Please join us for a showing of not knot naught, a new work I've been creating this past year with Sevrin Emnacen and Luciana D’Anunciação:
Nov 18, 6–6:45pm at Morrow. RSVP to: projectsmanager@thedancecentre.ca
nkn is an homage to post-modern dance icon, Trisha Brown, as she appears on the internet. We’re looking back to move forward. Exploring possibility, permutation and limits within a container of assorted dance aesthetics, we are a three in a four world. A triangle in a square. We’re in search of ‘pure dance’, choreography that’s not tied to meaning- or story-making. The time has come for Post-Contemporary
This sharing is generously hosted by Ziyian Kwan and Odd Meridian Arts in advance of presenter-only sharings at Dance In Vancouver. nkn is supported by aka collective, Odd Meridian, City of Vancouver Cultural Services and The Dance Centre.
We're super-excited to announce the lineup for interplay_2024, festival of live online performance... Shows and workshops run Dec 12–15: Kendell Yan (Maiden China) + Romi Kim (SKIM) drag, green screen, video mixing; konjo world building, DJing, media collage; seeley quest ritual, play, interactive invitations; Mark Bath animation, dance, video, projection.
Tickets are FREE/by-donation and go on sale
interplay_'s produced by me, DP with Victor Tran, Sammy Chien, khattieQ, Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre, aka collective, plastic orchid factory, Caroline MacCaull/Chimerik 似不像, City of Vancouver and BC Arts Council.
I created the video What am I holding up to the camera?, with music by Ahmed Khalil, and it's being screened as part of the Small File Media Festival, Oct 17–19 at The Cinematheque.
I'm humbled and honoured to be appointed Festival Co-Director of the Vancouver International Dance Festival, along with my wonderful friend and colleague Victor Tran. We are just in awe of VIDF founders Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashi and are eager to listen, learn and give back to the art form and community that have given us so much. We're also lauching an Open Call to Artists, due Oct 15.
If anyone's around and wants to get down Sat Aug 3, 10pm—late, Sekou Sonko-Boisclair aka Mr. Kou (Edmonton) is in town and we're hosting a house party at Gold Saucer. BYOB or whatever.
This July I'm participating in studio research in the creative process of Helen Walkley.
This summer I'm back collaborating as a performer in Jeanette Kotowich's new ensemble work BOLT, alongside Kate Franklin, beat maker Ahmed Khalil and outside eyes Lisa Gelley and Michelle Olson.
The Enormous Room is a duet I've created with/for Victor Vân Tran and Samuelle Auclair. It's part of Victor's production GRAND SAUT, May 9–11, presented by plastic orchid factory at Left of Main: BUY TICKETS
I'm teaching a House Dance + Itcush Method combo class at Working Class this Apr 22, 24 + 26. I'm probably the only person in the world who practices both of these movement forms. If I'm wrong, and there is someone else out there, and you happen to be reading this, please
aka's hosting a dance party social with DJs The Stunt Man and Scott G Apr 20, 10pm–late/early @ Gold Saucer. Join us to support us and our ongoing activities, as we embark on our effective collective. Entry by PWYC donation: RSVP
I'm on the road again with Jeanette Kotowich and her solo Kisiskâciwan. Shows are in Edmonton, presented by BWDC, Mar 15+16. Re-joining us is fiddler Kathleen Nisbet. In advance of the shows, we're part of a Deaf Inclusion Project with performer Thurga Kanagasekarampillai and consultants Connor Yuzwenko-Martin and Caroline Hébert.
While in Edmonton this March, I'm teaching a workshop combining concepts + exercises from the Itcush Method with steps + approaches from House Dance. It turns out that Amelia Itcush, who devised the Itcush Method, loved club dances because of their use of rebound and rippling movement into and out of the floor. At Mile Zero Dance, Mar 10, 1–3pm: REGISTER
Check out aka residency recipes for some of what aka cooked and ate while living, dancing, writing and talking together during a 7-day [snowed-in] residence at LEÑA this past January.
The call for interplay_2024, festival of live online performance, launches Feb 1. The call's a bit earlier this year, to align with grant deadlines. We're also moving the festival dates from the end of summer to the deepest darkest days of fall. Applications due Mar 15. Follow us @interplay_arts for updates. We're grateful for support from Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre, plastic orchid factory and City of Vancouver.
From January—June, I'm mentor with/for two wonderful dance artists: Christy Stoeten and Punit Singh, as a part of the DTRC's Evolve program.
This January, I'm back creating The Enormous Room, a new duet for Savage & Samuelle that will be presented as a part of GRAND SAUT May 9–11.
Jan 21, 1–3pm, aka presents a movement workshop as part of Slumber/, an ambient sleepover concert presented by Active/Passive at the South Galiano Community Hall on what's now known as Galiano Island, BC. Learn some Métis jigging, somatic House grooves + Hustle partner dance before we snuggle in for the night.
aka's in-residence at LEÑA on Galiano Island this January :) We're grateful to Dayna for this generous invitation to live and work together for 7 days. We're dedicating this time to our ongoing research into artist-to-artist support models. Watch for updates in our moving manifesto.
Throughout 2024, I'm creating a new work with collaborating performers Sevrin Emnacen and Luciana D’Anunciação. not knot naught explores possibility, permutation and limits within a container of postmodern and club dance aesthetics.
Jan 3, 7–9pm @ Gold Saucer, I'm hosting a FREE House Dance Session with DJ
