Fluent – A Fluid Conversation
Fluent - A Fluid Conversation
Jeffrey Melanson “The Evolving Role of the Arts In Canada” | Alberta Dance Showcases | Mark Hopkins “We Should Get to Know Each Other” | Artist, Presenter, & Funder Speed Dating | Ken Cameron “Crossing Chasms on Unfinished Bridges” | Alberta Dance Landscape | Canada Council for the Arts “Dance Mapping” | Touring Workshop | Alberta Ballet “Love Lies Bleeding” | Canada Council and Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grant Writing Workshop | Canadian Dance Assembly, “I love dance / J’aime la danse” National Campaign
Artists. Audiences. Arts Administrators. Presenters.
Connect!
Join Canada’s dance community in open and creative conversation.
Share ideas and insights, and gain a deeper understanding of dance in lively informative discussions that articulate opportunities and challenges in our cultural sector and offer an opportunity to network with Canada’s top creative minds.
Participate in this event designed to connect artists, arts professionals, creative thinkers and audiences in Canada’s national, provincial and local dance communities.
Creative conversations. Performances. Networking Opportunities. Workshops. Parties. Flow.
Most events are FREE.
WHEN AND WHERE
EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts
205 8 Avenue SE, Calgary
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
October 21–23, 2011
Friday evening reception at Hotel Arts
119 12th Avenue SW, Calgary
Fluent – A Fluid Conversation is part of the Fluid Movement Arts Festival presented in association with Springboard Performance, CanDance Network, Canadian Dance Assembly, Alberta Dance Alliance, Brian Webb Dance Company, EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development, Edmonton Arts Council, Hotel Arts, Auburn Saloon, and Theatre Junction GRAND.
Schedule and details
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21
Welcome Breakfast
Hosted by EPCOR Centre, with Johann Zietsman, President and CEO of EPCOR
9:00–9:30 AM
OPENING REMARKS
Springboard Performance, Alberta Dance Alliance, Canadian Dance Assembly and The CanDance Network
9:30–9:45 AM
ICE BREAKER: WE SHOULD KNOW EACH OTHER
Mark Hopkins
(Speaker Sponsored by ADA)
9:45–10:45 AM
Since February 2008, Mark Hopkins has hosted ‘We Should Know Each Other‘ parties in his living room, where hundreds of strangers have shared stories, laughter and new friendship.
‘We Should Know Each Other‘ invites you to stretch the limits of your social circle and meet a diversity of strangers in a casual, comfortable environment. It has been featured in The Calgary Herald, CityTV’s Breakfast Television, CBC’s Definitely Not the Opera and more.
Mark Hopkins is a Calgary-based theatre artist and community builder. He is the Co-Artistic Director of Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre and works with One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre as the Associate Producer of the High Performance Rodeo, Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts. Mark also hosts regular ‘We Should Know Each Other’ parties and appeared on The Calgary Herald’s list of 20 Compelling Calgarians for 2011.
WORKSHOP: CROSSING CHASMS ON UNFINISHED BRIDGES
Ken Cameron
(Speaker Sponsored by ADA)
11:00 AM–12:30 PM
How can you — as an artist — promote yourself for touring while still keeping the integrity of your work intact? How can you — as a presenter — zero in on exciting new voices without wading through a pile of inappropriate submissions? This working session examines how we build the bridge while walking across it?
Ken Cameron (B.A. Hon. McGill University, M.F.A. University of Calgary) is a Calgary- based playwright and all-around arts administrator. He is the author of more than fifteen plays, three of which — Harvest, My Morocco and My One And Only — were published in 2010.
Harvest received nine productions across Canada, and the one-act version won the Enbridge playRites Award in 2007. My Morocco toured Western Canada and was nominated for Outstanding New Play at Calgary’s Betty Mitchell Awards. My One And Only premiered at Enbridge playRites Festival 2004 and was produced by Edmonton’s Workshop West Theatre and New York City’s Bridge Theatre Company in 2005. It has received several nominations for prestigious awards and an honourable mention.
