Dance Victoria Footnotes 59 (Fall 2018) by Dance Victoria

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ISSUE 59 • FALL 2018 • Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal + Nutcracker + Cherish + more…

Dance at the Royal

Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal Dance Me | Music of Leonard Cohen

November 16 • Fri • 7:30 pm November 17 • Sat • 2:00 + 7:30 pm Royal Theatre Running Time: 1 hour 10 minutes (no intermission) Lead Sponsors

Royal Winnipeg Ballet + Victoria Symphony Nutcracker November 30 • Fri • 7:30 pm December 1 + 2 • Sat + Sun • 2:00 pm + 7:30 pm Royal Theatre Running Time: 2 hours (incl. intermission)

Saskya Pauzé-Bégin and Pier-Loup Lacour in Dance Me. Photo © Marc Montplaisir.

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An interview with Renée Sigouin

ats Best se m p at 2 show!

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Dance Victoria brings the World’s Best Dance to the Royal Theatre and supports the development of new dance for the international stage from its studios in Quadra Village. Dance Victoria is a non-proﬁt charitable society. DanceVictoria.com

Dance Seen The Chance To Be A Producer BY STEPHEN WHITE

Dance Victoria Board: President

Susan Howard

Vice President René Peloquin Treasurer

Susan Porter

Secretary

Nikki Sieben

Directors

Heather Lejeune Kari McLay Andrew Newcombe Colin Nicol Kirsty Thomson Emily Zeng

Staff: Executive Producer

Stephen White

General Manager

Bernard Sauvé

Operations Manager

Shireen McNeilage

Marketing Manager

Tracy Smith

Accounting

Julie Collins

Production Manager

Holly Vivian

Graphic Design

Rayola Creative

Advertising Sales

Bonnie Light Advertising

Events Manager

Pamela Sanderson – Hire a Somm

If you’d like to volunteer for Dance Victoria please visit Dance Victoria and complete the online volunteer form. Studios and Ofﬁce: 111 – 2750 Quadra Street Victoria, BC V8T 4E8 250-595-1829 DanceVictoria.com for trailers, tickets and more information Tickets: 250-386-6121 Footnotes is written by Stephen White and Tracy Smith (unless otherwise noted).

WELCOME TO DANCE VICTORIA’S 22ND SEASON at the Royal Theatre. Hello again to our many loyal subscribers and a record number of new friends. We’re proud of the program we’ve put together for this season. I think you’ll enjoy the variety and I’m confident you’ll appreciate the superb quality of the dance artists. My job at Dance Victoria has many aspects. I’m a grant writer, fundraiser, marketer, programmer, manager, but seldom do I get the chance to be a producer! About two years ago, I received a notice from Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal (BJM) announcing the company had secured the exclusive rights to Leonard Cohen’s music and that Artistic Director Louis Robitaille would be creating a new production. I phoned Louis immediately. “Louis, Victoria wants this show!” Like that, the deal was done. This show had two things going for it, two big things: 1) Cohen and 2) BJM. I know from experience Victoria loves BJM. I also know from watching Leonard Cohen at his Victoria concerts, this town loved him. Shortly after Louis confirmed Victoria, Bernard and I started talking about a potential third performance (if sales warranted). When we wrote the contract, we included a provision for a third performance. “What a great day! Today Early sales were very strong. For the fourth straight I got to be a producer!” year, Dance Victoria’s subscriber base keeps growing. How great is that? But the real test came the day after Labour Day when single tickets went on sale. Everyone in the office will tell you that I am a little obsessed about sales. I have an Excel spreadsheet and every Monday morning, I record the sales of the past week and then I announce the results to the team. If sales are particularly robust, I check them several times a day and share these results — well, shout them out actually. I’ve been known to take wagers from Tracy, Bernard and Shireen on when we’ll hit a certain number. I’ll say, “We just need to get to $10,000 by four o’clock today,” ridiculously believing that just by willing it, it will happen. When it does, no one is spared from my enthusiasm. With BJM after Labour Day, it was like watching a horse race. Sales took off. Every time I checked the box office software, my heart was pounding. Then the extended debate began. “Should we add a matinee? Or shouldn’t we?” I knew I was testing everyone’s patience, but I couldn’t help myself. Then the moment arrived. Mid-day, Friday, September 14. We’d had our second discussion about the matinee and decided we would look at numbers after the weekend. I called the Box Office Manager, Melissa, to tell her this news. Melissa said, “No, you should add the matinee now, so it’s on sale through the weekend.” Melissa has been Box Office Manager at the Royal and McPherson Theatres for many years. She and her team have sold everything from Madame Butterfly to Puppetry of the Penis. She knows what she’s doing. I got off the phone. Bernard called the agent. We worked out the finer details, posted it to social media and bang, we were on sale! That day, I went home from the office and said to my partner Bill, “What a great day! Today I got to be a producer!” FN

