Body of Minds MFA dance thesis show was held February 13 and 14 at the Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre, where seven master’s candidates presented the practical components of their theses.
With artistic direction provided by Professor Darcey Callison, and production design and direction by Professor William Mackwood, Body of Minds featured a diverse set of themes, styles, and perspectives.
Marie France Forcier’s piece, “The Snow Globe,” focused on her research about the expression of post-traumatic stress in contemporary choreography, while Ruth Levin’s choreography in “eField” used “the space around as a catalyst for movement.”
In “Dull Roar,” Valerie Calam developed a method called “states of body,” which allowed performers to freely to make decisions in the moment on stage.
The main theme in Michelle McClelland’s piece, “The Cyborgs’ ‘Plight,’” was a reflection on how technology has affected the ways in which humans connect with each other.
With technology, McClelland found a theme that resonates with everyone. At times, the dancers were in close proximity to each other, and then would push away from one another, posing the question of whether technology isolates people or brings them together.
Maria Victoria Mata’s ensemble piece, “Memory Lane,” also reached the audience on a personal level. Many will connect with the theme of the immigrant experience. Whether it’s their own first-hand experiences or stories they’ve heard from friends and family, the vibrant colors and energy of the work opens people up to reflect on their own memories.
Sharon Harvey’s piece called “Solo/Souls Deep” was a choreographic dance interpretation and transformation of Ernie Barnes’ “Sugar Shack” painting. Harvey’s choreography conveyed a very distinct, palpable energy, which was reminiscent of the painting, as did her choice of complementary colours in the costumes.
Patrizia Ferlisi’s “Grand Act(s)” is a dedication to female vaudeville performers of the early 1900s to the 1920s. Using costumes and props from the actual era, the performance came alive, while the music, a jazz fusion, added an element of fidelity to the performance.
Zainub Pathan
Contributor
