9:00 pm
- Saturday, August 19 at 7:00 pm (with post-show chat)
- Sunday, August 20 at 7:00 pm.
Tickets for this series are $15.00.
Get your tickets by clicking here.
What is in The Smith Series
Guest Curator, Santee Smith, is a multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, who masterfully bridges the gap between traditional indigenous narratives and contemporary dance. Her long-standing dedication to dance as both an art form and a means of communication is vividly reflected in the works she curates. Santee’s artistic genius, coupled with her exceptional ability to share her knowledge through teaching and community engagement, brings an inspiring and captivating presence to the festival’s stage.
Santee Smith has chosen pieces that highlight feminine-centred storytelling, primordial themes, and internal transformations conveyed through intense physical language. There are three pieces in this series
- Resonances of a Warrior Boy: Presented by Liliona Quarmyne from Halifax, Nova Scotia, this piece is an exploration of ancestral memory, and dialogue between the past and the present.
- ReAWaken: A Toronto premiere by Meghann Michalsky from Calgary, Alberta, it takes place in an apocalyptic universe, drawing parallels between the raw power of a female body and a volcanic eruption.
- Altar’d: A solo piece by Alexis Fletcher from Vancouver, British Columbia, “Altar’d” explores the transformative potential of fear and difficulty, often triggered by an unexpected life event.
WHEN:
- Thursday, August 17 at 7:00 pm
- Saturday, August 19 at 9:00 pm
- Sunday, August 20, at 4:00pm (with post-show chat)
Tickets for this series are $15.00.
Get your tickets by clicking here.
What is in The Binet Series
Guest Curator, Robert Binet, a choreographer and Curator and Producer with The National Ballet of Canada, infuses the festival with his innovative perspective on dance. Renowned for his exceptional talent for creating original and immersive ballets, Binet’s contribution promises to be a riveting journey into the world of contemporary ballet. His passion for fostering creativity in the dance community further bolsters the festival’s vision.
This series presents works by artists known for their unique and sensitive approach to dance. There are four pieces in this series:
- BODY: Presented by Hanna Kiel of Human Body Expression, Toronto, Ontario, is an exploration of self-expression through physicality, with each dancer bringing their unique styles and organic rhythms to the stage.
- Solo (not solo) Water Study: Presented by Meryem Alaoui of Jasad Dance Projects, Toronto, Ontario, presents an intimate work that is a celebration of creative expression. It plays with the idea of sound and movement synchronicity.
- Unfold Attachments: Choreographed by Vania Dodoo-Beals from Toronto, Ontario, is a journey through various emotional stages, reflecting on the experience of loss, betrayal, and heartbreak.
- this identity: woven: Presented by Derek Souvannavong from Toronto, Ontario, is an exploration of self-identity, language, and culture. It delves into the concept of mixed identities and the interaction of different languages within the body.
WHEN:
- Wednesday, August 16 at 7:00 pm
- Friday, August 18 at 7:00 pm (with post-show chat)
- Saturday, August 19 at 4:00 pm
Tickets for this series are $15.00.
Get your tickets by clicking here.
What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)
The WYSIWYG programme for the dance: made in canada/fait au canada Festival is a tribute to the elements of chance and creativity. Its selection is determined by lottery (subject to minimum professional requirements), reflecting the power of serendipity and the inherent value of artistic spontaneity. This program presents five artists from different backgrounds and practices, all eager to share their perspectives and experiences along with this year’s dance stewards, also performing a work they have created for this year’s festival.
- Djata: Conversations du Manden by Aly Keita, Montreal, Quebec – An embodiment of ancestral stories and griot accounts, Aly Keita’s piece is a mix of dance, acrobatics, and percussion. Drawing strength and vulnerability from his personal journey, Keita aims to showcase the roots of his home country, Guinea.
- Sun Bleached Keith’s by Bryce Taylor, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Bryce Taylor’s Sun Bleached Keith’s is a two-part piece exploring the depth of shared existence and the struggle of moving forward in absence. The intimate portrayal of a couple’s life reveals the joy of togetherness and the harsh reality of loss.
- Microphone Controller by Lukas Malkowski, Toronto, Ontario – Through Lukas Malkowski’s Microphone Controller, he explores the interconnectedness of voice, movement, feelings, and self-expression. The piece is a celebration of individuality and communal experiences.
- Corps/Objet (Body/Object) by Marie Lambin-Gagnon, Montreal, Quebec/Toronto, Ontario – Marie Lambin-Gagnon’s Corps/Objet is part of the larger project, “Still Life”, which marries dance with large-scale photography. Drawing from classical still life painting, this piece prompts contemplation of the relationship between bodies, objects, and the spaces they inhabit.
- slip away by Samantha Sutherland, Toronto, Ontario – In slip away, Samantha Sutherland delves into themes of loss and hope, centring around the endangered state of the Ktunaxa Language. The piece navigates the terrain of fear, community mobilisation, and the struggle for language preservation, articulating dreams and desires for the future.
- The Dance Steward Piece – An additional work of three to four minutes will be part of this series, as choreographed and created by this year’s Dance Stewards.
