On today’s countdown to DanceWeekend’20 we are featuring Elite Dance and Company. Only 15 days until Dance Ontario’s DanceWeekend’20, happening January 25 & 26 at the Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre.
Connect with Elite Dance Company:
Facebook: @elitedanceandcompany and @stacyannvassell
Instagram: @edifydance
Can you tell us little bit about your company/collective/school?
Elite Dance and Company is dedicated to promoting dance preservation, education outreach, and showcasing the artistic excellence of its young performers. We basically train young dancers and give them a consistent performing platform.
What are you showing at DanceWeekend’20?
We are showing an excerpt from ‘Endangered Species’. It is the African woman’s experience in loss of identity, oppression, colonization and defiance.
Who are the performers/collaborators in this piece(s)?
The main performers are Gilliann Bucknor, Ciian Johnson, Monique Pascall and Tamae Vassell. I’ve known these girls a lifetime. Brandi Ferreira choreographed one of the dances, ‘O Freedom’. I honestly wanted the perspective of a non-black choreographer for that piece. I was floored with the amazing work she did because it can be difficult to portray what you haven’t really gone through. The dance is a beautiful portrayal that can really take one back to the civil rights movement.
Can you talk about your creative process? What inspires you?
I am inspired by the daily happenings around me. A lot of my work explores social injustice, teenage identity issues, women liberation and environmental incapacities. Sometimes I talk to my students who enlighten me about the various challenges they face. I think this is why I usually choreograph in studio. My work is created for the bodies that are before me.
Please share your experience performing in a previous DanceWeekend and/or tell us what you are looking forward to at DanceWeekend’20?
We have never performed at Dance Weekend before so we are excited. We are looking forward to all the amazing talent and hopefully network and/or collaborate on future projects with some of the teams.
What is one surprising or interesting fact about your company/collective/school?
We are celebrating 20 years this season. YEH!
Do you have any up-coming performances/events you would like to share?
We have an upcoming show ‘Deliver Us’ which is the story of Moses/ the Exodus. It is going to be an amazing showcase of dance excellence. It takes place at Ryerson Theatre on Saturday June 13, 2020 @ 8pm. Early bird tickets are available at eventbrite.ca until March 1st, 2020.