DanceVictoria.com • 3

Apprentice Renée Sigouin Talks about Dancing with Kidd Pivot What’s the process like working with her when she’s creating new choreography? There are several ways of generating material that I've experienced in working with her. One is that she makes building block phrases of movement in her own body and teaches them to the dancers and the material can then be used in various ways throughout the creation. Another is letting the dancers improvise while she watches and shapes things that she sees or feels drawn to. The rehearsal process at Kidd Pivot is fast-paced and exciting. Often there are multiple things being worked on at once in different corners of the studio. Why do you think dance creations like Revisor are important to perform? I am personally drawn to Crystal and Jonathon’s collaborative work because I'm fascinated by the relationships between movement and language, how both can move ﬂuidly between narrative and abstract, and how the deconstruction of these relationships can make me see things in new or unexpected ways. It will be exciting to see how the two layers get interwoven and pulled apart in this new work! This summer, Dance Victoria’s Executive Producer, Stephen White contacted a number of people with a unique proposition. Dance Victoria was committed to contributing to the commission of Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young’s newest work, Revisor, currently in development in Vancouver, but he wanted Dance Victoria’s support to extend a little further. White asked a group of individuals to assist us in underwriting the expense for Pite to hire an apprentice dancer. The community responded. Emerging dance artist Renée Sigouin was selected by Pite and recently began working with Kidd Pivot. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Sigouin moved to Vancouver in 2008, where she studied at post-secondary contemporary dance training program, Modus Operandi, under the mentorship of Tiffany Tregarthen and David Raymond. Since graduating (2012), she has performed with Out Innerspace Dance Theatre, Company 605, Wen Wei Dance, Mascall Dance, Kinesis Dance, EDAM, Constance Cooke and Emmalena Fredriksson. We caught up with her to chat about her experiences during her ﬁrst few months with Kidd Pivot.

Renée Sigouin. Photo © Pier Alexandre Gagné.

When did you ﬁrst begin dancing with Crystal Pite? In September 2017 I was awarded one of the BC Arts Council Early Career Development mentorship grants to pursue an apprenticeship with Crystal and Kidd Pivot for the 2017/2018 season. Prior to that, Crystal had been the choreographic mentor to Tiffany Tregarthen and David Raymond during the creation of Major Motion Picture which I was a part of, so that is where I ﬁrst worked with her present in the studio. After completing my mentorship project, Crystal asked me to join the creation of Revisor as apprentice.

How are your experiences with the company instrumental in accomplishing your goals as a dance artist? As a dancer, I'm interested in improvisation, character work, imagination and invention in the body, and transformation. I feel so grateful to be able to put all of these things into practice while being inspired by Crystal, Jon, and the entire Kidd Pivot team. FN

FREE Pre-Show Chats Presented by Facilitated by Dr. Allana Lindgren, Chair UVic Theatre Department.

Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal Join us in the lobby from 1:20 pm to 1:45 pm (matinee) and 6:50 to 7:15 pm (evening) for a chat with Louis Robitaille, Artistic Director of Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal. Louis will discuss the evening’s program and answer any questions you may have. Royal Winnipeg Ballet + Victoria Symphony — Nutcracker Join us 45 minutes (1:15 pm for the matinees and 6:45 for the evenings) before the show for Nutcracker Story Time. Professional storyteller Jim Leard will recount the tale of Clara’s magical evening.

