February 28, 2025: 7:30 PM
ImprovLab (University of Guelph), 87 Trent Lane
Please join Guelph Dance and the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation for an evening of dance with Newton Moraes and Meryem Alaoui at the ImprovLab. The program features two solo works by these fantastic artists.
Tickets: $10 or $20 (sliding scale, please choose the option that best suits your needs)
‘My Dance is Not a Hobby’ by Newton Moraes
“Dance is far more than a hobby for me—it’s a profound expression of my identity, personal journey, and deep connection to the world around me, informed by African Brazilian Spirituality and the love of those who shaped my path. At 63, I embrace dance as a powerful medium to explore my LGBTQ identity, navigate my struggles, and celebrate life’s transformative experiences, honoring both my past and present. Guided by legendary mentors and fueled by the unwavering love of my partner, my solo performances honor resilience, connection, and the transformative power of dance.” – Newton Moraes
Choreographer/Dancer: Newton Moraes
Lighting Designer: Eliajah Stefura
Stage Manager: Sharon DiGenova
Music: Iyo, Strobe and Gleymdu.
Photo (top left) by Claire Whitaker
‘Sand Body’ by Meryem Alaoui
“I see you. You see me. We see objects and their shapes; the marks and traces of the object. We listen, make decisions and feel our surroundings. Perhaps we also feel the spaces between us. We share a sonic, visual and textural experience, together, for a few moments here and now.” – Meryem Alaoui
Choreographer & Performer: Meryem Alaoui
Text: Meryem Alaoui and Christopher Willes
Recording of text: Jonathan Adjemian
Photo (top right) by Frederic Chais
About the Artists
Newton Moraes is a celebrated choreographer and founder of Newton Moraes Dance Theatre. Born in Brazil, he has brought his vibrant, cross-cultural dance styles to Canada and beyond. Moraes’ work is deeply influenced by his Brazilian
roots and explores themes of identity, migration, and the human condition. He has performed and choreographed internationally, earning acclaim for his dynamic and expressive pieces. Over the past 27 years, Moraes has contributed significantly to the dance community through performances, tours, and workshops in cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and internationally. His passion for dance continues to inspire audiences and dancers alike, solidifying his place as a pivotal figure in contemporary dance.
Newton Moraes Dance Theatre is a company dedicated to the creation, performance and production of contemporary dance works to explore, maintain and develop the links between the arts of Canada and Latin America. Newton
Moraes Dance Theatre had toured in Canada and internationally to public and critical acclaim. NMDT has received support over the years from Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Laidlaw Foundation,
Goethe Institute Toronto, Foreign Affair Canada, Dance Ontario Association, Polo da Zona Norte in Sao Paulo/Brazil. Newton Moraes Dance Theatre‘s vision is to inspire and provide role models for young people. Support dance artists who work with dance forms of the Latin American Diaspora in Canada and bring together dance professionals who preserve the history and traditions of Latin America and who foster an appreciation of its heritage. Increase the visibility of the sector, and improve understanding by disseminating information. Raise the level of critical discourse concerning the practice of dance forms of the Latin America diaspora in Canada. This will include creating an awareness of the complexity of Latin American dance as concept and encouraging closer critical engagement with the work of practitioners. Also to provide an environment to support artists in the creation of innovative forms of artistic expression to reach the widest possible audience and to be cultural ambassadors, nationally and internationally.
Meryem Alaoui is a dancer and choreographer from Morocco based in Toronto. Founder and co-artistic director of Jasad Dance Projects, her work is at the intersection of somatic research using movement and voice, and the exploration of contemporaneity through the reclamation of embodied performance practices, dances and knowledge from her culture as a Moroccan diasporic dance artist. A graduate of the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, she has performed in numerous projects led by choreographers such as Amanda Acorn, Peggy Baker, Antony Hamilton and Karen Kaeja. She has shared her choreographic work nationally and internationally, notably in Ontario, Quebec and Morocco. A certified Body-Mind Centering® Somatic Movement Educator, Meryem also enjoys being involved in community and arts-education projects.
Venue Information
ImprovLab is located at:
MacKinnon Building, Room 108
University of Guelph
87 Trent Lane
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 1Y4
ImprovLab is a reasonable walk (35 minutes) or bicycle ride (10 minutes) from downtown Guelph. There are also several bus routes (through Guelph Transit, GO, and Megabus) that can help get you to ImprovLab. If you are planning to drive, you can find information about visitor parking at the University of Guelph on the University’s Parking Website. Recommended parking lot: P44 off Winegard Walk
MacKinnon Building has physically accessible entrances and washrooms.
This presentation is courtesy of IBPOC ARTISTS NETWORK TOUR: FROM WORDS TO ACTION, initiated by wind in the leaves collective.
