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.

Opening the night is Agrimony, choreographed by Sophie Dow, a familiar face from my undergraduate days in the Dance program at York University. Though our paths didn't cross frequently, I remember her as a beautiful mover and kind soul. I also remember her openness to all things dance—a trait I hold in high regard among choreographers. I was really excited to see her name on this double bill.

The performance did not disappoint. Spanning about fifty minutes, this work is a multidisciplinary collaboration, pairing Dow's choreography with the live performance of Reznek's original indie pop score. The synergy between the music and movement creates a deeply personal experience as Reznek's melodic voice and Dow's expressive choreography harmonize perfectly.

Dow's choreography, marked by its heartfelt, breath-filled, feel-good movements, feels very grounded and fully resonates with each dancer. The dancers don white masks of different animals (as pictured). With each new song by Reznek, we are met with a new ambience and choreographic aesthetic, always shifting between different solos, duets, trios, and full ensembles.

The work is an exploration of the masks we wear to navigate the challenges and traumas of life. It features four dancers in intricately carved masks and is named after a small yellow flower, known for its natural healing properties. This speaks to Dow’s personal challenges, as she sadly experienced a series of traumatic brain injuries in 2016, deeply impacting her sense of self and connection to loved ones.

A standout moment for me was a floor work gesture sequence, reminiscent of a contemporary dance version of the big comfy couch stretch. Dow’s solo is another beautiful moment, as she seamlessly transitions between stomps, large jumps, and turns that smoothly bring her down to the floor and back up again.

 The dancers also began the night with a meaningful land acknowledgment, where the audience were asked to ground their feet into the floor and place their hands on their head and hearts. It made me feel grounded, embodied, and ready for the night ahead. It is not surprising the piece made me feel emotional from start to finish.

After a 15-minute intermission, we meet Nowacka-May’s Soft. This piece begins by delving into a realm of humor and absurdity. The initial sequences are lighthearted and intriguing, setting the tone for a performance that oscillates between the mundane and the extraordinary. 

Featuring eight dancers, Soft is meant to explore the dissonance of life’s mundane, daily tasks and the raw, instinctual fear that holds us back from realizing our greatest potential.

A dancer with a straight face slowly drops into the splits, stares at the audience, and then pulls herself a foot across the floor while still in the splits. Another casually walks, does a quick full flip, and stares at the audience, no smile, just a wordless way of saying ‘did you see that’? My favorite of all, a dancer shakes a jar of water on stage, and the whole audience bursts into laughter. The introduction is reminiscent of one of my favorite choreographers, Marie Chouinard, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

After the introduction, the dancers shift from all-white outfits slowly into all black, and the choreography becomes more prominent than the bizarre, deadpan moments. It turns to a more cinematic feel with the help of the music, composed by Eric Cadesky, and the lighting by Gabriel Cropley.

While the performance features a lot of interesting moments, including beautiful lifts, I feel it suffers from a pacing issue, with certain sections feeling overly repetitive, despite the concept of the work. A more concise approach could potentially enhance the work's impact, allowing its innovative aspects to shine more brightly. Although I will note that the ensemble is cohesive and supportive of each other throughout the work.

Overall, it was a great evening of contemporary dance. Check it out tonight if you have the chance!

Unclearing, presented by The Chimera Project Dance Theatre, is playing until April 6, 2024. It is playing at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre (231 Queens Quay W.). Tickets range from $29 to $59, with the 1:30pm matinee performance on April 6th a Pay What You Can Showing. Tickets are available online here.

For more information:

Chimeradt.com - Facebook: @TheChimeraProject, Instagram: @chimeradance

Written by Deanne Kearney. www.deannekearney.com @deannekearney

Photo 1: Photo of Soft. Photo by David-Hou.
Photo 2: Photo of Agrimony. Photo by Vitantonio Spinelli.
Photo 3: Photo of Soft. Photo by David-Hou.