I Love Dance

Dear Montreal and beyond,

J.D. Papilion is our newest co-host, and you’ve heard him on air with us for the past few weeks.  We take the opportunity this week to properly introduce him, and discover his background, inspirations and interests.  Welcome to the team J.D.!

Next Jenn tells us about the Canadian Dance Assembly and their new national campaign, I Love Dance.  Their goal is to increase the visibility and support of the dance industry in the context of Canadian culture.  They are launching the I Love Dance Awards in Ottawa in October.  There are a ton of categories, and you are welcome to submit your nominations anytime before September of this year, so go to their website and make sure that credit is given where it us due.

Then we talk about the upcoming Agora 2012 Fall Season.  There is a lot to get excited about, and Allison gives her perspective on what to look out for.

After that, Jenn list some Canadian dance award winners mentioned in The Dance Current.  It’s important to recognize amazing work and artists, and give them encouragement to keep creating.  Congratulations to all the award recipients!

We finished off this episode with Allison and J.D.’s highlights for the upcoming Tangente 2012-2013 Season.  We just can’t wait!

Our show from JULY 26th, 2012
Listen:

(Download)

Take care,

Allison Burns, Jenn Doan and J.D. Papillon

Wrap ups, apps and dance news

Dear devoted listeners,

Thank you for our patience as we continue to go through Fringe reviews.  This week we finally finished covering all the dance and movement theater productions of the 2012 Montréal Fringe Festival.  J.D. and Allison start with a review of Sex T-Rex Presents Callaghan!  Next Allison covers The Last Man on Earth, 7 Pupilles de feu, The Upshot and Re-Humanize me.

After the break J.D. tells us about Music Theater Montreal’s production of Cabaret, which was playing here in June and July.

Then, to finish up our coverage of Montréal Complètement Cirque, Allison pulls out a review of Petit Mal by the Race Horse Company.  Last week we spoke with the acrobat Petri Tuominen on the phone about the show.

Jenn and J.D. fill us in on some relevant dance news.  First things first, join us in the future and download the RQD app!  That’s right, Québec Danse is now mobile, and you can learn more about it on the RQD website.

After you’ve downloaded that, check out Healthy Dancer Canada, an organization dedicated to bringing together members of the dance community and health professionals to de-bunk myths and enhance the well-being of dance artists.

J.D. talks a bit about the much-anticipated Maison de la danse à Québec, and the dance scene in general in Québec city.  Jenn also references the Dance Current, which is a wonderful dance news resource.  Stay informed Montréal!

Our show from JULY 19th, 2012
Listen:

(Download)

Take care,

Allison Burns, Jenn Doan and J.D. Papillon

…even more MMC and fringe!

Hello circus city,

As you may have predicted, this week features even more coverage of Montréal Complètement Cirque.  An incredible festival in tribute to the large and vibrant circus community here in Montréal, which features both local and international artists.

To start off the program, Petri Tuominen joins us on the phone for an interview.  Petri is a part of Race Horse Company, and they are presenting the show Petit Mal as a part of the festival.

Then, staying on theme, J.D. reviews a couple of MCC shows.  He starts with La Soirée, featuring last week’s guest Ursula Martinez.  Second, he reviews Undermän by Cirkus Cirkör, a show he gave us the description of during the last episode.

After that we move on to cover a few more Montréal Fringe dance shows. Allison and J.D. start by discussing Body Slam.  Then Allison reviews 4kg, Tuque et Capuche and Ensemble ou séparés, je me souviendrai de toi!.  There are more fringe reviews on the way!

Our show from JULY 12th, 2012
Listen: 
>
(Download)

Keep it cool mtl,

Allison Burns, Jenn Doan and J.D. Papillon

More MCC circus & fringe reviews

Dearest Montréal,

As promised, we are continuing our month-long coverage of Montréal Complètement Cirque this week with another interview with a circus artist involved in the festival.

We chatted with Ursula Martinez, a guest from the UK company, La Soirée presenting a show of the same name.  Ursula is originally from Spain, and is all at once a writer, an actress and a cabaret performer.  She tells us about the inner workings of La Soirée and her “cult striptease act.”  You can still catch the show until July 15th, and if you need further persuasion there is an excellent promo video available at the MCC site.

In the second half hour of the show we begin to tackle our pile of Montréal Fringe dance show reviews.  Of course it is necessary to start off with a shout out to the shows some of us were involved in, Eeny Meeny Miny and Keep the car running.  Once that is out of the way Allison reviews Le Projet Migration, Sora and Ethereal Tribal.  J.D. joins in for a feisty discussion/review of Wolves and Selves, and the two of them finish off with a review Mangeons Pierrot.  We can’t wait to finish the list next week!