Ken was the Artistic Director of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival in 2008–2010. He was Executive Director of the Alberta Playwrights’ Network in 2001–2007.
He was named one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 by Calgary Inc Magazine in 2006 and writes irregular travel articles for FFWD Weekly in Calgary.
THE ALBERTA DANCE LANDSCAPE
Round Table Discussion
Facilitated by Brian Webb (Brian Webb Dance Company) and Nicole Mion (Springboard Performance) with guests
1:30–2:30 PM
The Alberta Dance Landscape encourages a deeper understanding of the Alberta dance landscape across this great nation. A frank and lively discussion about the evolution of the movement arts in Alberta, and its influence in other movement communities across Canada brings together artists, dance presenters and the public. Join in the conversation — let your voice be heard.
ALBERTA BALLET STUDIO REHEARSAL — LOVE LIES BLEEDING
Jean Grand-Maître
Nat Christie Centre
3:00–4:30 PM
Artistic Director, will host a studio rehearsal and speak about the ongoing collaborations with music stars as an artistic direction for Alberta Ballet, which began with the premiere of The Fiddle and the Drum, the Joni Mitchell collaboration in 2007. The second collaboration, Love Lies Bleeding, inspired by and featuring the music of Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin, premiered to critical acclaim in 2010 and has been credited with the greatest Box Office success for Alberta Ballet in its 45-year history. This dance spectacular will tour across Canada this season, allowing Alberta Ballet to be an ambassador for the excitement, innovation and creativity of Alberta. Discover this wild and poetic contemporary work that explores the trials, victories and sacrifices of achieving super stardom with an unforgettable story of rock ‘n’ roll, drama, passion, defeat – and above all – love.
One of the most successful Canadian choreographers of his generation, Jean Grand-Maître assumed the artistic leadership of Alberta Ballet in 2002. Born in Hull, Quebec, he began his dance training at York University in Toronto and continued at Montreal’s L’École Supérieure de Danse du Québec. Jean later danced with Ballet British Columbia and Theatre Ballet of Canada. After working internationally for 14 years as an independent choreographer and director, he created and staged new works for many of the world’s most prestigious ballet companies, theatre festivals, circus performers, opera companies, stage musicals, television specials and for film.
Jean has staged and choreographed large-scale events and he collaborated with numerous renowned theatre directors such as Michel Lemieux for the street parade celebrating Montreal’s 350th anniversary. He was Director of Choreography for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
Alberta Ballet, under Jean’s directorship, has enjoyed considerable success both artistically and financially. He has acquired or remounted works by such renowned choreographers as George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille and Rudy Van Dantzig, among others. He has commissioned new ballets by established and emerging choreographers from Canada and elsewhere. Alberta Ballet has premiered 27 one-act ballets and 11 full-length works during his first nine years as Artistic Director. Jean has taken the company on many successful national and international tours and festivals to China, Egypt, Russia, Thailand, U.S. and across Canada.
During his tenure with Alberta Ballet, Jean has set or choreographed numerous ballets of his own. All have received considerable public and critical acclaim.
THE EVOLVING ROLE OF THE ARTS IN CANADA
Discussion and Reception
Jeff Melanson, Executive Director and Co-CEO National Ballet School; Incoming President, Banff Centre for the Arts
Hotel Arts
5:15–7:00 PM
Jeff Melanson will address the challenges and opportunities facing the arts sector in today’s digitally enhanced world. He will also discuss conventional and unconventional partnership opportunities and new ways in which the arts sector can more fully benefit in our world, with a particular focus on emerging business models and new approaches to arts education.
Jeff Melanson was appointed Executive Director of Canada’s National Ballet School in November 2006.
From 1998 to 2000 Jeff was the Director of Development for Opera Ontario. In 2000 he was appointed Assistant Dean of the Community School at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and was promoted to Dean in 2001.
