Leif Norman
International physical performers who are at their peak will be in Calgary alongside local choreographers as part of the 2014 Fluid Festival starting October 15. That opportunity to pit local creators against the nation and the globe is at the heart of this dance festival.
“Putting both side by side raises the bar for everyone and gives context for seeing work as a Calgarian” says festival curator Nicole Mion adding that she hopes it will contribute to a national conversation about dance and physical performance.
As a result performances by Tentacle Tribe of Montreal Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers and Sore For Punching You of Toronto will be presented with works by local choreographers Tara Wilson Tony Tran Pamela Tzeng and Catherine Hayward & Shayne Johnson.
Fluid Festival also strives to bring in international dance superstars and this year that role is filled by L-E-V a company from Tel Aviv Israel. “What’s interesting about this company is they really sit between DJ culture fashion and fierce contemporary dance” says Mion.
The company is also at the top of its game. “The dancers that they work with are like thoroughbreds — they’re just the best dancers from around the world.” Through the Fluid Fest Calgary managed to snag the national première of L-E-V’s show House which is only visiting three other Canadian cities (Ottawa Montreal and Vancouver).
Over the 12 days of the festival you’ll find international works like L-E-V bold performances by Canadian and Calgarian choreographers late-night cabarets and also some free public programing.
“Art needs to be relevant art needs to be alive in our community” says Mion. “Sometimes that means being in a black box theatre for a really special show and sometimes that means rethinking the kind of venues we’re in and how they’re making it possible for a broader community to play a part.”
FLUID FEST HIGHLIGHTS
• L-E-V — From Israel to its Canadian première L-E-V’s House runs October 22 to 25 and blends hypnotic music supremely controlled movement cinematic sensibilities and atmospheric dream scenes. Contains brief nudity.
• Cabarets: If you want a bit of everything plus a glass of wine try Physical Therapy (October 19 and 20) or Urban Cultural (October 21 and 26) cabarets at Wine-Ohs. These events offer a kaleidoscope of the talent you find elsewhere in the festival and stretch beyond dance to include live music spoken word and more.
• Tentacle Tribe: This Montreal company is paired with the work of local choreographers Tony Tran and Tara Wilson October 16 to 18. All of them are at the cutting edge of the urban dance scene.
• Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers: Winnipeg has long been a bastion of contemporary dance in Canada. Alongside this company’s riff on blue jeans are pieces by Winnipeg’s Ming Hon and Calgary’s Pamela Tzeng that are informed by visual arts running October 17 to 18.
• Sore for Punching You: Toronto-based choreographer Allison Cummings’ work Final Savage Land was originally created for a storefront and therefore this duet takes a unique approach to space. This show runs October 17 to 19 and also boasts live musicians.
• Katie Ward Catherine Hayward & Shayne Johnson: This late-night show running October 23 to 25 delves into reality with Katie Ward’s solo work. Arrive at 7 p.m. for an artist talk/workshop on reality with Ward (no tights or dance experience required). Those familiar with Hayward and Johnson’s performances with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks might want to see how they express themselves as choreographers in Project Black.
• Dancing Monkey Laboratories: Programmed through ProArts as a free lunch-hour performance on October 15 We Must Collide is an interdisciplinary exploration of how we relate to each other seeking both stillness and collision.
• containR: Calgary’s first designated “art park” hosts a range of physical performances from swing dancing to dance theatre during the afternoons on October 18 and 19. No ticket price no curtain no pressure.
Fluid Festival runs October 15 to 26 at various venues.
