Photo by David-Hou.
The Latest
Photo by David-Hou.
Review: Unclearing (The Chimera Project Dance Theatre)
Unclearing, a contemporary dance double bill, delves into the intricacies of human emotion and experience. The program features Agrimony, co-created by dance artist Sophie Dow and musician Laura Rezek, and Soft choreographed by Malgorzata Nowacka-May.
Photo by Matt Barnes.
Review: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Côté Danse, Ex Machina, and Show One Productions)
Opening tonight at the gorgeous Elgin Theatre, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, presented by Côté Danse, Ex Machina, and Show One Productions, is a wordless dance spectacle that captivates from start to finish. Choreographed and co-designed by Guillaume Côté and directed and designed by Robert Lepage, this production beautifully demonstrates that words are not necessary to convey the essence of this timeless Shakespearean tale. I attended a preview of the work last night, and it exemplifies the power of creative collaboration. From the music to the choreography, direction, and cast’s performances, each element is beautifully crafted to tell the tale.
Photo by Karolina Kuras.
Review: Winter Triple Bill (The National Ballet of Canada)
Winter Triple Bill, presented by the National Ballet of Canada, showcases three distinct works on the Four Seasons Stage. From the intimate duet of islands by Canadian choreographer Emma Portner, to the neoclassical elegance of Suite en Blanc by Serge Lifar, and the digital-age reflections of UtopiVerse by Canadian William Yong, this Triple Bill offers a diverse mix of contemporary and classical ballet, highlighting the exceptional talent of Canadian dancers and choreographers.
Photo by Karolina Kuras.
Review: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (The National Ballet of Canada)
The National Ballet of Canada's production of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a fun, vibrant, and imaginative ballet that brings Lewis Carroll's classic tale to the stage. Since its introduction to the company in 2011 through the choreography of Christopher Wheeldon, an Artistic Associate of The Royal Ballet, this work has become a regular and beloved feature in the National Ballet’s repertoire. It's easy to see why!
Review: Eve of St. George (TranscenDance project)
TranscenDance Project makes a spectacular return with its production of Eve of St. George, an immersive reimagining of Bram Stoker's eerie tale of Dracula. Guests don masks and are set free to roam the four levels of The Great Hall, transformed into a gothic Victorian setting where the stories of sixteen characters come to life. Created by the ingenious Julia Cratchley and scored by the award-winning Canadian composer Owen Belton, this performance is truly an unmissable treat.
Photo by Marlowe Porter.
Review: Winter Double Bill (Toronto Dance Theatre)
Toronto Dance Theatre presents Winter Double Bill, the company's season opener featuring two distinct works: FACE RIDER by Fran Chudnoff in collaboration with Driftnote and Angela Cabrera, and Odd-Sensual, a work by Artistic Director Andrew Tay in collaboration with TDT ensemble members.
Photo by Maya Yoncali.
Review: Deciphers (Naishi Wang and Jean Abreau / Harbourfront Centre / DanceWorks)
Deciphers, presented in part by the Harbourfront Centre and DanceWorks, is a venture into the realm of dance-theater, aiming to illuminate the immigrant experience. This exploration is the creation of independent dancemakers Naishi Wang and Jean Abreau. Wang, originally from China and now based in Toronto, and Abreu, hailing from Brazil and currently based in London, merge their unique background for this work.
Photo by Skye Schmidt
Review: The Look of Love (Mark Morris Dance Group / TO Live)
With 11 honorary doctorate degrees and a repertoire of over 150 choreographed works to his name, the arrival of the illustrious Mark Morris to town is always a treat. The Look of Love, presented by TO Live, is a newer contemporary dance work (created in 2022) performed by the New York-based Mark Morris Dance Group. This production stands out as a rhythmic delight, brimming with love, humour, and sprightly dance choreography.
Photo by Michael Slobodian.
Review: Assembly Hall (Kidd Pivot / Canadian Stage)
Assembly Hall unfolds the tale of medieval reenactors in a general meeting within a local community hall. They obsess over Robert's Rules, from points of order to motions to move, yet the rules still cannot control the quirky outbursts and conflicts within the group. The discussion centers on their event, “Quest Fest,” which is plagued by dwindling attendance and funds, leading to a vote on the group’s dissolution – a topic that splits the group.
Photo by Andre Cornellier
My Love Letter to Louise Lecavalier: A Review of 'Stations' at Harbourfront Centre
I grew up watching clips on YouTube of Louise Lecavalier dancing with the incredible La La La Human Steps, a contemporary dance company from Quebec. They were known for their completely fearless physicality, with dancers throwing their bodies in every direction in the most amazing physical feats. La La La Human Steps were especially famous for their signature move—a barrel jump, a fully horizontal, mid-air full body circle jump. Of course, I've attempted to replicate this jump many times and still share clips of their performances with my students to this day.
Photo by Karolina Kuras.
Review: Onegin (The National Ballet of Canada)
I have little interest in conventional celebrity culture. As a dance enthusiast, my world of celebrities revolves around dancers and choreographers, with Guillaume Côté ranking high on my list. Slated as our very own Canadian Baryshnikov, Côté's tenure at the National Ballet of Canada starting in 1998, marking a twenty-four-year tenure, has been nothing short of remarkable.
Photo by Karolina Kuras.