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Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal Dance Me | Music of Leonard Cohen

Take 15+ songs by Canadian literary giant, Leonard Cohen, and add the high energy, dynamic precision of BJM’s dancers, and you have the recipe for one magical evening! Using a selection of Cohen’s most beloved songs, renowned choreographers Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Andonis Foniadakis and Ihsan Rustem have created a spectacular new multimedia work commissioned especially by Louis Robitaille, Artistic Director of Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal. Based on the cyclical nature of five seasons, the fifth being what Robitaille describes as that “distinctly Canadian” Indian Summer, Dance Me is an emotional arc with scenes that represent Cohen’s sensual side, his relation to women (I bet that could be a show in itself!), and also his thoughts on war, disasters, social issues and religion. Their approach focusing on the cyclical nature of human life acquired particular poignancy when Cohen died in November 2016 while they were still creating Dance Me. The Company was granted worldwide exclusive dance and circus art rights from Cohen’s team for five years to use his image, name, music/visual/literary works for the show. The 80-minute, nointermission piece is built on a lovingly assembled playlist of Cohen’s songs including his biggest hits and some poetry, with a couple of

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interesting live versions thrown in! Expect a jaw-dropping level of athleticism to songs by the legendary singer/songwriter. The blockbuster program is selling out across the globe. We’re so thrilled to welcome them to the Royal Theatre. FN

Season Launch with Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal at Luxe Home Interiors Dance Victoria subscribers are invited to a free private launch party with Les Ballet Jazz de Montréal (BJM) at Luxe Home Interiors (2655 Douglas St.) on Thursday, November 15. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Dr. Allana Lindgren, dance historian and Chair of University of Victoria’s Theatre Department, will have a conversation with Louis Robitaille, Artistic Director of BJM, regarding his motives and inspiration for Dance Me. Sample Vancouver Island spirits, wines and ciders and enjoy catering by Charelli’s. RSVP to rsvp@dancevictoria.com by Friday, November 9 with “BJM Luxe event” in the subject line.

BJM artists in Dance Me. Photo © Thierry du Bois - Cosmos Image.

November 16 • 7:30 pm November 17 • 2:00 + 7:30 pm Royal Theatre

DanceVictoria.com • 5

Royal Winnipeg Ballet Nutcracker + Victoria Symphony

Company artists in Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Photo © Yin Yi Photography

Nov. 30 • 7:30 pm Dec. 1 + 2 • 2:00 pm + 7:30 pm Royal Theatre We’re incredibly lucky to welcome back Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) and the Victoria Symphony for their Christmas classic, Nutcracker. RWB’s production remains the most popular production of all time for Dance Victoria with Canadian touches like a hockey game on a frozen pond, RCMP ofﬁcers in battle with the Mouse King and more. The costumes, sets and music are breathtaking. Nutcracker is a spirited start to the holiday season that the whole family can enjoy. Subscribers enjoy a discount on regular price tickets for this production. Note: You will see children of all ages and abilities in our Nutcracker audiences. The noise level and enthusiasm may be higher than you are accustomed to in the theatre, but that is what makes these performances special. Thank you in advance for your consideration! FN

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Nutcracker Kids Lead Donor

Supported in part by

Each $65 contribution brings vulnerable kids to Nutcracker! Each year we reach out to folks like you so that we can bring clients and staff from Victoria Women’s Transition House to the opening night performance of Nutcracker. To help make a dream come true for local children, call us at 250-595-1829 or visit DanceVictoria.com and click “Support Us.” The kids will love you for it! All donors are recognized in the Nutcracker program.

Nutcracker Ensemble Sponsor

Almost 80 children from local dance schools will be part of the Nutcracker Ensemble. Thank you to Cowichan Trading for keeping this tradition alive.

