Review: The Sacrifice (Harbourfront Centre / Dada Masilo)
To many choreographers, crafting their unique take on The Rite of Spring is viewed as a professional rite of passage. Stravinsky’s score, marked by its intense rhythms, dramatic shifts in energy, and potential for narrative and choreographic exploration, offers a platform for choreographers to assert their place within the heritage of dance. For Masilo, this is not only a nod to Stravinsky but also to the remarkable Pina Bausch, whose version of The Rite of Spring she studied while training in Brussels.
The Interplay Between Ballet and Opera: Handel's The Resurrection by Opera Atelier
As International Dance Day (April 29th) approaches, it may surprise some that this date is chosen to honour the birthday of a particular dance pioneer and the significant contributions they have made to the art form. Jean-Georges Noverre, the figure in question, passionately advocated for the independence of ballet from opera in his influential book "Lettres sur la danse et sur les ballets" (Letters on Dancing and Ballets). Historically, dance was closely intertwined with opera, often serving as an interlude or an accompaniment to the main storyline. Ballet sequences were integrated into operas to provide visual spectacle and enhance the narrative, but they were rarely treated as standalone performances. Noverre's advocation for ballet to be seen as an independent art form, focusing on emotional expression and storytelling, helped to shape the trajectory of dance, allowing it to evolve into the diverse and vibrant discipline we love to celebrate on International Dance Day.
Review: A Grimm Night (Transcen|Dance Project)
Upon entering the realm of A Grimm Night, presented by Transcen|Dance Project, I was instantly immersed in a dark, enchanting, and mystical world. This captivating and interactive dance performance takes you on a journey through the well-known stories of the Brothers Grimm, such as "Cinderella" and "Snow White," while delving into themes of good versus evil and the triumph of the underdog in the dark and twisted ways only the Brother Grimm stories can (these are not your Disney fairy tales). In this rendition, you become a fly on the wall to the stories, with the freedom to choose which characters to follow through the night.
Review: Les corps avalés (Harbourfront Centre / Compagnie Virginie Brunelle)
Compagnie Virginie Brunelle's Les corps avalés, the latest addition to this year's Torque Season presented by the Harbourfront Centre, is a beautiful contemporary dance performance that explores the intricacies of human connection (and disconnection) through a range of emotions, sensualities, vulnerabilities and relationships.
Review: Gay for Pay (Crow’s Theatre/Gay for Pay Productions)
Think gay Tony Robbins, pumping up the assumed straight audience of actors, in a one-hour seminar-like event made to help you win an Oscar by “playing gay”. The two workshop leaders, Blake and Clay, are two gay actors struggling to find work, so instead they switch to running seminars on how to authentically ‘play gay’ for straight actors, because well, they are doing it anyway…
Photo by Todd MacDonald
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Review: Double Murder (Harbourfront Centre / Hofesh Dance Company)
The brilliantly cinematic, charismatic and clever choreographer, Hofesh Shechter, is back in Toronto with a double bill, Double Murder. Produced by the Hofesh Dance Company and presented by Harbourfront Centre, the two works unleash a whirlwind of emotions. The first work, Clowns, brings a dark and violent humour, while The Fix brings a gentle warm hug.
Review: Human Measure (Canadian Stage / Cassils)
Human Measure, presented by Canadian Stage, brings together internationally acclaimed performance artist Cassils, with contemporary choreographer Jasmine Albuquerque, to create a work that immerses audiences into a live photographic darkroom inhabited by dancing bodies wearing nothing but knee pads. Washed over by a dim red light, six trans and non-binary performers develop what is called a cyanotype throughout the forty-five-minute performance in response to Yves Klein's paintings titled Anthropometries (1960). Through the performance, they question current narratives surrounding trans bodies and personal expressions of sensuality and empowerment in a time marred by anti-trans legislation and discrimination.
Review: 8 Count - Delightful Moments of Dance Cinema (Fall for Dance North)
New to the Fall for Dance North festival this year is a short dance film series titled 8 Count: Delightful moments of dance cinema. 8 Count is one of the many events in the Fall for Dance North robust 2022 lineup, now in its eighth year, which includes performances, podcasts, and social gatherings - and it is a unique addition at that. The programme of seven short films provides a great mix of pieces meant to entertain, educate, evoke and inspire.
Announcement feat. The Dora Mavor Moore Awards
Although I am just at the beginning of my new venture with The Dance Debrief, a small but exciting roadblock has come my way.
For the 2022/2023 season, I will be on the dance jury for the Dora Mavor Moore Awards and will be unable to review anything that is nominated within the dance division. Although I am sad about this pause, I am excited about this role and the responsibility that comes with it. I have always loved the Dora Mavor Moore Awards, and I am proud that we have our own Tony-like awards for the incredible Canadian & Toronto arts scene.
For the 2022/2023 season, I will be on the dance jury for the Dora Mavor Moore Awards and will be unable to review anything that is nominated within the dance division. Although I am sad about this pause, I am excited about this role and the responsibility that comes with it. I have always loved the Dora Mavor Moore Awards, and I am proud that we have our own Tony-like awards for the incredible Canadian & Toronto arts scene.