Review: Emma Bovary and Passion (The National Ballet of Canada)
Following intermission, Emma Bovary, plunges directly into the tumultuous psyche of its protagonist, Emma, as inspired by Gustave Flaubert's classic 1857 novel Madame Bovary. This piece navigates through intense themes of romantic idealism, materialism, and the intricate impacts of mental and emotional health and presents a new approach to the creation of narrative ballets. Rather than compressing the entire novel, the ballet focuses sharply on Emma's gradual descent into madness, offering a compelling experience tailored for modern audiences.
Review: Gluck's Orpheus and Eurydice (Opera Atelier)
Orpheus and Eurydice is an opera composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck, first performed in 1762. The opera is based on the mythological story of Orpheus (in this performance played by Canadian tenor Colin Ainsworth), a musician so skilled that even animals and nature would listen to him, and his love, Eurydice (played by Soprano Mireille Asselin). The tale revolves around Eurydice's untimely death and Orpheus's journey to the Underworld to bring her back to life with the help of the god of love, Amour (played by Soprano Anna-Julia David).
Review: Näss (Fouad Boussouf/Harbourfront Centre)
Launching the 2023/2024 Torque season at the Harbourfront Centre, is Näss, bringing a unique stoic intensity to the stage. Choreographed by Fouad Boussouf, this hour-long piece combines breaking and house footwork with contemporary dance and traditional North African movement, crafting a beautiful textured movement vocabulary.
Review: Jungle Book Reimagined (Akram Khan / Canadian Stage)
Bringing the timeless tale to the stage, Jungle Book reimagined, an Akram Khan Company production presented by Canadian Stage, takes Rudyard Kipling's iconic story to new heights. In this innovative rendition, Mowgli is no longer in the wild forests but is instead a refugee in a flood-ravaged USA. This alarming shift of setting immediately foregrounds pressing environmental issues and the palpable loss of human connection in today's world. This version of the Jungle Book beautifully uses contemporary dance to tell its story and is suitable for the entire family, with recommendations for children only over the age of eight.
Review: UNBOWED: Signature Programme 2 (Fall for Dance North in partnership with TO Live)
And we are back with Fall for Dance North's (in partnership with TO Live) UNBOWED: Signature Programme 2, featuring a mixed contemporary dance bill bringing more fantastic dance works to the Meridian Hall stage. This absolutely perfect programme brought tears to my eyes and brilliantly highlights what the amazing world of dance has to offer.
Review: HEARTBEATS: Signature Programme 1 (Fall for Dance North in partnership with TO Live)
In its ninth season, Fall for Dance North, in partnership with TO Live, unveils its latest mainstage series: HEARTBEATS: Signature Programme 1. Showcasing four distinct contemporary dance pieces, this programme brings together a diverse array of artists from all around the world, while still highlighting Canadian companies and talent. This programme asks its artists to dive into the realms of love and human connection.
Review: KAMUYOT (Ohad Naharin / Charlotte Ballet / Fall for Dance North)
Kicking off this year's Fall for Dance North festival is Ohad Naharin's KAMUYOT, a work that offers an immediate departure from the conventional audience-performer dynamics we've come to expect. Performed by the athletic and committed dancers of the Charlotte Ballet, the work situates the audience directly amidst the dancers, inviting closeness without pressure in a playful, immersive, and inviting collective dance experience.
Debriefing the dance: made in canada / fait au canada Festival
As the curtain falls on the dance: made in canada / fait au canada Festival, it's time to debrief another season of great performances, workshops, and dance exhibits. Spanning five days, the festival showcased the rich diversity of Canadian dance and its artists, and it was wonderful to be a part of it. In this final piece of the series, let's retrace and relive some of the festival's most memorable moments.
In Conversation with Dance Stewards Micaela Janse van Rensburg and Frédérique Perron of the d:mic/fac Festival
This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with two of the Dance Stewards from this year's dance: made in canada Festival, Micaela Janse van Rensburg and Frédérique Perron. Our conversation unravelled their unique dance journeys, insights into the festival, and their reasons for joining the Dance Steward program this year.
Meet the Dance Stewards Shaping d:mic/fac 2023
As the countdown to the d:mic/fac festival narrows to a single week, our spotlight turns to the diverse group of Dance Stewards as part of this year's event. These emerging dance artists, hailing from various backgrounds and training, come together to create a piece for the WYSIWYG series and have also been provided professional development workshops and events, such as a brilliant workshop led by the esteemed Peggy Baker.
A guide to the dance: made in canada/fait du canada Festival 2023
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.
Celebrating Canadian Dance - A Biennial Ode to Canadian Choreography through the dance: made In canada/fait au canada Festival
dance: made in canada/fait au canada (d:mic/fac) isn't just a dance festival—it's an important tribute to the Canadian dance community, showcasing choreographers, dancers and creators from all across the country. The d:mic/fac is back for its 2023 festival from August 16th to 20th this summer.
Review: JUXTAPOSE (Christina Digiuseppe / Toronto Fringe Festival)
There are few platforms as exciting and rewarding as the Toronto Fringe Festival, a place where burgeoning artists have the opportunity to create full-length works and provide performance opportunities for current students, recent graduates and up-and-coming performers. Unfortunately, this year, I found myself away for most of the festival, yet I'm happy to have caught the final performance of JUXTAPOSE.
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