Our show from JULY 5th, 2012
Listen:

(Download)

Stay tuned,

Allison Burns, Jenn Doan and J.D. Papillon

Agora in 2012-2013

Hello beautiful and hot Montréal,

Agora's autuom 2012 season plans are out in detail, as well as the names and dates for 2013.  I suggest that you invest some time on their website to sift through descriptions and videos of upcoming works so that you do not miss out on something special.

As I have said before (and will probably say again) you can also check out this cool blog that I write for called Bloody Underrated for my perspective on the Agora season.

Keep cool Montréal,

Allison Burns

Montréal is Totally Circus!

Montréal you're a circus!

As we approach July, TOHU begins to buzz with the activity surrounding Montréal Complètement Cirque, a huge circus festival right in here in our circus crazy city.  The festival, which started in 2004, showcases and promotes a wide array of circus art forms from homegrown artists and companies from all around the world.  For the next three weeks we will be doing a Movement Museum Circus Special; covering, interviewing, and reviewing circus.

One of MCC’s strongest supporters, the contemporary circus company, Les 7 doigts de la main, is presenting a show this year.  Fittingly the company’s eighth show is titled Séquence 8.  Eric Bates, a cigar box juggler, joins us by phone to tell us about his skill, and the piece as a whole.

After the interview, Karen and J.D. take their time describing the 2012 edition of Piss in the Pool.  I felt like I’d seen it by the end of their thorough review.  This 8th edition of Piss in the Pool featured the choreographers Virginie Brunelle, Sarah-Eve Grant, Dana Michel, 2boystv, Dorion Nuskind-Odor, Hélène Messier, and Leila Gaudin (France).

Then Karen squeezes in her quick and extremely positive review of Mélanie Demers’ FTA show, Goodbye.  On that note… goodbye for now!

Our show from JUNE 28th, 2012
Listen: 

(Download)

Take care,

Allison Burns, Karen Fennell and Jean-Daniel Papillon

Tangente in 2012-2012

A brief hello to you Montréal,

As I have mentioned on air for the past few weeks, it is season launch time!  Tangente has released it's 2012-2013 season plans, and you can find them on their beautiful website.

You can also check out this cool blog that I write for called Bloody Underrated for my take on what to expect this upcoming season.  Enjoy!

Thanks for playing,

Allison Burns

Piss in the Pool and More Fringe 2012

Dear Montréal summer festival enthusiasts,

It’s a full time job keeping up with all the events that occur during the summer here in Montréal.  This week Movement Museum concentrates on a couple of dance-related ones.

Again this week we invited artists who are presenting dance, movement pieces, physical theater, clown shows etc. as a part of the St-Ambroise Montréal Fringe Festival.  For the first half hour Jenn and Karen discuss where our various guests come from, what was the inspiration for their show, and why we should be excited about seeing it.

• From the epic ten-member cast belly dance production Ethereal Tribal, Susan Snyder and director Tanner Harvey join us. 

• Johanne Gour introduces us to her duet Ensemble ou separes, je me souviendrais de toi! a 30min duet she has choreographed for the festival.

• Erin Robinsong & Andréa de Keijzer from the company Gold Ink Mouth talk about their contemporary dance show, Wolves & Selves, playing at Bain St-Michel.

• Divertimento associates, Émilie Barrette, Magaly Gates and Alessandra Rigano have collaborated on the production Sora.  Émilie and Magaly tell us all about it.

• Choreographer Paige Krause and composer Philippe Landry come all the way from Louisiana to share their work with us, I'VE STOPPED HAVING THAT DREAM I'VE BEEN HAVING.

• Last but not least, we are joined by the collaborators of  En Long & In Short, Anik Matern and Claire Jacques.  These ladies have created a bilingual play with an exciting dance finale!

In the second half hour this week we turned out attention to a different, much anticipated annual event.  Its time again for Piss in the Pool, created by Wants&Needs danse.  We are joined in studio with two of the 2012 edition’s choreographers, Dorion Nuskind-Odor and Leïla Gaudin (all the way from France).

Before saying goodbye Jenn implores artists and audience members alike to check out the new online listings resource, Where are the shows?

Our show from JUNE 21st, 2012
Listen:

(Download)

Until next time,

Jenn Doan and Karen Fennell

Movement @ the 2012 Montréal Fringe Festival

Hello Montréal Dance Community!

