Dance Ontario’s DanceWeekend’20 is 37 days away and today we are featuring Melanie Old Dance Projects!
DanceWeekend is happening January 25 & 26, 2020 at the Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre.
Connect with Melanie Old Dance Projects:
instagram: @melanie_old
facebook: Melanie Elysse Old
Can you tell us little bit about your company/collective/school?
Founded Spring 2019, Melanie Old Dance Projects’ work is dedicated to challenging traditional barriers and bridging the gap between dance and theatre. The work promotes risk taking, both physically and aesthetically and is determined to be radical yet accessible to a wide audience. The company’s initial debut premiered at Ryerson University’s Springworks 2019.
What are you showing at DanceWeekend’20?
Sleep Happens to You responds to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. After studying this children’s book as a young adult, I became fascinated with the allegories of drug culture, coming of age, and quest for womanhood cleverly woven within it. My new found perspective led me to draw many parallels from Alice’s trip to my own life. Sleep Happens to You was my way of navigating through the questions that arose after I too, found myself in what felt like a completely new world.
Who are the performers/collaborators in this piece(s)?
Sleep Happens to You will be performed by Jessica Mak, Micheal Rourke, Evan Webb, Tavia Christina, and Kaitlyn Seibold.
Can you talk about your creative process? What inspires you?
As a choreographer I have always been fascinated by human stories. In our stories, what transforms an ordinary moment into an extraordinary one? Which parts of our stories are memories faded into what we wished they were? The driving force for movement generation in my rehearsal process is mostly through guided improvisation given the scene’s unique character, text, narrative, and environment. Working with a theatrical structure allows my process the free range to explore and incorporate costume and prop, character, scenes, found texts and plays —a plentitude of possibility. Melanie Old Dance Projects Much of my work explores highly emotional states of being, where humans are at their most vulnerable, most expressive, and most truthful.
Do you have any up-coming performances/events you would like to share?
Melanie is currently curating a “Works In Progress: Free Evening of Dance” showing to allow Toronto based emerging choreographers a platform to present work in a low stakes environment. The evening is free to attend, the only thing we ask from our audience members are their time and feedback. We will have a feedback box available for anyone who wishes to give constructive criticism about the works shown that evening, as well as time after the performance to chat personally with choreographers about their work. “Works In Progress: Free Evening of Dance” is planned to be held early spring 2020.
Please share your experience performing in a previous DanceWeekend and/or tell us what you are looking forward to at DanceWeekend’20?
I am always excited to attend DanceWeekend as it brings so many local artists together for two full days of dance. Thank you Dance Ontario for offering a wonderful platform where diverse dance companies across Ontario can showcase their work. This is the first time my work will be presented at DanceWeekend and I am so excited to be presenting alongside such a talented and inspiring list of artists!
Photo by: by Jeremy Mimnagh