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Dance Victoria Hosted Tours Vive la Différence - Montréal and Québec City | May 22 – 30, 2019 Travel Partner

New Sponsors Dance Victoria has benefitted from the support of the region’s private sector to bring the best dance to Victoria. Thank you to both our returning and new sponsors. We welcome the following new sponsors this year: • TDI Hardwood Flooring • Rob Tournour Masonry Ltd. • Bastion Books A big thank-you to these folks and, of course, to our returning sponsors!

A fabulous trip to Montréal and Québec City is in store for 30 lucky people in May 2019! General Manager Bernard Sauvé has curated a unique trip to Montréal and Québec City for May 2019! Bernard knows Montreal like the back of his hand, having lived there for 24 years. You’ll go to hot spots like the Musée des Beaux-Arts Montréal, Observatoire Place Ville Marie and Pointe-à-Callière (the birthplace of Montréal). In Old Québec, you’ll see La Citadel, walk the Belvedere and visit Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec. And of course, you’ll experience dance! You’ll visit the incredible, new studios of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and see them perform that evening in Parlami d’Amore, with works by leading dancemakers like British choreographer Douglas Lee and Marwik Schmitt. Expect off-thebeaten-path activities like a visit to La Maison de la Danse, a picnic on the Plains of Abraham, whiskey tastings and more. This tour is hosted by Bernard and his partner Michael Curnes along with tour veterans Stephen White and William Hamar. Only a few spots left! Don’t be disappointed! Contact Bill at 250-595-1803 or tours@dancevictoria.com. FN Dance Victoria’s hosted tours are fundraising events for Dance Victoria Society with each traveller receiving a charitable tax receipt for a portion of their tour.

Business Cards Rack Cards & Post Cards Newsletters & Calendars Brochures & Flyers

609 Dunedin St., Victoria BC V8T 2L7 250-590-2998 www.fastracprinting.com

DanceVictoria.com • 7

The Remarkable Success of Cherish A Glamorous Evening of Fashion & Philanthropy

Annual General Meeting Sunday, November 4, 2018 • 7:00 pm Milne Studio, Dance Victoria If you have donated $100 or more to the Society since July 1, 2017, you are a member in good standing and are invited to our Annual General Meeting. If you’re unsure of your status, call us at 250-595-1829 or email info@dancevictoria.com. Memberships will be available at the meeting. The meeting will be followed by a reception. RSVP to rsvp@dancevictoria.com

Josh Hidson of Victoria Academy of Ballet in the Cherish fashion show.

Kirsty Thomson of Willow Wealth Management | Raymond James presented Cherish: A Glamorous Evening of Fashion and Philanthropy on October 4, 2018. Following the overwhelming success of last year’s charity fashion show, the event was expanded to the beautiful Crystal Ballroom and Palm Court at the Fairmont Empress and tickets SOLD OUT in early September. Fifteen dancers grooved to music, modelling the latest in men’s and women’s fashions from Tulipe Noire Clothing, hughes clothing, and Outlooks Menswear. The models’ hair was styled by Carreiro The Studio and make-up artistry was by Beautycounter. Hosted by Tess van Straaten, this year’s event raised essential cherished funds in support of Victoria Women’s Transition House and Dance Victoria’s community programs. We’re so thankful to the Cherish Organizing Committee for their countless hours of time and energy preparing for the event and in securing Community Champions: Donna Anderson-White, John Carreiro, Jocelyn Duncan, Jody Hollis, Susan K.E. Howard, Kari McLay, Dale Olsen, Lynda Raino, Janet Riccuiti, Kirsty Thomson, Bernard Sauvé and Stephen White. FN

Sell your home. Support Dance Victoria. Choose a DFH realtor below and mention Dance Victoria when you buy or sell your property. Ten percent of the realtor’s commission helps bring The World’s Best Dance to our community.

