All posts by Emma Letki

Review: Around (Dancemakers)

Around brings multidimensional dance to the Dancemakers Centre for Creation in Toronto

Around lived up to name the minute I walked into the Dancemakers Centre for Creation. Rather than finding a stage and a row of seats, I found a white curtained-off circle in the middle of the space. This set up the dancing to feel a like an installation or a moving sculpture; something that has no one right way of being seen. Around is an experiment, in movement and sound, and there are no right or wrongs. Continue reading Review: Around (Dancemakers)

Review: Eunoia (Fujiwara Dance Inventions)

Eunoia Dancers Lucy Rupert, Claudia Moore, Miko Sobreira, Rebecca Hope Terry, and Gerry Trentham,

Eunoia, based on the anthology by poet Christian Bök, is a fresh take on modern dance at Toronto’s Enwave Theatre

The evening started with a casual game of hangman, with the audience guessing letters and killing lots of stick figures–but somehow still managing to guess all the words. Eunoia has a gradual start, where really you are never sure when it has actually begun. Somewhere in the middle of our games the lights dimmed on Fujiwara Dance Inventions‘ new work in the Enwave theatre, and the show began.

The show works its way alphabetically through the vowels, each one taking on a very distinct characteristic. “A” started off the show with the dancers dressed all in black pants, and was a dash jazzy. “E” traced the Greek story of Helen, and saw a costume change into Greek dress. We also had a spot of Greek wrestling thrown in for good measure. Continue reading Review: Eunoia (Fujiwara Dance Inventions)

Review: In Spirit (Native Earth Performing Arts)

Photo of Sera-Lys McArthur

In Spirit explores death through a little girl’s eyes at Toronto’s Aki Studio Theatre

In Spirit is part of this year’s Rutas Panamericanas |Panamerican Routes presented by Aluna Theatre in association with Native Earth Performing Arts at the Aki Studio Theatre. This particular work is also part of NEPA’s 2013/ 2014 season. Written and Directed by Tara Beagan, former Artistic Director of NEPA, it is no wonder that In Spirit has such a great production quality. The team for In Spirit reads like the who’s who of top Canadian artists.

What would it be like to die? Or be murdered? These are pretty morbid questions, but they must have been asked at some point during the creation of In Spirit. This work is told from the perspective of a 13 year old little girl. It follows her journey rediscovering the events of her death. Continue reading Review: In Spirit (Native Earth Performing Arts)

Review: Voyager (Toronto Dance Theatre)

Image of company dancers from Voyager

Toronto Dance Theatre explores human movement and motion at the Winchester Theatre

Leaving the Winchester Street Theatre, it struck me that a converted church seemed fitting for what I had just seen. Working with all of the Toronto Dance Theatre company members, Ame Henderson’s Voyager was almost religious in its dedication to their theme.

The question posed in publicity about Voyager was “What would happen if you never stopped moving?” My initial gut response, albeit a pessimistic one was ‘nothing, we never stop moving’. Our hearts beat, our lungs pump, and our synapses fire we are constantly in motion. After seeing the show I realized what was missing from these press releases and e-blasts was the idea of constant motion at a single tempo.

Continue reading Review: Voyager (Toronto Dance Theatre)

Review: Firebrand (Single Thread Theatre)

Examining the final years of Toronto’s first mayor, Firebrand is playing at the Mackenzie House

Firebrand started as soon as I stepped into Mackenzie House. Surrounded by history and the story of Mackenzie’s political life Firebrand brought life to Toronto’s first Mayor. This is Single Thread Theatre’s third historical play in a series set on location around Toronto.

Written by Alex Dualt and set at the end of William Lyon Mackenzie’s life, Firebrand looks at his difficulty with debt, struggles with his home life, and his resignation from politics. Firebrand also briefly touched on some political topics that are still going strong today. The most potent and intriguing to me were the discussions about the Civilization Act, treatment and care of mental health patients, and women’s rights.

Continue reading Review: Firebrand (Single Thread Theatre)