It’s that time again for one of our favorite annual events, The St-Ambroise Montréal Fringe Festival!  It’s the 22nd edition of the ever growing, never pretentious, multi-disciplinary festival.  Although you can see theater, music and visual arts at the Fringe, we are concentrating on the dance and movement related shows here on Movement Museum.  This week and next the studio will be filled with artists who are presenting dance, movement pieces, physical theater, clown shows etc. as a part of the festival.

In this episode Jenn and Allison facilitate a conversation between fourteen of these artists.  We ask them why they chose to present their shows at Fringe, discover the inspiration behind each project and the allure of the end results.  The companies throw out their pitches, and their personal show recommendations.

• We talk with Greg “Krypto” Selinger and two of his collaborators Travis and Vincent, from the multi-disciplinary show Body Slam.  This will be year two for Body Slam, which walked away with a couple of awards last Fringe.

• Colin Munch and Caitlyn tell us about the comedy, Callaghan! by Sex T-Rex. This troupe of five performers incorporates physical theater and a dance scene choreographed by Robin Henderson into the show.

• Choreographer Gelymar Sanchez talks about Mangeons Pierrot a work she co-created with fellow UQAM graduate Karine Theoret.

• Next Christine Germain, Slater Penney and Maria Candelaria tell us the real life story behind Le Projet Migration.  It is sweet, political and intriguing.

• Sebastien Heins tells us about his third of the show The UPSHOT, a unique “Hip Hopera.”

• Jean-Daniel Papillon tells us about two shows he is involved in.  The first, Corps Chorus’ Keep the Car Running, was choreographed by Cassandre Lescarbeau, and had its fringe debut last year in Saguenay.

• JD is also representing Eeny, Meeny, Miny, a co-production between (Correspondence) and Confabulation.  The show is a life-sized card game for a troupe of six dancers, and a new storyteller every night.  It revolves around childhood memories and behaviors and involves social drinking.  I should probably also mention that I - Allison Burns - happen to be dancing in the show.

• Our friend Yanomi and her collaborators return from Japan to tell us about their new show, My Exploding Family.  The show promises comical movement theater, and bypasses any language barrier.

Tune in next week for more Fringe coverage.  Have a happy Fringe!

Our show from JUNE 14th, 2012
Listen:
(Download)

Take care,

Allison Burns and Jenn Doan

Yemayo and Herencias

Hello movement driven world,

This week on the show, Karen and Allison interview Farah Fancy, the production director of the show Yemayo, created by Julio Hong.  The show ran at the MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels), in collaboration with Festival Accès Asie, from May 3-5th.

Farah and Julio also have a relatively new company together, Le Groupe Herencias.  The discussion spans many different topics including the production, dance classes, youth workshops, dance therapy etc.  At the moment, the best way to contact either of them about their endeavors and projects if either to send an email through Julio’s website, or give Farah a call (she mentions the number in the episode, so you’ll have to listen to get it!)

We also build on what we started last week when we talked about International Dance Day (April 29th) and the premiere of Québec Danse Week (April 23rd-29th).  Celebrate with us, and dance like nobody’s watching!

Our show from APRIL 26th, 2012
Listen:

(Download)

Until next week,

Allison Burns and Karen Fennell

UQÀM Student choreographic creation

Hello dance enthusiasts,

This week on the show the young Zoe Martine Olivier joined us.  Zoe is finishing up her third and final year in the choreography division of the UQÀM Danse Department.  This week the department is presenting three works created by graduating choreography students in a showcase being presented at Agora.

Seeing as UQÀM is a French university the majority of our interview is conducted in French, stretching Karen and Allison’s capacity in the language, but making for some eloquent responses from our guest.  Being Concordia Dance graduates, we grill Zoe about the inner workings of the UQÀM Danse Department, and her experiences leading up to the show (running from April 18th-21st.)  She was working in collaboration with two other students, Karine Théorêt and Marie-Ève Tremblay on a 25 minute work titled, Tant que la tête reste sur le corps.

We also let you know a bit about what is happening this week in the dance world in Montreal.  International Dance Day is officially recognized as April 29th, and this year is the first ever Québec Danse week (running from April 23rd-29th).  We go over in broad terms what that means to dance enthusiasts and the general public alike, so check it out next year if you missed it this go-around.

Our show from APRIL 19th, 2012
Listen:

(Download)

Take care,
Allison Burns and Karen Fennell

Muriva Dance, Muriva chats

Bonjour!