Photo: Korby Banner Photography

Night Moves Culture. Conversations. Cocktails. Title Sponsor Membership Sponsor Program Sponsor

Designed exclusively for 30 to 45 year olds, Night Moves offers a great night out with friends! Night Movers beneﬁt from special ticket pricing to Saturday evening presentations, special seating options plus a calendar of social events focused on culture, conversations and cocktails at unique locations following the show. This year, Hire a Somm’s Pamela Sanderson joins Dance Victoria as Events Manager. Pamela, in collaboration with Jeff Wright of Cascadia Liquor, and the Night Moves Committee led by Dance Victoria Board member Heather LeJeune are putting together some exciting, carefully curated experiences and inventive cocktails. You can look forward to tastings, rocking parties and a lot more, so mark your calendars. The best deal is a Night Moves membership, but single Night Moves tickets are also available through the Royal/McPherson Box Ofﬁces. Proof of age I.D. required at purchase. Like us on Facebook.com/nightmovesvictoria

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Next DANCE DAYS It’ll Move You January 18 to 27, 2019 In studios all over town Every January, local studios offer free adult dance classes in all kinds of styles — and we mean all kinds: ballet, ballroom, Beyoncé barre, efunk and more as part of Dance Days. Look for the complete online calendar of classes at DanceVictoria.com in early January 2019. It’s the perfect time to start 2019 off right by trying something new and fun!

MAN ONE NIGHT ONLY! January 25 • 7:30 pm McPherson Playhouse Tickets: 250-386-6121 or DanceVictoria.com Direct from Norway! MAN explores what it means to be human and to be a man. Choreographer Sølvi Edvardsen chose the title for its double meaning of a male person and humanity. At the heart of the work is her exploration of how we put limits on ourselves based on our life experiences, especially if you have a bicultural identity.

CHOREOGRAPHY WALKS

ROUGH CUTS: PRODUCER’S SELECTION January 25 + 26, 2019 Metro Studio Theatre (Quadra at Johnson) A curated selection of new works by exciting west coast artists. Save the dates and look for more details online in January at DanceVictoria.com.

Dance at the Royal Subscribers can buy additional tickets to Dance Victoria any time of the year and save 20% Best Seats. Best Prices. The World’s Best Dance.

LES BALLETS JAZZ DE MONTRÉAL Contemporary November 16, 2018 • 7:30 pm November 17, 2018 • 2:00 + 7:30 pm Best seats at the 2 pm performance! Royal Theatre Dance Me – Music of Leonard Cohen Choreography by Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Ihsan Rustem

BALLET WEST Ballet February 1 + 2, 2019 • 7:30 pm Royal Theatre Sweet and Bitter – Africa Guzmán White Swan, Black Swan – Choreography reimagined by Adam Sklute | Original Choreography by Mark Goldweber & Pamela Robinson-Harris Fox on the Doorstep – Nicolo Fonte * Note: This is a program change. We’re thrilled to bring the classic pas de deux from Swan Lake and a new work by Spain’s Guzmán.

BALLET BC Contemporary March 15 + 16, 2019 • 7:30 pm Royal Theatre Beginning After – Cayetano Soto New Work – Emily Molnar Petite Cérémonie – Medhi Walerski

HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGO Contemporary April 12 + 13, 2019 • 7:30 pm Royal Theatre A Picture of You Falling – Crystal Pite Lickety Split – Alejandro Cerrudo PACOPEPEPLUTO – Alejandro Cerrudo Cloudline – Robyn Mineko Williams

Plus ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET + VICTORIA SYMPHONY Ballet November 30 + December 1 + 2 • 7:30 pm December 1 + 2, 2018 • 2:00 pm + 7:30 pm Royal Theatre Nutcracker

MAN Contemporary January 25, 2019 • 7:30 pm McPherson Playhouse By Norwegian choreographer Sølvi Edvardsen

January 26 + 27, 2019 Downtown walking tour Tickets: 250-386-6121 or DanceVictoria.com Choreography Walks, created by Justine A. Chambers, are 60-minute walks through downtown Victoria during Dance Days 2019. Four local dance artists will develop choreographies for the walk: David Ferguson, Joanne Cuffe, Judith Price and Kemi Craig. Their work will respond to “choreography as a way of seeing or being in the world”. Participants and passers-by will reconsider how they move in and are moved by the world around them in relation to architecture, urban planning and natural topography. Participants on the walk will not stop to watch the choreographies, but instead each work will be experienced on approach and in passing. Visit DanceVictoria.com for more information.