The Art of Dance!
On the eve of its 2011-2012 season, Live Art Dance’s artistic director Paul Caskey spoke with AE about what his organization has on tap for the coming months and how it can grow their reputation as the leading provider of, and advocate for, contemporary dance and movement-based art in Atlantic Canada.
AE: What is Live Art Dance Production's core mandate?
PC: Live Art Dance develops and promotes dance and dance-related activities for dance professionals, existing and potential audiences, and the local music, film, theatre and contemporary arts communities. Live Art is an integrated part of the national dance milieu and an instigator of projects that create value for the local community as a whole.
AE: How has the organization grown over the years?
PC: Live Art now presents twice the number of events annually as compared to seven or eight years ago. Not only has the volume of programming grown, but the size of productions has grown as well. For instance, the vast majority of our shows used to take place in the Sir James Dunn Theatre and we now try to fit at least two productions into the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.
AE: What is new and exciting this year?
PC: This whole year is really exciting! We have three shows at the Cohn that will feature exquisite dancing: We have the prestige of hosting the World Premiere of BJM Danse's latest work on Nov 2, on Nov 18 we present Coleman Lemieux & Company with full evening of work by renowned Canadian Master choreographer James Kudelka, and in February Live Art hosts world-renowned dance superstars La La La Human Steps' first visit to Atlantic Canada. We'll also host the world premiere of Halifax's own Mocean Dance's latest work plus collaborate with ScotiaFest on a fabulous site-specific dance/music performance by Rebecca Lazier's company Terrain Dance.
AE: What can audiences expect to experience at the Deborah Dunn/Trial & Eros performance?
PC: Deborah Dunn's work mixes costume, text and dance with equal measures of humour and historical inquiry. Her latest work, Four Quartets, is inspired by T.S. Eliot's signature works of the same name. Dunn shines in this intimate solo that brings Eliot's rich images to vivid life.
AE: Why is Live Art vital to both the city and province?
PC: Live Art is one of very few NS organizations that present contemporary performance of this nature. We help connect our audience to current aesthetics being explored elsewhere in the global community.
AE: What is Live Art Dance Production's core mandate?
PC: Live Art Dance develops and promotes dance and dance-related activities for dance professionals, existing and potential audiences, and the local music, film, theatre and contemporary arts communities. Live Art is an integrated part of the national dance milieu and an instigator of projects that create value for the local community as a whole.
AE: How has the organization grown over the years?
PC: Live Art now presents twice the number of events annually as compared to seven or eight years ago. Not only has the volume of programming grown, but the size of productions has grown as well. For instance, the vast majority of our shows used to take place in the Sir James Dunn Theatre and we now try to fit at least two productions into the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.
AE: What is new and exciting this year?
PC: This whole year is really exciting! We have three shows at the Cohn that will feature exquisite dancing: We have the prestige of hosting the World Premiere of BJM Danse's latest work on Nov 2, on Nov 18 we present Coleman Lemieux & Company with full evening of work by renowned Canadian Master choreographer James Kudelka, and in February Live Art hosts world-renowned dance superstars La La La Human Steps' first visit to Atlantic Canada. We'll also host the world premiere of Halifax's own Mocean Dance's latest work plus collaborate with ScotiaFest on a fabulous site-specific dance/music performance by Rebecca Lazier's company Terrain Dance.
AE: What can audiences expect to experience at the Deborah Dunn/Trial & Eros performance?
PC: Deborah Dunn's work mixes costume, text and dance with equal measures of humour and historical inquiry. Her latest work, Four Quartets, is inspired by T.S. Eliot's signature works of the same name. Dunn shines in this intimate solo that brings Eliot's rich images to vivid life.
AE: Why is Live Art vital to both the city and province?
PC: Live Art is one of very few NS organizations that present contemporary performance of this nature. We help connect our audience to current aesthetics being explored elsewhere in the global community.
