"what is woman?" explores my own experience wrestling with the (often degrading) traditional gender roles and expectations placed on women.
it is my process of defining & undefining & redefining & undefining again what my understanding of femininity is.
dance is an embodied artform; to be seen and felt more than heard and articulated. in a similar way, i want to offer that perhaps the answer to our question is also simply embodied and inarticulable.
this project began development as part of Kim Van Stygeren’s LOVES Dance Residency, where i had the wonderful opportunity of developing this piece in The Studio (her art space in an old converted barn!).
the goal of the residency was to create a piece surrounding the themes of her late mother’s work; a personal journey, beauty, freedom and/ or female archetypes, and remount it a second time at a different location.
”what is woman?” is designed to be moulded and transformed; continuing to grow as it finds new spaces to live.
currently, it is being reshaped in a new collaborative project, “The Body and The Brain,” with fellow emerging dancer/ choreographer, Vik Mudge, to be presented at In the Soil Festival this summer in downtown St. Catharines.
if you are interested in remounting this piece, please contact me here.
photo by Benjamin Morales
photo by Benjamin Morales
photo by Benjamin Morales
photo by Benjamin Morales
photo by Benjamin Morales
the premiere at the barn.
Mike Enns, music and visuals
i want to express my deepest gratitude to the people who have offered their time and brilliance to this project.
to kim, for being the catalyst, the space holder, and overall an incredible mentor and support - you have expanded my thinking in innumerable ways and have advocated for my ideas and dreams as an emerging artist.
to mike, for not only composing the music and making all the technical jazz happen, but also for being a safe space to dump ideas and process through things - you have been instrumental through this entire process (all puns intended) and i truly would not be here without you.
and to meagan, for mentoring me through the choreographic process on the other side of the world - you have enlightened and equipped me with such useful ideas and tools that i will carry with me through my life.
thank you thank you thank you !
a deep thank you also to luke gillett, “uncle jim” gay, joel galenkamp, tommy alley, and kyle, steph & beth from mortise and tenon coffee. you have all been key players and my support system along the way.