Performer, Producer
November 2024
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This work is a 17 minute duet, formed out of curiosity regarding a practice of presence. I participated as one of the dancers and commissioned the choreographer, Katharina Schier and co-interpreter Kathryn Hood. I left the theme and trajectory of the work up to the choreographer but the goal of the project was to develop stamina to maintain deep connection to self (our inner worlds) and others (creative partners) during rehearsals.
The choreographer was inspired by Lorna Byrne's writings around Mother Earth and the mythical idea of a protective angel figure who works to calm mother earth when she is damaged. She describes it like this: "Mother Earth is that life force inside our planet, that beautiful angel. Angel Jimazen tries to stop her from twisting and turning too much but she has to do this to heal our earth. He has to calm Mother Earth. She has many arms and they flow out from her like sails. She moves ever so gently, stretching out those sail-like arms to every part of our planet that needs healing. She is like a mother feeding her young, doing her best to take care of our planet and all the life upon it and within it. Angel Jimazen has an incredible relationship with Mother Earth. He fights with her to stop her convulsing too much but knows that she has to do it to heal our planet. He uses his staff to tap the earth to quell her out of love for Mother Earth."
GALLERY
CREDITS AND SUPPORTERS
Producer — Deanna Witwer
Choreographer — Katharina Schier
Performers — Kathryn Hood, Deanna Witwer
Videographer — Tim Nguyen, Fifth Wall Media
Presenter — Common Ground Festival
Design — Katharina Schier
Funder — Calgary Arts Development and the City of Calgary
Residency — DSW’s Creative Intensive
Space — Wild Flower Arts, Evolved Movement Arts