Saint John Contemporary Dance Festival will mark its tenth anniversary season with a complete online program which will include a video-based Community Movement Project. This is your opportunity to be part of the fun!
This year marks the 10th anniversary season of Saint John-based non-profit professional contemporary dance company Connection Dance Works. In July, the company will hold its annual Saint John Contemporary Dance Festival, which will be moving to a digital format because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The festival typically includes a Community Movement Project, where anyone who likes to move, regardless of dance background, is invited to participate and work together over the course of a week to create, rehearse, and then perform a unique work.
This year, Connection Dance Works has instead issued a call for submissions, asking for members of the public to submit short video clips of movement and dance that will be edited together and shared on social media. The soundtrack for the performance is “Never Knowing” by Ladd & Lasses.
“One of our goals is to make contemporary dance accessible to everyone,” said Joanna Bryson, Co-founder and Executive Director of Connection Dance Works. “The SJ Community Movement Project has been a great way to get members of the local community excited about dance, and we are hoping this year’s new digital format will encourage an even greater participation.”
Video submissions are welcome from anyone. The video can be of an individual, group, family pet (get creative!) and can be shot to include the body in whole or in part – for example just hands or feet. Submissions should be in .mp4 or .mov format and no more than 15 seconds long.
Video submissions can be sent to sjmovementproject@gmail.com and are due by Friday, July 3rd. Additional details on the Saint John Community Movement Project are available online here.
The final video will be unveiled during the Saint John Contemporary Dance Festival the week of July 20th to 24th and will be shared on the Connection Dance Works website and social media platforms.
How you can take part:
Step One: Listen to the soundtrack music: “Never Knowing” by Ladd & Lasses.
Step Two: Film a short video clip (no more than 15 seconds) of yourself or someone else moving to the music. You don’t need to show your face if you would prefer to remain anonymous.
Step Three: Send your clip in to sjmovementproject@gmail.com no later than Friday, July 3rd.
Watch for the reveal of the final project during the Contemporary Dance Festival later in July.
A Connection Dance Works media release.