Review: Porch View Dances (Kaeja d'Dance)
What is more of a Toronto community event than being led around the city by a quippy drag queen to see contemporary dance works performed by diverse families and friends?
Porch View Dances, presented by Kaeja d'Dance, is an annual community dance event in its eleventh year. It engages everyday people to tell stories, create movement and perform on porches, lawns and parks in Toronto's Seaton Village. Still transitioning back to its live format, this year’s event is hybrid in nature, with one live performance, four dance films, an AR experience and a final participatory movement exercise.
Porch View Dances, presented by Kaeja d'Dance, is an annual community dance event in its eleventh year. It engages everyday people to tell stories, create movement and perform on porches, lawns and parks in Toronto's Seaton Village. Still transitioning back to its live format, this year’s event is hybrid in nature, with one live performance, four dance films, an AR experience and a final participatory movement exercise.
Photo by Mats Bäcker.
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Review: Story, Story, Die. (Harbourfront Centre & Winter Guests)
With social media, it can be hard to tell who you are. Is that your authentic self? Why are you posting that? For you? For others? Is it all an act? Is it all fake? Who are you really? These thoughts can be constant and circular. “It keeps repeating...”
Photo by Michael Mortley
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Review: Legacy Tap Dance Concert (dance Immersion and Canadian Stage)
Full of feeling, soul, personality and creativity, the Legacy Tap Dance Concert brings together two Canadian tap dance legends, Travis Knights and Lisa La Touche, in performance and choreography. Together, they perform with a group of tappers, movers and a full band under the musical direction of on-stage drummer Danny Milwalkee. This moving and grooving outdoor show takes place in the beautiful High Park Amphitheatre, and is presented by dance Immersion in association with Canadian Stage.
Virtual Review: Let The Elephants Dance (Annual Fundraising Gala 2022)
Let The Elephants Dance is an annual fundraiser presented by Michelle Crossman and dedicated to the importance of mental health awareness. The gala is in its sixth year and this is the second showcase that is virtual. To date, they have donated over $28,000.00 to mental health initiatives in Toronto and have been partnered with The Canadian Mental Health Association and Kids Help Phone since 2016.
Review: allies and friends (Citadel + Compagnie & Wind in the Leaves Collective)
The rhythms and metaphors within both poetry and dance beautifully compliment each other in allies and friends, presented by the Citadel + Compagnie and their presenter-in-residence, Wind in the Leaves Collective. Bringing together dance and poetry, allies and friends is the May edition and third show by this presenter-in-residence this 2021/2022 season.
Photo by Francesca Chudnoff
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Review: welcome, we’ve been waiting (Toronto Dance Theatre)
TDT is back with their first full-length work since 2020; titled welcome, we've been waiting. This show is fresh, exciting, sensual, sexy, playful and powerful - everything you want in a show and then some. The show's extravagant costuming and fantastic cast (whom I completely fell in love with) leaves me so excited for this new era of TDT.
Photo by John Lauener
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Review: The Miserere Project (Citadel + Compagnie)
The Miserere Project, presented by the Citadel + Compagnie with Danielle Baskerville, is a dance show that celebrates the forty-first anniversary of David Earle's Miserere. The iconic work is first re-staged, and we are then met with three contemporary responses to it by the Same As Sister (S.A.S.) performance collective, Brodie Stevenson and a dance film by Penny Couchie.
Photo by Tiu Makkonen
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Review: Grin / Minors, Movement, and the Gathering of Data (The Theatre Centre and Battersea Arts Centre)
Grin is a dance film directed and choreographed by Mele Broomes and features two dancers/collaborators, Kemono L.Riot and Divine Tasinda. It focuses on black love and subverting the hyper-sexualized gaze on African and Caribbean dance. The piece slowly builds over forty-five minutes from slight body pulses, tableaus and gestures to grooves, full-body swings and synchronized dance sequences by the duo. There is even some krump and hip hop vocabulary from Kemono L.Riot.
Photo by Sasha Onyshchenko
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Review: CRYPTO (Canadian Stage and TO Live)
I would describe it almost as Crystal Pite-like. Crypto is based in contemporary choreography, with highly technical steps and trained dancers. It also has a grand narrative told through movement and aided by voiceovers recorded by voice actors. It is similar to Revisor, yet less animated, with a smaller cast and with more of a narrative ballet storyline.
Snapshot Travel Reviews from London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland
On a recent trip to the United Kingdom, I was able to see some great dance and theatre shows! Check out short reviews on Seder, presented by the Southbank Centre, Much Ado About Nothing, presented by Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and Singin' in the Rain, presented by Capital Theatre.
Photo by Alex Brenner
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Travel Review: Elements of Freestyle (ISH Dance Collective / Sadler Wells) in London, England
With three b-boys, two inline skaters, two freerunners, a BMX bike champion and a basketball freestyle juggler… TRY not to be entertained! Elements of Freestyle, by ISH Dance Collective, presented by Sadler Wells, is an energetic, fun, and jaw-dropping show that you and your whole family will want to see.
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