In 2006 Jeff was appointed Executive Director & Co-CEO of Canada’s National Ballet School. He is a student in the Adult Ballet program at Canada’s National Ballet School, a member of YPO, a trustee with the National Guild of Community Schools for the Arts (US) and has been an invited speaker on the role of the arts in community development at numerous United Nations and UNESCO events. He is a frequent guest lecturer on arts management to arts students and MBA classes from universities across North America and around the world, and was the first arts leader to be appointed one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™ for 2009. In 2010 Jeff was named Wilfrid Laurier University’s MBA Alumnus of the Year and was appointed special advisor on arts and culture to Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and he also pursued vocal studies at the Oberlin Conservatory. Jeff also holds an MBA in Finance, Marketing and Strategy from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:30 AM
SPEED DATING EVENT
Presenters – Funders – Artists
9:00–10:30 AM
This event is an ideal opportunity for networking and bringing communities together. It’s an opportunity for presenters, funders and artists to connect in short, specific, and articulated meetings. Its purpose is to provide an organized platform for meeting and sharing ideas and information on artists and companies, curators and their seasons, and resources in Alberta and Canada.
Stations will be set up for 5-7 minute-long meetings, after which participants will shift to a new station.
To register contact the Alberta Dance Alliance at
info@abdancealliance.ab.ca | 780.422.8107
I LOVE DANCE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN
Nathalie Fave, Executive Director, Canadian Dance Assembly
10:45 AM–12:15 PM
The I Love Dance/J’aime la danse 2011-2017 National Campaign includes a series of public engagement and marketing endeavors designed to strengthen the effectiveness, management and financing of dance. The project will advance dance practice in Canada through a focus on community inclusiveness, economic effectiveness, outreach and visibility across the country. The campaign encompass three main focuses: advocacy and communications to build public, private sector and political support for dance as an art form and an expression of Canadian identity; professional visibility and empowerment: to build strength in the practice, management and production of dance as a national Canadian art form; and public engagement: to build audiences for, participation in and appreciation for dance as a national Canadian art form.
The campaign will help raise the profile of dance and will strengthen bonds between professionals, amateurs, audiences and politicians. Join our workshops and support an initiative that may be the major solution to building a better future!
Originally from Paris, Nathalie Fave has published numerous works in literature and poetry, and founded a cultural space in Senegal that housed fashion shows, an art gallery and a jazz club. While in Senegal she also established a communications corporation and consulted to the Ministry of Culture. After living in Africa for 18 years she came to Canada in 2006 and has worked in management positions in the community development and social sector. Nathalie is currently the Executive Director of the Canadian Dance Assembly.
DANCE MAPPING STUDY
Caroline Lussier, Head of the Dance Section, Canada Council for the Arts
1:15–2:15 PM
Dance in Canada today is being deeply influenced by major social, technological, cultural and demographic change. On the one hand, interest in and opportunities for dance seem to be burgeoning within popular culture. On the other, Canada’s dance field is struggling to find its place amid all of these external and internal changes.
Canadian public arts funders, dance service organizations and the dance community have agreed on the need for a project to “map” the presence of dance in Canada, including the professional field and dance activities outside of the professional sphere. The project is being undertaken by the Canada Council in partnership with the Ontario Arts Council to enhance the dance field’s understanding of its impact and contributions to the arts in Canada, and the public’s appreciation of and support for dance in Canada.
Find out about the project and about how the dance community can participate.
Dance artists and the dance milieu have always been a key determinant in Caroline Lussier’s career and her community involvement. Caroline joined La La La Human Steps as coordinative assistant to the artistic direction in 1990 and went on to become assistant director at Diagramme gestion culturelle, program officer for dance and multidisciplinary programs at the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, administrative director of the Compagnie Marie Chouinard, and associate director-general for Théâtre Espace Libre. She was administrative director of the Festival TransAmériques from 2007 until her recent nomination as Head of the Canada Council for the Arts’ Dance Section.
ALBERTA DANCE SHOWCASE — PROGRAM 1
[For full program details – this will link to the extensive program notes]
2:30–4:00 PM
Big Secret Theatre on the Plus 15 level in the EPCOR Centre
$15
See Alberta’s most talented choreographers showcase their best creations to national dance presenters and Calgary audiences.
A First Calgary Financial Stage event.