This week on the radio we have Gibson Muriva on to tell us about his show, Nyau.  Gibson runs the Muriva Dance Company here in Montreal. He teaches classes, dances and choreographs while blending, African, contemporary and classical dance forms into his own, unique style. Not only do we chat a bit about all of this, his creation process and his background, but Gibson also brought his thumb piano from Zimbabwe and plays a bit of music for us, live. The show he is presenting this week is a part of the Festival Vue sur la Relève.

Next, Allison reviews the triple bill, Yaado, Voodoo and Love, which was presented at Tangente in late February.  If you remember, we interviewed the artists who presented this trilogy of works, Nora Chipaumire and Souleymane Badolo, during our February 23rd episode.

Our show from APRIL 12th, 2012

Listen:

(Download)

Until next week!

Allison Burns and Jenn Doan

inLayers, ranting & upcoming shows

Hello Montréal,

You may have noticed that Jenn took a bit of a break from the show a little while ago.  Well she was off to Calgary to produce and perform in a project called inLayers.  This week we take a moment to talk to Jenn about her experience with this social media influenced creation process designed to bring a new, wider audience to the art of contemporary dance.

Kati will be the next one to take a break, but she unloads some important dance industry news on us before she goes.  She gave us a sneak peek at the OFFTA line up (to be released in full on May 3rd).   She gives us more to be excited about when she divulges some names of the Danse Danse artists in residence for 2012/13.  Then we discuss everyone’s favorite topic, the federal budget’s treatment towards art and dance.  Kati lets us in on some facts, but you’ll hear all three of us give our onions on the subject.

That’s one part of the “rant” mentioned in the title of this episode, the other is when Jenn and Allison tag team a review of Lucy lost her heart, created by last week’s guest Mark Lawes.  The show was presented March 28th-30th at Usine C.

Finally Allison ends the episode with a long overdue review of Dominique Porte’s JE, which was presented by Tangente back in early February.

Our show from APRIL 5th, 2012
Listen:


(Download)

Until we meet again,

Allison Burns, Jenn Doan and Kati Belanger

Mark Lawes talks about Lucy's Heart

Hello Montréal,

In this episode of Movement Museum, we talk to Mark Lawes, the founding artistic director of Theater Junction, a Calgary based theatrical and multi-disciplinary performance group.  We talk about the company; it’s history and the Theater Junction Grand building.  The discussion takes an Alberta perspective seeing as two of our hosts, Jenn and Kati harken from out west themselves.  Of course the reason we invited Mark on the show this week was to talk about his show, Lucy Lost her Heart, which Jenn and Allison saw the night before at Usine C.



After the interview, Kati tells us about the FTA line up, so that we can start saving up our pennies and booking our tickets nice and early to avoid missing out.

Then Allison reviews the Tangente double bill of Sliding by Lise Vachon and Acéphales by Catherine Lavoie-Marcus.  This production was shown mid March of this year.

Lastly, Kati takes the lead on a review of Trois peaux + Vers, choreographed by Jean-Sébastien Lourdais.  The show was at Agora back in early February. It was one of the Montréal Danse’s 25th anniversary productions.

Our show from MARCH 29th, 2012
Listen:

(Download)

We’ll talk to you soon!

Allison Burns, Jenn Doan and Kati Belanger

The "Just Us" Show

Hello dance enthusiasts of Montréal!

This week on the show Allison and Kati get carried away gushing about Crystal Pite, her company Kidd Pivot and her show that is currently running at Agora, The You Show.  Seriously, just go see it.



Then we dedicate some time to current events in the dance world.  Kati talks about some recent developments in the provincial budget as it relates to the dance industry.  Then she tells us about some interesting stats concerning the cultural engagement of the public in different provinces.  Bringing her attention still wider, she talks about the reception and reaction of Québec contemporary choreography in France.  You can find links to the various articles she references bellow:
Le Monde – Danseurs québécois, à poil, au poil
Le Devoir - Distinct, le Québec?
RQD - Budget du Québec
Longeuil - Budget

Next Allison reviews Scary Tales & Broken Hearts, a show produced by Lynsey Billing and Entre-Deux, which was presented at MainLine Theater back in February.

Finally, Kati tells us about her incredible experience witnessing Hora choreographed by Ohad Naharin.  This Danse Danse production was presented at Théâtre Maisonneuve, and performed by the Batsheva Dance Company earlier this month.

Our show from MARCH 22nd, 2012
Listen:

(Download)

Until next week!

Allison Burns and Kati Belanger

Edgy and Artistic Women

Dearest Montréal,

Today marks the opening of the 19th annual Edgy Women festival.  In honor of this event we talk with three of the talented ladies involved in the festival during this episode.  The director of the festival, and of Studio 303, Miriam Ginestier, lets us in on the history of Edgy Women, it’s goals and what to look out for this year.  The festival runs from March 15th-April 1st in various locations around the plateau.



