Connection Dance Works announce New Brunswick performances and workshop as part of spring Perspective Series.
Saint John contemporary dance company, Connection Dance Works, will be presenting two performances and a workshop later this month as part of the company’s annual Perspective Series. Billed as “an evening of dance, music and discussion”, the series offers an opportunity for audiences to witness new work in development from both emerging and established choreographers.
“The Perspective Series takes place in the fall and spring of each year,” said CDW Executive Director Joanna Bryson. “The series offers a new format for dance performance in New Brunswick, providing opportunities for choreographers to showcase works that are currently in development.”
Each new Perspective performance follows a week of collaborative creation involving dancers, choreographers and musicians. The company’s upcoming series features work by choreographers Megan Hunter (BC), Lauren Runions (ON) and Zita Nyarady – who is originally from Fredericton but now living in Ontario – and musicians Andrew Reed Miller (NB), Emily Kennedy (NB), Nadia Francavilla (NB) & Joel Leblanc (NB).
“Musicians and choreographers work together in a week long collaborative lab residency to create new music and dance,” said Bryson.
There will also be a talk-back session following each performance where audiences are invited to engage with the participating artists.
“Audience members get a chance to hear from choreographers and musicians about the creation process as well as be encouraged to share their thoughts about each work,” said Bryson. “Seeing things from the perspectives of others helps further develop the work for the artists.”
Risk plays a big part of the Perspective process. Participating choreographers apply to be part of the program and are then paired with musicians to create new works, often working together for the first time.
“The series programming seeks to offer a variety of artistic performances from emerging and professional artists. Choreographers and musicians are paired together based on their proposed work, and what they hope to gain from this experience. They exchange emails prior to the residency, but officially meet in person on the first day,” said Bryson.
For this series, the company welcomes dancers Marcia Dysart (NB), Amanda LaRusic (NS) and Sarah Power (NB) as well as members of Solo Chicken Productions’ COOP CORPS (Courtney Arsenault, Samuel Crowell, Lucas Gutierrez-Robert, Sydney Hallet, Alex Rioux) under the direction of Lesandra Dodson and Lisa Anne Ross.
The spring Perspective performances will also mark the company’s first performance for audiences in Fredericton.
“Performing in Fredericton has been a goal we have been working towards for several years,” said Bryson. “Eventually, we would like Perspective to tour throughout the province. It is exciting to see it starting to happen.”
The company will host performances on April 20 at Saint John’s BMO Theatre and April 21 in Fredericton at the Open Space Theatre. An open workshop with Fredericton-based choreographer Lesandra Dodson will take place April 22 at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre.
“Come to Perspective, said Bryson. “It’s an exciting night of experimental dance and music with something for everyone. Take a risk with us and try something new!”
Perspective (performance and talk-back) | April 20, 2017 | BMO Theatre | Saint John, NB | 7:30 p.m. | $15 ($10 students & seniors) | View Event
Perspective (performance and talk-back)| April 21, 2017 | Open Space Theatre | Fredericton, NB | 7:30 p.m. | $15 ($10 students & seniors) | View Event
Perspective (workshop)| April 22, 2017 | Charlotte Street Arts Centre | Fredericton, NB | 12 p.m. | $10 | View Event
