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The Disability Collective Presents
Waiting in the Wings No More
by Propeller Dance
With Support from Fall for Dance North
Photo by Andrew Balfour
[Image Description: Dancers Rob Chartier, Moni Hoffman, Siôned Watkins, Amelia Rose Griffin, and Liz Winkelaar are performing in 'Living the u̶n̶Desirable Life'. Three dancers are standing and two dancers are seated in wheelchairs. They wear light blue tops with red and blue patterned accents and black bottoms. The two wheelchair dancers, who are at the front left and back right, are leaning forward. The dancer in the centre is leaning forward to their left, holding the hand of the wheelchair dancer at the front left. Another dancer stands behind the dancer in the centre, with one of their hands on the face of the dancer in front of them. The dancer at the back left has one hand on a wheelchair handle, and their other hand on the back of the dancer in the centre back. The stage is quite dim with blue lighting. There are shadows of the two wheelchair dancers on the stage to their right]
Friday, October 4: 2:00 PM EDT
Saturday, October 5: 7:30 PM EDT
Sunday, October 6: 2:00 PM EDT
Betty Oliphant Theatre
404 Jarvis Street, Toronto
ASL
Interpretation
Audio
Description
Relaxed
Performance
Running time:
80 minutes including a 15-minute intermission
Saturday, October 5
7:30 PM EDT
Sunday, October 6
2:00 PM EDT
All
Performances
Learn more about the workshop by clicking here.
Tickets are pay what you can.
Patrons purchasing tickets at a higher price point can do so with the understanding that their ticket price is helping to subsidize the lower ticket prices, and in doing so, are making this show more accessible for others.
In line with our mission, we want to ensure that all members of our community are able to access this event. For this reason, we are operating a Pay-It-Forward ticket system, giving the option for those purchasing tickets to buy an additional ticket for a member of our community who would otherwise be restricted from attending the performance due to financial barriers. Pay-It-Forward Tickets are available for $15.00 as an add-on during checkout with the purchase of tickets.
Complimentary tickets for support persons are available. Please call the TO Live box office at 416-366-7723 or email boxoffice@tolive.com.
In Waiting in the Wings No More, two distinct but connected worlds emerge from two internationally recognized inclusive dance choreographers Lucy Bennett (Artistic Director, Stopgap Dance Company) and Renata Soutter (Former Artistic and Executive Director, Propeller Dance). A ground-breaking moment in the Canadian dance landscape, witness reflections on experiences of disability, musings on the beauty of disabled bodyminds taking space, and the pride that comes through pushing back against society’s standards and expectations of disability and dance through the lens of Disability Pride, joy, and culture.
Bennett's creation Stage Door is a site-generic work of immersive dance conversations and revealing vignettes, conceived by Bennett and Hannah Sampson from Stopgap Dance Company. It is a commentary on why artists with disabilities are still 'waiting in the wings'. The piece blends harmoniously with Soutter's Living the u̶n̶Desireable Life, that is about questions and the possibility of answers, the right to a voice, loving our bodies, rejection and belonging, and the risk of applying binaries (disabled/non disabled, woman/man, queer/straight, valuable/worthless) to ourselves and to others.
As complex human animals, we all share many things, including the desire to live our lives fully and how we wish.
Waiting in the Wings No More is presented by The Disability Collective, within Fall for Dance North's 2024 annual festival program, with support from Fall for Dance North.
ASL Vlog
Access Measures:
All performances will be Relaxed Performances.
Deaf Interpretation will be provided at the 7:30 PM performance on Saturday, October 5.
Audio Description will be provided at the 2:00 PM performance on Sunday, October 6.
COVID-19 Policies:
The safety of our audience, artists, volunteers, and staff is our number one priority.
Masks are required for all audience members.
Masks should fit snugly against the face without gaps; cloth masks should have at least two layers of fabric. Neck gaiters and bandanas are not permitted. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Exemptions are always made for access or medical reasons.
Free Workshop
Saturday, October 5
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Meridian Hall Rehearsal Hall
1 Front Street East, Toronto
[Image Description: A promotional graphic for a free workshop hosted by The Disability Collective in partnership with Fall for Dance North. The image features a teal background. In the top right corner are the words “Propeller Dance” and “Frank Hull” in bold capital letters. In the top left are The Disability Collective and Fall for Dance North’s logos. At the centre of the image, a group of five diverse dancers dressed in blue are energetically posing. One dancer in the foreground is smiling broadly with arms outstretched, wearing a tiara. Other dancers are in the background, including a wheelchair user and performers with unique costumes including a large blue headpiece. At the bottom left are the words “Contemporary Inclusive All Levels” and the bottom right are the words “Sat Oct 5, 10 - 11:00 AM”. All text is in white]
Level: Contemporary Inclusive, All Levels
Taught by: Frank Hull
Enter the world of Propeller Dance where all bodyminds are welcome. This workshop, led by seasoned inclusive dance artist Frank Hull, explores inclusive dance practices, centering your deep relationship to your own movement pathways, and relationship to your mobility device and other people. Enjoy Taking Time, and allowing for deep connection to self, others, and our interconnectedness.
This workshop is generously supported by TO Live’s Making Space Initiative.
ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION:
Masks are strongly encouraged, although we recognize that some folks may find it difficult to wear masks while engaging in physical activity. We ask folks to do their best to keep themselves and others safe.
ASL interpretation and/or Sighted Guides can be made available by request prior to October 1.
