Live Art Productions has a rich history of delivering eclectic, challenging contemporary dance performances from around the world, and their latest, Brutalis, is no exception. Belgian dancer/choreographer Karine Ponties and her company Dame de Pic collaborated with comic illustrator Thierry Van Hasselt, who created hundreds of charcoal drawings of Ponties while she was dancing. Brutalis is Ponties’ response and recreation of those drawings. Live Art’s artistic director Paul Caskey says, “Karine evokes images that are visually very powerful. She does very simple things with her body but she creates these illusions with lights and strange body positions that always makes me wonder, ‘What am I looking at here?’”
Caskey considers Brutalis an evolution piece, as Ponties morphs from shape to shape, mixing with lights and projections, referencing dryness, dust and bones. “She’s really not concerned with what people call ‘the beauty myth’,” says Caskey. “Her intention is not to go out and make pretty steps, she’s really interested in body as an expressive medium and to use this wonderful tool to create these rich worlds.”
Running January 26 to 27 at 8pm, at Sir James Dunn Theatre (6101 University), tickets to Brutalis are $22 ($15 for students) and can be reserved by calling 494-3820.
Reading lines
The Halifax International Writers’ Festival’s line-up is crammed full of great authors who should appeal to both fiction and non-fiction page-turners. We’re really stoked by Heather O’Neill—whose incredible novel Lullabies for Little Criminals will be defended by The Weakerthans’ John K. Samson for CBC’s Canada Reads—and by readings from Dennis Bock and Krista Bridge. Our curiousity is piqued by Andy Brown’s novel, which follows sibling relationships through the removal of skin moles. Our favourite mommy dearest Rebecca Eckler is coming, as is Mordecai’s offspring Noah Richler and forensic anthropologist/mystery writer Kathy Reichs. Look for local talents Marq de Villiers, Tanya Davis, Ami McKay, Linda Little and Lorri Neilsen Glenn. HIWF runs from March 28 to April 1. Visit halifaxwritersfest.com for the schedule.
Smart carding
Textile arts get a well-deserved financial boost with the announcement that NSCAD University has received a commitment of more than $1 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund. The money is marked for an intriguing research project, led by NSCAD’s Division of Craft Chair, professor Robin E. Muller, and Dr. Sarah Bonnemaison of Dalhousie University’s School of Architecture. The collaborative project aims to develop “smart” textiles that respond to sound, movement, sunlight and touch, with architectural applications.
Play school
You don’t have to wait until September to get your fill of fringe—the King’s Theatrical Society’s Fringe Festival showcases the best amateur theatre this side of Coburg. Spokesperson Yolana Wassersug says that of the 15 plays showcased, many are “geared towards the student body and campus issues.” There’s plenty for non-students too, including Mitchell Cushman’s quest for the elusive Nintendo console in Wii, Myself and I. Because there’s no selection process and newbies are mentored by those with stage experience, Wassersug says the festival attracts “people who wouldn’t do theatre because of the time commitment, but being able to do a fringe show, it’s a month of your time and they get the experience of being on stage.”
KTS Fringe (A&A Building, Kings College, 6350 Coburg), runs nightly until January 24, with two Saturday matinees. For a complete schedule call 422-6011, ext. 102. Where else can you get live theatre for $2 (or $5 for a Saturday marathon)?
Media moguls
For six months, the recipients of Centre for Art Tapes’s media-arts scholarship have toiled away in the studio. Now it’s your turn to applaud at the Out of the Centre screening and reception, January 26, 7pm at the Neptune Studio Theatre (1593 Argyle). Tickets are $6 in advance at CFAT (5600 Sackville, 420-4002) and Anna Leonowens (5163 Duke), or $8 at the door.
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