Our DanceWeekend’24 Artist Feature is Tavia Christina as apart of our online film screenings!
Friday, January 26th, 2024 at 7pm VIRTUALLY.
🔗 https://www.taviachristina.com/
About Near & Far Projects:
Near&Far Projects (NFP) is a post-contemporary project company that focuses on presenting dance through various mediums. Co-founded in 2018 by Rachel Facchini and Tavia Christina, NFP has created and produced works across Canada. The company aims to create a platform for movement artists to create and perform, with the goal to push emerging art.
Within the last six years, the company’s goals of fostering a hub of a community have been on track. NFP has hosted several opportunities that have brought together various emerging artists. As artistic director and choreographer, Tavia Christina strives to further create opportunities for artists to perform and collaborate.
The company’s methods are developed by the use of improvisation and other world building tasks. The work often begins from a place of practical research to meet the study and apply learnt information into the physical body. The final work is not necessarily a projection of the topic but rather, a landing of the information and its adaptation to the body.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself/your company?
Hi, I am Tavia and I am a multi-hyphenate artist. My work touches genres between dance, theatre and performance art. My practice is based in somatic movement, improvisation, and spiritual endurance. As the Artistic Director of Near & Far Projects, my choreographic research and development are informed by improvisation, and voice work.
What will you be sharing at DanceWeekend’24?
I will be sharing a dance film entitled Oracle.
How has the pandemic shifted your work as a professional dance artist?
The pandemic shifted my work drastically. Prior to the pandemic I was finishing up a degree and did not know if this path I had chosen was the right fit for me. The space during lockdown really ignited me to pursue an artistic career and deepened my love for this profession. It pushed me to really recognize and believe in my community’s resilience and it shows in the art that happens in this city.
What interests you about film as a medium and how does if differ from a live performance?
Film to me creates a different kind of magic. In film the audience only gets to see what I am showing them. The process is different and there is less room for fault I find, it gets quite technical and almost mechanical. What I find most interesting is learning about the ways in which I am able to execute what my vision is. Via camera work, actor choices, setting up the shot etc. Its just different and I really enjoy navigating my way through it.
What does dance mean to you?
Dance to me is radical and joyous. It is filled with community and integrity, without it I think our spirits wouldn’t be satisfied.
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Stay Up to Date with NFP at their social media links below: