MFA candidates in York’s Graduate Program in Dance – choreography and dramaturgy premiere a cluster of original works in The Field, opening Wednesday, Feb. 13 in the Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan Theatre, Accolade East Building.
A “field” can be many things: a plot of land, a location, an area of study or research, the historical traces of a creative question, the frame created by a proscenium stage, the idiosyncratic characteristics of a specific site, a thought or a creative idea.
All of these potential meanings are mined in the choreographies presented by John Gerena, Vanessa Jane Kimmons, Catherine Murray, Bee Pallomina and Pamela Rasbach.
Murray’s (im)maculate takes a head-on look at the issue of teenage pregnancy and motherhood. Based on the choreographer’s research and one-on-one interviews with young mothers in Toronto, the piece delves into the stigma attached to this population and reveals the young women’s struggle for success.
Catherine Murray
Pallomina’s the understory (part 3) is a collaborative duet created and performed with Saskatchewan dance artist Johanna Bundon. Beginning in the expanse of a prairie landscape in winter, the two performers try to stay warm and find their way to early spring.
Bee Pallomina
Urban dance artist Kimmons explores the large, grotesque, powerfully built sasquatch in her choreography, Bigfooted. Though widely regarded as a dangerous menace, little factual information exists to support the negative reputation of this elusive creature. Maybe all she wants to do is get down and practice her best moves?
Vanessa Jane Kimmons
Colombia-born Genera’s Bermejo centres on the colour red, which he associates with aggressiveness and war. His work takes as its starting point the semiotics of red, offering a narrative that reflects on anger, violence and war in Colombia, and the blood that stains his homeland.
John Gerena
Rasbach’s choreographic research examines the possibilities of shifting structures within a dance performance. Working with five dancers and musical collaborator Luke Garwood, she creates her piece, Set the Timer for Forever, in real time.
Pamela Rasbach
Professor Darcey Callison serves as artistic director for The Field. Lighting design supervision and production management are by Professor William Mackwood. The show runs nightly at 7:30pm from Feb. 13 to 15. Tickets are available through the Fine Arts Box Office.