Pro Series I: Why [Not] Dance? Vol. 5 ...as we do

Welcome!

This evening is a culmination of recent creative research and a dissemination event under the banner of SCPA/Faculty of Arts ProSeries I. 

The evening celebrates the lived experience, my lived experience and perhaps aspects of yours.

The conceit is something that has been central to my life, the dance party. 

I have invited some special guests, guest artists who work in Montréal and Ottawa. They are all busy advocating for dance, making dances, dancing the dances. They are involved in film, TV, touring abroad, educational events, daily practice and creative expression. The arts can transform us, lift us up. We are all advocating for dance in our society, in our schools and they use their artistic voices in Canada and around the world.

You can choose to just witness from your seat in the house or come onto the stage floor or find room on a couch, chair or stool onstage. As we do! Audience, you are welcome to participate in the research –participate in the group partying and cyphers that pop-up. You are called to the stage for the final dance party on the stage. In fact, you, the audience, are vital to this exchange. If you choose not to dance -fine- if nothing else, we will enjoy your company and comments in post-show conversation around the reception table. I hope you will chat up the cast -with their mouths full…as we do! 

 The opening choreography sets up the theatrical conceit. Thank you to 

Sierra Oszust, Ashley Mae Johnston and Claire Winther for agreeing to “host” our theatrical party. 

DJ Shemar Herbert is on the job from then playing some requests and improvising from reading the floor. This is a hybrid world of vernacular-theatre dance. 

Some artists have chosen their music others will spin the wheel with DJ Shemar’s taste and style.

YYC artist, teacher, and engineer is in the house to ready to share and animate this gathering. 

I welcome Eva, once a ballet dancer, welcome to the party dance floor.  

Jennifer Duncan and Sabrina Comenescu are well known to the Calgary scene as they continue to invest deeply in community dance. Across our country and around the world they are engaged both theatrically and educationally and pon the road. Chat them up, look them up online and yes, this amazing mother-daughter team is on the scene animating our city, and representing our province, our country. I appreciate on the road research, field school and ethnography. Let’s talk about it.  

Look out Calgary poet is in the house with a special work written for dancers. Wakefield Brewster, former YYC poet laureate and massage therapist for active bodies, will add to the story telling.  He is a force! 

The ‘[NOT] in the title refers to what else to do during these uncertain times. 

Maybe we need to kick up our heels, like post WWII -why not? How many people have uttered these words lately, “What a time to be alive!”

All the artists invited to solo invited to present something of themselves, an authentic perhaps vulnerable side or simply react to this time. These provocations, nudges, you can consider theatrical cinematic asides, some are improvising/devising in the moment others are set work and have been presented in other cities in this big world. 

You will enjoy Kaja Irwin, you may know her from around town or from other cities where she has lived and performed. She is a force with many interests; from performing to teaching, dance to theatre arts, creating puppets and sewing. Yes, she made the opening trios’ shirts or half shirts and sourced set particulars. 

Why [NOT] Dance? Vol. 5 is the fifth and final edition where we celebrate, celebrate whatever you want. I will be celebrating my future as this is a transitional event for me. I will be working in reduced duties status toward retirement. 40 years dancing in Calgary, around the world, teaching and collaborating and cooperating. This stage was the beginning of my professional journey and now a book end. The power of dance to animate us -is it action research? Is it medicine? A healing practice? Is it strong magic?

…As we do will include breakthrough solos or is it breakout solos? 

Let's be inspired to build a stronger community and groove it out on the dance floor. 

I am celebrating the evolution of black music and dance, emphasizing dance as a form of realization. The act of singing and dancing for ourselves becomes an act of redemption. I want to celebrate Africa, African Disapora and African American culture and society.

This is social activism; it is strengthening, playful and altogether genuine. I have created hundreds of concerts, giving you a lived experience of history, action, and research. This evening will showcase an exceptional ensemble of dancers, each bringing their unique talent and passion to the stage.

Thank you dance professionals with incredibly busy schedules you are coming this way. 

I celebrate you for all you do. Saxon Fraser, Karla Etienne and Yvon ‘Crazy Smooth’ Soglo.

I am so amazed by the range of your interactions in art, in training and education, television, governmental advocacy and so much more. 

I thank Jared Tobias Herring and Kevin Fraser, your 3D artistry was greatly enjoyed and in fact ‘brought the house down’ when we were on tour in Toronto. I thank you for the process practice building our creation muscles and fortifying our mental skills during the first iteration of Why Dance? Vol. 5 ….as we do! Audience reminder we all conduct ourselves differently in theatre some bring more of the vernacular some more witness than participant. Do as you will …as we do but know I love the audience being felt, heard and expressing themselves in ‘conversation’ with the art. 

As we do…final words to researchers upon whom I build my work, my practice. 

bell hooks, you are so full of love and although you have recently passed, I cleave to your thoughts, your words, through your publications. The nature of this life, the struggles and the joys are something we deal with in our unique lived experiences. Dance and social justice often paired as content -we can come together on the dance floor and work it out.

 “To commune, we come together and share our gift… It is only fitting that we, women having come so far in demanding recognition of our humanity, our equality, our gifts, and daily reaping the benefits of this struggle, wisely call for return to love. Women in love offer to the world our inner gifts, seeking companions to share mutual regard and recognition—a communion of souls that will sustain and abide”

bell hooks

I thank y’all for enjoying and participating, using our love language -dance and dancing!

All performers here this evening and all performers in past Why Dance? research iterations are thanked, deeply. 

Special thanks to colleagues Marie France Fortier, Melanie Kloetzel, Wojciech Mochniej and Alèn Delfino Martel.

Last, but not least, I thank my nuclear family.

Dear daughter, Odessa Johnston, and life partner/husband, Damon Johnston, I recognize you both, here publicly, for all do and are. Your love sustains me! I love you both with all of me. 

Thank you Brian MacNeil for your friendship and for your artistry.

Thank you Maddy Faunt for all you do for and with me. Thank you for being there even having just launched a professional career. Thanks for being, answering my calls and for the great mini film you made and for being media assistant.