WHEN:
- Friday, August 18 at 9:00 pm
- Saturday, August 19 at 2:00 pm (with post-show chat)
Tickets for this series are $15.00.
Get your tickets by clicking here.
Arts Encounters
Arts Encounters, the multi-arts component of the d:mic/fac Festival, brings a plethora of engagement activities by dance professionals working across multiple disciplines. The Art Encounters program has been around since the beginning of the festival’s creation and has always aimed to join dance artists with artists of other forms.
Dance on Film – Kathleen Smith, Arts Encounters dance on film & video programmer, presents a six part series as part of this year’s d: mic film program, honouring the past and looking to the future. The first three series are in-person at the Betty Oliphant theatre, the rest are to be enjoyed online.
Series one: The series opens with “MABOUNGOU: Being in the World,” a 48-minute documentary delving into the life and work of Montréal-based dancer, choreographer, and philosopher Zab Maboungou.
- Thursday, Aug 17, at 9:00 pm with a 8:30 pm
- Pre-Screening Chat with filmmakers Marlene Millar & Philip Szporer
Series two: in dreams I walk with you
- In person – Saturday August 19, at 12:30 pm,
- Running time: 47:12 min (approx)
Series three: curious schools of theatrical dancing
- In person – Sunday August 20, 2:00 pm
- Running time: 48:52 min (approx)
Series four: landscapes, hard and soft
- Online Release: Fri Aug 18, 12:00 pm
- Running time: 61:22 min (approx)
Series five: staging area
- Online Release: Sat Aug 19, 12:00 pm
- Running time: 49:58 min (approx)
Series six: choreo poetic license
- Online Release: Sun Aug 20, 12:00 pm
- Running time: 47:19 min (approx)
Tickets for all of the film series are by donation.
Get your tickets by clicking here.
Workshops
Exploring Collaborative Models of Screendance Creation with Marlene Millar
Friday, August 18th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Workshop led by Marlene Millar will focus on collaboration in creation between choreographers and filmmakers. This workshop is tailored to artists (students and professionals) involved in dance or cinema who are interested in exploring collaborative models of screendance creation. The workshop will explore the connection between the filmic space and the performance space, including influences and inspiration between the environment, the body, and the camera. Participants will work with their own cameras (smartphones or video cameras).
Tickets for this workshop are $15.00.
Get your tickets by clicking here.
Workshop with La Tresse
Friday, August 19th, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
With this playful workshop, Geneviève Boulet, Erin O’Loughlin, and Laura Toma (choreographer-performers), invite you into the universe of LA TRESSE, sharing their method of collective creation and fluid transfer of lead. Participants will first be led through a 30-minute Gaga warmup given by certified Gaga teacher Laura Toma, which will stimulate the imagination and senses. Throughout the workshop, dancers will be encouraged to access pleasure as a motivator for movement and to personify their fantasies while discovering a new world. They will be introduced to some of LA TRESSE’s choreographic systems as well as phrasework drawn from their repertoire. Participants will be asked to tune into their curiosites and desires individually and collectively during both the open-ended and more structured approaches.
Experience in dance (of any style) is recommended. Observation will not be permitted for the Gaga warmup but the rest of the workshop is more fluid in terms of active participation.
Tickets for this workshop are $15.00.
Get your tickets by clicking here.
The Danny Grossman Dance Company: An Oral History – Mairéad Filgate, a member of the Danny Grossman Dance Company from 2003-2008, presents an intimate portrait of the company’s 30-year history in “The Danny Grossman Dance Company: An Oral History.”
This rich history is explored through photographs, audio recordings, and live collective memory sessions with company alumni, including dancers, directors, managers, stage managers, funders, designers, and audience members.
- Saturday, August 19 at 3:10 pm–3:35 pm and 6:10 pm–6:35 pm
- Sunday, August 20 at 6:10 pm–6:35 pm
Photography Exhibition – The lobby of the Betty Oliphant Theatre will host a photography exhibition throughout the festival, showcasing the work of Drew Berry, Kendra Epik, and Marlowe Porter. Each of these artists carries a unique perspective and style:
- Drew Berry is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist and educator, well-known for her dance photography and videography, documenting artistic processes and on-stage moments with a profound passion.
- Kendra Epik is a multidisciplinary artist focusing on movement and portrait photography, filmmaker and musician, who has worked with numerous Toronto-based companies. Her film “Sunglow Gecko” has garnered multiple awards and international recognition.
- Marlowe Porter uses photography to explore bodies in motion and their relationship with space. Her work combines elements of water, wind, and earth, inviting the viewer into a world full of texture, colour, and movement.
Dance in the Sunroom – Flamenco dancer Kiyo Asaoka introduces flamenco’s beautiful art form through her performance in the Conservatory Room.
The ‘D’ Word Podcast – Returning for its third season, The ‘D’ Word podcast, hosted by Aria Evans, and produced by Grace Wells-Smith, explores the influences of curiosity, embodied physics, and shifting trauma through movement in dance. You can find the podcast linked here.
The entire schedule for the festival can be found here on their website.
I will be attending the entire festival and would love to see as many dance faces as possible. I will also be leading the post-show chat on August 19th, 2023, for the WYSIWYG program for those who want to dive deeper into the artist’s work with me.