One of the headlining productions, In Succube, was created and is performed by Andréane Leclerc and Holly Gauthier-Frankel, both of whom joined us this week.  Holly (a.k.a Miss Sugarpuss) is an actor, signer and burlesque performer.  Andréane is a circus and cabaret performer and contortionist.  There is no doubt that the collaboration between the two of them will be edgy and deal with femininity.

After the break, Allison reviews Deborah Dunn’s Orlando.  The show is currently running at Agora (until Saturday, March 17th) so if you like what you hear you can still catch the show.

Then Jenn reviews Love Death Devil – The Piece by Ben J. Riepe Kopaine, presented at La Chapelle.  Unfortunately the run of that show is already over, but if you are intrigued you can listen to last week’s episode (March 8th) to hear our interview with Ben.

Our show from MARCH 15th, 2012

Listen:

(Download)

We’ll see you next week!

Allison Burns and Jenn Doan

Love, Death, Devil & Grandeur Nature

Hello dance lovers,

This week we split our show in two.  In the first half hour Jenn interviews Ben J. Riepe Kopaine, the choreographer of Love Death Devil – The Piece, presented at La Chapelle.  Benefiting from having seeing the show beforehand, Jenn gets right into the work with Ben.

For the second half hour we switch to French and Kati and Karen interview Séverine Lombardo, the choreographer of Petites Pieces de Poches:  Grandeur Nature.  This work was presented by Danse-cité at Usine C.  Also recent witnesses of the work, the ladies talk logistics as well as process.



We top off the show today with a super-fast “micro-review” of last week’s Tangente presentation of Spin & Century of Small.  To learn more about that show, reference last week’s episode of Movement Museum when we interview the artists involved.

Our show from MARCH 8th, 2012
Listen:

(Download)


Until next week Montréal,

Allison Burns, Kati Belanger, Jenn Doan and Karen Fennell

Whirling and hoops

Dearest Montreal,

We continue our Tangente marathon in this episode of Movement Museum as we interview two artists involved in this week's Tangente production, which is again a double bill.  Rebecca Halls is the choreographer and performer of Spin, and Raqib Brian Burke is a performer in Mira Hunter’s work Century of Small.  We discuss the difference and similarities of hula hooping and whirling dervish.  It is a dizzying conversation!

If you are interested in hearing the interview we referenced, from the last time Rebecca Halls was in studio with Movement Museum check it out here.


Our show from MARCH 1st, 2012
Listen:

(Download)

Enjoy,

Allison Burns, Kati Belanger and Jenn Doan

Love, Voodoo and Yaado

Dear Montréal,

This week's episode of Movement Museum was pretty amazing if I may say so myself. Kati interviews Nora Chipaumire and Souleymane Badolo who are presenting three short works Love, Voodoo and Yaado at Monument National as a part of both the Tangente season, and as a part of Ascen/Danses (an event which celebrates contemporary dance/performance by artists of the African diaspora). Both our guest are well spoken, intelligent and passionate individuals, and expose us to some beautiful truths, and their personal feelings.

Near the end of our program Allison reviews the research project presented by Tangente last week, In Limbo. If you tuned in last Thursday you know that we interview the artistic director of the project, Lynda Gaudreau. The two choreographers presenting In Limbo were Marie Claire Forté and Julie Favreau.

Kati does a quick dance history on Katherine Dunham, and as promised here are some links to more information on her. She is an incredible woman, and the two minutes we could spare on her were just not enough!

Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts & Humanities

Notable Biographies

PBS

Our show from FEBRUARY 23rd, 2012
Listen:

(Download)

Take care,

Allison Burns and Kati Belanger

Everybody Limbo!

Happy almost-spring Montréal!

This week we shook it up by starting with a couple of dance reviews from works presented last week. First, Allison reviews the double bill presented by Tangente, Dans les Plis by Sarah Dell'ava and Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt by Dorian Nuskind-Oder (who we interviewed last week on the show). Then Kati reviews Husk by George Stamos (who we interviewed two weeks ago) presented by Montréal Danse and Agora.

Then Kati interviews Lynda Gaudreau, the artistic director of the upcoming Tangente presentation of In Limbo, opening tonight. Lynda talks about the importance of research for herself, and the choreographers presenting work for this show. The two presenters Lynda mentored are Marie Claire Forté and Julie Favreau.

Our show from FEBRUARY 16th, 2012
Listen:

(Download)

Until next week!

Allison Burns, and Kati Belanger