University of Calgary Movement Research Festival (MoRF)
Nov. 24 - Dec. 6, 2023 • University Theatre
A new festival that celebrates the depth and breadth of dance research
The University of Calgary School of Creative and Performing Arts is pleased to present the University of Calgary Movement Research Festival (MoRF), a new festival that celebrates the depth and breadth of dance research on campus and around the globe.
The inaugural festival launches on Friday, November 24 with TransFoRM, an evening of innovative dance works by local, national, and international choreographers. The festival continues with a conference profiling the latest dance research by faculty, staff and graduate and undergraduate students and a highly anticipated showcase of dance films by UCalgary students, alumni and faculty (MoRFlix). The festival finishes with the popular daytime program, Dance@Noon.
We open our doors to you!
Welcome to the inaugural UCalgary Movement Research Festival, intentionally named so that we could use the acronym, MoRF. It’s clever with serious underpinning. MoRF, as in research that leads to transformation, or an evolution that leads to a positive change in the lives of dancers and/or the discipline itself. The festival is curated by, and in conversation with, the Division of Dance and myself. We are delighted to host a festival that connects the university to the wider dance community.
The 12-day festival welcomes choreographers from Calgary, as well as researchers involved in groundbreaking projects around the globe. It also presents dance filmmakers from across the country. MoRF launches on Friday, November 24 with our evening program TransFoRM, and then continues with the 10th iteration of the Dance Research Conference, followed by a brand new evening of dance film (MoRFlix). The festival concludes with choreographies from the 3rd year BFA Dance students in Dance@Noon. We invite your enjoyment and your focused gaze.
Dance is a live and performing art form and we need you to support these events. So, my biggest thanks is to you, the audience. Thank you for coming. I hope you will reach out and ask questions and connect with the choreographers, the dancers, the creative and production teams. Let’s have the conversation that celebrates the depth and breadth of movement research on campus and throughout the globe. We would love to talk to you.
With warmth and creative tingles,
Allara Gooliaff
TransFoRM
NOVEMBER 24 & 25 • 7:30 p.m. • UNIVERSITY THEATRE • $22/$17
An evening program featuring Calgary-based choreographers Mario Obeid and Zaria Rajha, Roma Thakore and Kala Bhavan of Calgary, Rufi Oswaldo, Michèle Moss and Kevin Fraser.
UCalgary Dance Research Conference
NOVEMBER 30 • 2—5:30 PM • UNIVERSITY THEATRE • FREE
UCalgary Dance Research Conference sharing the latest in dance studies and dance science research from faculty, staff and students. FREE ADMISSION
MoRFlix
DECEMBER 1 • 7:30 p.m. • UNIVERSITY THEATRE • $14/$11
Dance film screenings and digital storytellings from UCalgary students, alumni, staff and faculty.
Tim Nguyen
Dance@Noon
DECEMBER 4–6 • 12:00 PM • UNIVERSITY THEATRE • FREE
Dance@Noon presents the live performance of students at all levels in the dance program.
FREE ADMISSION
Credits
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Staff
Director BRUCE BARTON
Associate Director PENNY FARFAN
Dance Division Lead MELANIE KLOETZEL
Drama Division Lead CHRISTINE BRUBAKER
Music Division Lead JEREMY BROWN
Production Manager ANDREW NORTH
Performance and Artist Coordinator ALIDA LOWE
Communications and Marketing Advisor SATOKO (TOKIE) ONODA
Department Operations Manager MARY LOU MENDYK
Administrative Assistant ALEXANDRA LYONS
Academic Program Specialist ROSABEL CHOI
Academic Program Specialist CONSTANTINA CALDIS ROBERTS
Graduate Program Advisor ALISON SCHMAL -
Theatre Services
Venue & Client Relations Manager DAVID FRASER
Venue Business Administrator ABIR BACHIR
Booking Administrator CATHERINE ROULEAU
Front of House Manager KRISTINE ASTOP
Audio Technician ALEX BOHN
Lighting Technician JASON SCHWARZ
Scenic Carpenter SCOTT FREEMAN
Stage Technician IAN WILSON
A special thanks to the UCalgary Division of Dance and the Centre for the Research in the Fine Arts (CRFA) for the support for this project.