The venue is fully accessible. A venue guide is available here.
About the Company
Propeller Dance has been an innovator in the field of disability and dance, and diverse performance practices in Canada since 2007. Propeller Dance is committed to excellence — creating, teaching, performing, presenting inclusive dance and inter-arts performance. At the core of company's work is the belief that dance is for all people, and value as wide a breadth of expression as possible. Propellor Dance is recognized as a leader in Canada for our innovative creations and teaching practices.
Now in their 17th season, the company celebrates artists with diverse voices, bodies, and minds, and view disability as part of the human experience. Disability is not a limitation or something to overcome, but a creative impulse for brilliant artistic reflections on the human experience. 'We recognize the work of disability advocates, and actively pursue access, self-determination, and an expectation of solidarity for all members of our community'.
propellerdance.com
@propellerdance
Choreographers:
Photo by Shanice Pereira
[Image Description: A headshot of Renata Soutter, who is smiling at the camera. She has blonde shoulder-length hair and is wearing magenta glasses. She wears a black shirt with white horizontal and vertical stripes, with a light blue denim shirt overtop]
RENATA SOUTTER
In 2007, Renata co-founded Propeller Dance with Alan Shain and Shara Weaver, motivated to change the dance world by creating meaningful performances including people with disabilities. Her tenure finished in 2024 as Artistic Executive Director. During her time Propeller grew into a thriving mid-sized arts organization, recognized nationally and internationally. Renata’s prolific career is highlighted in Flesh and Spokes and Living the u̶n̶Desirable Life; these works were presented at The National Gallery of Canada, NAC’s Canada Scene, GCTC, and DanceWorks. She developed collaborations with StopGap UK, Ordinary Wand Korea, All Bodies Dance, and was co-chair of Somerset Gladstone Arts Hub.
[Image Description: A photo of Lucy Bennett, who is looking to their left at another person whose head is blurry at the bottom right of the photo. Lucy has dark brown curly hair, and wears a green long-sleeve shirt]
LUCY BENNETT
Immersed in Stopgap’s work since 2003, Lucy blends and expands the dynamic interaction of distinctly different dancers. As a choreographer Lucy has created many original dance productions for international touring including indoor, outdoor, and digital productions such as Tracking, SPUN Productions, Artificial Things, Bill & Bobby, The Seafarers, The Enormous Room, The Road, and FROCK. Lucy won ‘Best Screen Choreography’ at DanceScreen 2019.
Lucy, alongside Stopgap colleagues, has developed Stopgap’s creative learning programme and has supported Stopgap becoming world renowned for their inclusive choreographic and teaching practice leading residencies throughout the UK, Asia, Europe, and Scandinavia.
Interim Artistic Director:
Photo by Shanice Pereira
[Image Description: A headshot of Amelia Rose Griffin, who is smiling at the camera. She has red hair with bangs, and wears a black t-shirt with the Propeller Dance logo]
AMELIA ROSE GRIFFIN
Amelia Rose Griffin creates fantastical, immersive worlds that centre innovative inclusive practices, lived experiences, and emphasizes collaboration.
Her career in contemporary inclusive dance has embodied a variety of perspectives. A previous company dancer for 10+ years with Dorsale Danse, Tara Luz Danse, Propeller Dance and Platypus Theatre, Amelia performed, created and taught across Canada, and alongside symphony orchestras in Australia, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, and the U.S.
Notable works include innerspace beings (Pique, 2019), Solitude; from there to here (Dulwich Gallery, 2018), Stuff Your Distraction (Rich Mix London & Open Online Theatre, 2017), and Little Girl Inside Me, (The Place London, 2018), and The Ghomeshi Effect (touring 2016-2018). A recipient of the OAC’s Chalmers Fellowship Award, Amelia further developed her artistry within the Disability, d/Deaf, and Mad Arts industry in the UK. Amelia is grateful for mentorship and community, and is honoured to be Propeller Dance’s Acting Artistic Director.
Operating Funders
[Image Description: The Canada Council for the Arts logo, featuring a black tree symbol on the left and the words "Canada Council for the Arts" and "Conseil des arts du Canada" in light blue]
[Image Description: The City of Ottawa logo, featuring the word "Ottawa" in dark blue text. The letter 'O' is stylized with three green streamers leading upward from the bottom left of the letter]
[Image Description: The Ontario Arts Council logo, featuring the letter 'A' on the left with the letter 'O' in the top left corner. The words "Ontario Arts Council" and "Conseil des arts de l'Ontario" are in the black capital letters, with the words "an Ontario government agency" and "un organisme du gouvernment de l'Ontario" underneath in black letters separated by a thin black line]
[Image Description: The Province of Ontario logo, featuring the word "Ontario" in black text and a geometric trillium symbol on the right]
Funding Partners
[Image Description: The National Arts Centre logo, with an abstract light purple symbol on the left. On the right are the words "National Arts Centre" and "Centre national des Arts" in black capital letters, with the words "Canada is our stage. Le Canada en scène." underneath in black letters]
[Image Description: The Great Canadian Theatre Company logo, featuring the letters "GCTC" in four boxes laid out horizontally. The letters 'G' and T' are in white font inside of a black box, and the 'C''s are in black font inside of yellow boxes]
[Image Description: The TD Ready Commitment logo, featuring the TD logo in green on the left, and the words "TD Ready Commitment" to the right. "TD" and "Commitment" are in black capital letters, and "Ready" is in green capital letters]
Workshop
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