SHIFTING GEOGRAPHY
A Vancouver/Bonn project with Co.ERASGA and COCOONDANCE
Shifting: The body in motion
Geography: The reality of the body in space and location
Shifting Geography will see Artistic Director Alvin Erasga Tolentino partner with choreographer Rafaële Giovanola, Artistic Director of Bonn, Germany’s COCOONDANCE in a full length collaborative dance work. Referencing the body, the impetus of Shifting Geography is to map, describe and write about the body through movement and dance, to free the body’s inner story, marking its relation to time and the varied characteristics it presents in space and place.
In this creation, the two choreographers identify the body as geographic metaphor and source language for a choreographic story to dance, inquiring about perception versus feelings, action, reaction and outcomes within the body’s changing states, sensations and locations.
Using Vancouver and Bonn as the two homes for the research, development and creation of this dance project, Tolentino and Giovanola will reflect the geographic points of the two cities, continents and environments that influence signify and shape their visions of the body in motion.
How individuals traverse art, performance and transformation and how perspective shifts and differs, affect the body and spirit through the changes of cultural background, experiences and adaptation to, and between location represent strong themes within this work. In Shifting Geography, the two choreographers will test and encounter each other for the first time in a collaborative work, surrendering to each other’s unfamiliar personal and creative approaches and backgrounds in the treatment of this project. Pooling their knowledge, expertise and experiences in contemporary dance and theatre, together they will explore, experiment and discover the challenges and visions of Shifting Geography.
With Shifting Geography, Co.ERASGA embarks on a new creative project that builds upon the company’s momentum and follows closely our vision and commitment to collaborative work across cultures within a global perspective.
We forge a new partnership not only in the creative sphere but through development and presentation partnerships with COCOONDANCE and Theaterimballsaal in Bonn and allows Co.ERASGA to renew and deepen contacts to Germany as well as regional presenters and cultural organizations, both a new focus and initiative activities in this nation and cultural region.
The same can be said for COCOONDANCE as they embark on their newest cultural Exchange in Canada’s West Coast. Six dancers, two choreographer and other artistic team will be team together coming from both cities over three phases of research and creation development all of 2013 for a completion and premiere in February 2014 in Vancouver at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre and TheaterimBallsaal, Bonn in March 2014. From July 29 – August 14, Co.ERASGA will be in residence at the Cultch to workshop the piece.
Reviews
Photo Credit: Chris Randle
CREATIVE TEAM & PERFORMERS
CHOREOGRAPHY: Alvin Erasga Tolentino & Rafaële Giovanola
DANCERS: Victoria Miranda (Spain), Samuel Guist (Germany), Martin Inthamoussu (Uruguay), Alison Denham (Vancouver), Billy Marchenski (Vancouver), and Fa-hsuan Chen (Taiwan).
MUSIC: Pablo Palacio
LIGHTING DESIGN: Jonathan Tsang
