Spring Rising
May 3 - 5 & 9 - 12, 2007
the harbingers (May 4, 2007)
Choreography: Heidi Strauss
Video & Music: Jeremy Mimnagh
Rehearsal Direction: Erika-Leigh Stirton
Dancers: Amanda Acorn, Mor Bar-Zakai, Jelani Douglas, Christina Giannelia, Jasmine Graham, Savannah Hoag, Shannon Leibgott, Whitney Mah, Emily Poirier, Krista Posyniak, Laurence Ramsay, Janine Sicotte, Debra Su, Andrew Taylor, Rose-Marie Thériault
A group of people caught in a time when distinguishing what is real from what is imagined is difficult. They play different roles: disintegrators, entaglers, walkers, signalers, hipsters, encirclers. All know the dance of the other; replacement is always possible but often the reasons for it aren't evident until later. They know, and don't know, they are the harbingers.
Thank you to Jeremy Mimnagh and the dancers; Erika-Leigh Stirton; and Timna Kohl and Christina Lilley.
To Adam Penn Gilders. - H.S.
Go tan go (May 4, 2007)
Choreography: Mitch Kirsch
Music: Gotan Project
Costume Design: Lori Endes
Rehearsal Assistance: Kate Stashko
Dancers: Jaasiel Bean, Jasmine Ellis, Tera Hawes, Masuyo Higashide, Rénald Jean-Pierre, Sung hee Jhun, Sze-Yang Lam, Emily Law, Lilia Leon, Catherine McLaughlin, Geneviève Ménard, Brodie Stevenson (May 4, 10, 12);
Byron Beckford, Jasmine Ellis, Masuyo Higashide, Rénald Jean-Pierre, Sung hee Jhun, Sze-Yang Lam, Emily Law, Jennifer Lécuyer, Lilia Leon, Catherine McLaughlin, Shauna Taylor, Kristina Udegbunam (May 5, 9, 11)
Go Tan Go utilizes spontaneous decision-making by the performers to explore the border between form and chaos. Many thanks to the dancers for this generous, ongoing contribution to the composition of the dance.
Special thanks to Patricia Miner and Jane Townsend. - M.K.
endangered species (1981)
Choreography: Danny Grossman
Music: Krysztof Penderecki, “Threnody for the victims of Hiroshima”
Costume & Set Design: Mary Kerr
Original Lighting Design: Nicholas Cernovitch
Rehearsal Direction: Danny Grossman, Pamela Grundy, Eddie Kastrau, Meredith Thompson
Dancers: Amanda Acorn (May 5, 9, 11), Mor Bar-Zakai, Jelani Douglas, Christina Giannelia, Jasmine Graham, Savannah Hoag (May 4, 10, 12), Shannon Leibgott, Whitney Mah (May 5, 9, 11), Emily Poirier, Krista Posyniak (May 4, 10, 12), Laurence Ramsay, Janine Sicotte, Debra Su, Andrew Taylor, Rose-Marie Thériault
Endangered Species, the anti-war depiction of the horrors of humanity, is explosively re-visited here 26 years after its premiere. With imagery inspired by great works of social realism by Käthe Kollwitz, George Grosz, Goya’s Disasters of War and horrendous images of the holocaust, this raw and brutally realistic work has been performed internationally in many countries where political violence is a way of life. Set against Krysztof Penderecki’s riveting score, its emotional impact resonates to this day.
Thank you to Mairéad Filgate, Randy Glynn, and Mariana Medellin.
aerial procession (1993)
Choreography: Coralee McLaren
Music: Mendelssohn’s String Octet in E-flat Major, 4th Movement
Rehearsal Direction: Erika-Leigh Stirton
Dancers: Cassie Derr, Christina Greiner, Syreeta Hector, Emily MacNeil, Nichol Magagna, Sarah McQueston, Megan Nadain, Matt Owen, Erin Shand, Christy Stoeten, Kalene Ticknor, Corey Wournell (May 4, 10, 12);
Irit Amichai, Rhonda Baker, Christine Birch, Sarah Curts, Cassie Derr, Tara Gaucher, Peter Hessel, David Houle, Nichol Magagna, Sarah McQueston, Pulga Muchochoma, Eroca Nicols (May 5, 9, 11)
Aerial Procession was commissioned by the School in 1993 under the artistic direction of Kenny Pearl, and was created to showcase 1st year students and their capabilities as young, developing dancers.
Throughout the rehearsal and performance process, the dancers are challenged to move dynamically and musically through space, and to develop not only individually but through a group cohesiveness that celebrates movement and the pleasure of dance. - C.M.
Thank you to Fanny Ghorayeb and Cawthra Park Secondary School for their generous loan of the costumes.
whispers (May 3, 2007)
*Choreography: Paul-André Fortier
**Music:Victor
Rehearsal Direction: Patricia Fraser
Rehearsal Assistance: Kate Stashko
Dancers: Jaasiel Bean, Byron Beckford, Jasmine Ellis, Tera Hawes, Masuyo Higashide, Rénald Jean-Pierre, Sung hee Jhun, Sze-Yang Lam, Emily Law, Jennifer Lécuyer, Lilia Leon, Catherine McLaughlin, Geneviève Ménard, Brodie Stevenson, Shauna Taylor, Kristina Udegbunam, Kamen Wang
*All movement material was generated by the dancers under the direction of the choreographer.
**Thank you to Montreal composer Victor for the generous gift of his music.
what some can see (May 3, 2007)
Choreography: Sharon Moore
Music: Philip Glass
Rehearsal Direction: Erika-Leigh Stirton
Dancers: Irit Amichai, Rhonda Baker, Christine Birch, Sarah Curts, Cassie Derr, Tara Gaucher, Christina Greiner, Syreeta Hector, Peter Hessel, David Houle, Emily MacNeil, Nichol Magagna, Sarah McQueston, Pulga Muchochoma, Megan Nadain, Eroca Nicols, Matt Owen, Erin Shand, Christy Stoeten, Kalene Ticknor, Corey Wournell
Often amongst many, there is a lone visionary that sees what others can not and in doing so encourages the possibility of change.
This work is dedicated to the artists that dance it. Special thanks to Cheri and Wendy for their endless inspiration and to Erika for all her help. - S.M.