Paul-André Fortier’s definition of dance stretches wider than a stage. The Montreal dancer was inspired for his latest production, Cabane, while spending 30 days dancing on top of a shack in a parking lot—the National Ballet this is not. Cabane, which Fortier has been performing since 2008, crosses lines between dance, installation art, theatre, and […]
Dance
Posted inArts + Music
Stamos’ evolution
For a choreographer, the starting point of a dance can come from anywhere: nature, an existing piece of art, a world event. Montreal choreographer and contemporary dancer George Stamos discovered the inspiration for Troglodyte Plastique, which premieres Thursday at the Sir James Dunn, at Value Village. In the secondhand store he found a bunch of […]
Posted inArts + Music
The Uncontainables: grab your tights and cape
Thirtysomething Dance Co-operative’s members have one thing in common: “We’re a bunch of adults who just can’t seem to give up the passion for getting on stage,” says Kate Hayter, the group’s artistic director. The strength is found in their differences, and this year it’s superhero strength. “We’ve had a very challenging year; we felt […]
Posted inArts + Music
Mocean Dance: Live at 3
Rockstars, dream states and immortals are just the beginning of what Mocean Dance’s newest work, Live at 3, brings to Neptune Studio Theatre this week. The local contemporary dance company, with dancers Carolle Crooks, Sarah Rozee (pictured) and Tania Jean performing this show, are world premiering three new works. The first, choreographed by Cory Bowles, […]
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Rave review
With roughly 100 kids armed with Red Bull in a fume-filled military bunker, no one would confuse the January 30 rave at York Redoubt with a scene from Go. But for a party with near-fatal consequences, the Facebook group memorializing the rave has a surprisingly optimistic tone. “It was sketchy, yes it was dangerous, yes […]
Posted inArts + Music
Born to dance
Her hands fly in the air. Her feet move deftly. Her legs rise, then softly pad into the ground at just the right moment. The music seems to flow right through her. Audience eyes take in Mufaro Chakabuda’s movements and are rewarded with not only the wonder of the human body before them, but with […]
Posted inLifestyle
Lisa Phinney Langley, Dance Artist
The best Christmas gift I received recently was from my now-hubby, the first year we were living together. His gift was his old badminton racquet, beautifully wrapped. He had just found out that I hated badminton in school, so he gave it to me as a joke but it made me realize that he would […]
Posted inArts + Music
When nature calls
Interviewing a dancer makes you wish you could pick up a video camera. Lisa Phinney’s new piece, Analogy for Solid Bones, premieres this week, and her hands move through the air as the Halifax dancer and choreographer wrestles gracefully with her words. “Loons fly, but they’re divers. It’s why their bones are solid—usually birds’ bones […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Dance story in sharp step
Dear editor, Having been involved in the contemporary dance community in Nova Scotia for 30 years as a performer, producer, publicist, writer, editor and administrator, I have to congratulate Sue Carter Flinn on her piece, “Dreaming, desperate, devoted to dance��� (Feb. 19, Feature). In an era of superficial, quick and dirty, poorly researched journalism, it’s […]
Posted inArts + Music
Halifax Dance’s 35th anniversary
Dreaming, desperate, devoted: Thirty-five years since the start of Halifax Dance, the challenges of making it here are pushing local dancers in all kinds of new directions.
Posted inArts + Music
Range of Mocean
Watching Estelle Clareton describe the band member that inspired her new dance piece for Mocean Dance is like attending a show in itself. The petite choreographer from Montreal stands on the Dunn Theatre steps, hunches her shoulders, spreads her arms in the act of holding an accordion and thumps her left foot on the next […]
Posted inLifestyle
Halifax indoors: 14 tips to well being
Besides choosing to take the stairs rather than the elevator or having a lot of sex, many of us become sedentary during the winter months. This year, The Coast offers suggestions for those who’d rather not sweat outdoors, but who still want to get the blood flowing.