Anxiety
Saturday, May 31 | 8:00 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich St
Studio Theatre
photo above by Aurora Torok
The presentation of Anxiety will be followed by a talk-back with the artists.
ABOUT THE WORK
Anxiety is a dance creation that Simik Komaksiutiksak is developing with a collective of artists. This project focuses on collaborative practices, through the creation of a common choreographic body of work grounded in improvised movement. The piece is an outlook on intergenerational trauma and a study of different mannerisms, gestures, and physical traits that we each carry, stemming from our anxieties. Simik’s desire is to explore how we release and free tensions through the expressive body while connecting generational knowledge and bridging this into dance form and expression, to build a joint methodology and artistic vocabulary. Anxiety is an evolving and adaptable creation, it is a reflection on human experiences on how they are feeling that day.
CHOREOGRAPHY
Simik Komaksiutiksak
PERFORMERS
Cheyenne LeGrande, Courtney Taticek, Chrystal Tam, Katie Couchie, Simik Komaksiutiksak
MUSIC
Courtney Taticek
LIGHTING DESIGN
Aurora Torok
MAKEUP & COSTUMES
Cheyenne LeGrande
ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHER
Simik Komaksiutiksak is an artist from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut and now resides in Tio’Tia;ke, also known as Montreal. Their passion for dance emerged at an early age, later gravitating towards dance and circus arts. Simik learned most of their dance training in Ottawa, and began performing arts during their teen years. Simik is a contemporary dancer, circus artist, and a choreographer. Simik has appeared on the APTN documentary-series “Pulse”, modelled at the Indigenous Fashion Arts festival, and tours with Anowara Dance Theatre in the show Sky Dancers. Simik has worked and built relations with established Indigenous and non-Indigenous dancers and artists. Simik is the artistic director of “Anxiety”, their first upcoming dance production. Simik now works for The Arctic Rose Foundation as the Guest Artist Lead, where they teach dance, creative movement and expressive arts to youth all over Inuit Nunangat as a part of the Messy Book Program. Simik is also a part of the Arctic Rose Foundation’s training team, where they help train other Indigenous dancers and artists to go into the north, to continue a legacy of art and healing within our communities. Simik’s practice has an emphasis on developing a grounded and safe working space mentally, physically and spiritually. Simik’s desire is to explore how we release and free tensions through the expressive body, while connecting generational knowledge and bridging this into dance form and expression.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & SPECIAL THANKS
Project mentors: Lara Kramer and Barbara Diabo
Residencies and support: Tangente Danse, MAI (Montreal, Arts interculturals), La Serre arts vivants, CCOV (centre du creation o vertigo), FTA, Danse Danse, La Danse sur les routes du Quebec
Funders: Canada council for the arts, CALQ, Inuit Art Foundation