Co-presented by Springboard Performance and the Brian Webb Dance Company. Funded with the assistance of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Edmonton Arts Council.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23
GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP FOR PROFESSIONAL DANCERS AT FLUID FESTIVAL
With the Canada Council & Alberta Foundation for the Arts
With program officers William Lau (Canada Council), Marion Vitrac (Alberta Creative Development Initiative), and Paul Reich (Alberta Foundation for the Arts)
9:00-2:00 PM with breaks
(Snacks and beverages will be provided)
EPCOR Centre
Registration required
Officers and Consultant from Canada Council for the Arts and Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) will co-host a workshop to help Professional Dancers strengthen their grant-writing skills. This hands-on session will provide dance artists with program information on how to complete application forms, grant writing tips on how best to formulate a proposal and submission of appropriate support materials. It is also an opportunity to better understand the funding criteria, program eligibility and jury assessment process.
Canada Council Officers and the AFA Consultant will share background information about their respective agencies and highlight the common points and differences between their programs. Time permitting they will be available for specific questions at the end of the workshop.
The workshop will be focusing on the Travel Grant to Dance Professional (Canada Council for the Arts): please read the guidelines and application form prior to the workshop.
Furthermore, you will get additional information on the AFA Dance – Individual Artists Project Grant Program as it pertains to travel related projects : please consult the AFA Dance Project Grant Applications (website link)
Workshop will be presented by:
William Lau, Program Officer in Dance (Canada Council)
Marion Vitrac, Program Officer, ACDI (Canada Council)
Paul Reich, Arts Development Consultant / Dance (AFA)
Important note to individual artists: last deadline for the Alberta Creative Development Initiative (ACDI) is November 1st. Guidelines and form can be found (website link).
William Lau is a graduate from York University’s Master of Fine Arts Program in Dance, he was trained in both Chinese traditional dance and Western classical ballet. Presently, William specialized in the art of Peking Opera and had performed nationally and internationally with critical acclaims. He had also pushed the boundaries of traditional arts practices by collaborating with professional artists of different artistic disciplines and diverse cultural backgrounds. With a deep passion for the arts, his professional experience includes artist, arts administration, producer, and researcher. William had served on many Boards and Committees including the Canadian Conference of the Arts, the Toronto Arts Council, Dance Ontario, the Laidlaw Foundation and the Cultural Human Resources Council. He has also worked at the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, Department of Canadian Heritage, and the Arts Council of Great Britain. Currently, he is a Program Officer in Dance at the Canada Council for the Arts.<br /><br />
Marion Vitrac has been working in and enjoying arts administration and artists’ promotion for eight plus years. She worked for festivals, ensembles and disc labels in France, before moving to Canada where her experiences include artists’ representation and tour management in music, communications in a publishing company and PR for LIAISON arts magazine, in which she had several critical reviews published in theatre. She joined the Canada Council a year ago and is currently Program Officer for Western Canada, more specifically in charge of the Alberta Creative Development Initiative program (ACDI).<br /><br />
Paul Reich has been an Arts Development Consultant with the Arts Branch of Alberta Culture and Community Spirit and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts since 1997. During his performing career, Paul danced with the Alberta Ballet, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, Banff Festival Ballet and Ballet North. As General Manager of Ballet North (1987-1997) he produced/choreographed national and international mainstage performance tours, co-created educational artist-in-residence programs and established regional school performance tours.<br /><br />
Paul trained at l’École supérieure de ballet du Québec, l’École de Danse Peter George, the Banff Centre and Vanier College Theatre Arts Program. As a dance educator he has taught and choreographed for youth of all ages in Edmonton schools and as a guest instructor at Lakeland College summer dance program.<br /><br />
Free
Must Pre-Register: Seating is limited.
To register contact the Alberta Dance Alliance at
info@abdancealliance.ab.ca | 780.422.8107
ALBERTA DANCE SHOWCASE — PROGRAM 2
[For full program details – this will link to the extensive program notes]
2:30–4:00 PM
Big Secret Theatre on the Plus 15 level in the EPCOR Centre
$15
August 9th, 2011 by admin
