Aug. 26, 2009 - Issue #723: Small Town Meth Heads

Old guys can dance

Three decades in, BWDC is showcasing contemporary dance

After over 30 years of curating Edmonton's modern dance stages, Brian Webb shows no signs of slowing down. At a ripe 58 years old, the contemporary arts purveyor is still dancing here at home and running back and forth to Ottawa as Artistic Director of the Canada Dance Festival, all while ensuring local audiences get a taste of what's going on in dance across the continent. To that end, the BWDC's 31st season kicks off next Thursday with Cabane, an installation-like performance created by Montréal choreographer Paul-Andre Fortier with visual artist and musician Robert Racine.

"This will be the 14th time I've presented Paul-Andre's work since I started presenting in 1991," explains Webb. "Obviously I like this man's work. I think it's crucially important, and along with many people I consider him one of the most important Canadian choreographers. What's interesting with someone like Paul-Andre is that his work is extremely avant garde, and yet it draws a really good audience here in Edmonton."

Last time Fortier was in town audiences saw Solo 1x60, a surreal, haunting piece examining the disconcerting relationship between people, objects, and technology. This time, Fortier will be seen within a rather unconventional space alongside Racine. A "cabane" is a shack or small hut—the set for the show features one such abode wherein Fortier performs.

"What you're going to see it is like an installation, it's a piece that can be performed anywhere," Webb says, noting that the space around the box is completely separate from it's performative contents. "For instance, they do not use theatre lighting. In Edmonton, we're presenting it in a theatre, but we're also challenging the audience to look at that place in a different way."

At 61, Fortier has not only solidified his place in the Canadian dance canon, he's continuing to prove that the form is evolving and innovating.
"Sixty-one and still going at it," Webb muses. "That says something about his passion for performance, his passion for dance. It also says something about how the face of contemporary dance is changing: we open the season with him, but then the next presentation [October 9 and 10] is a company we haven't seen before, Cas Public. This is a large company of 12 dancers who are young, vibrant, really hip performers, so the contrast there is going to be massive. To me that's exciting because the what contemporary dance is about. It's always about the adventure of the new." V

Thu, Sep 3 & Fri, Sep 4 (8 pm)
Cabane
By Fortier Danse-Création
Presented by Brian Webb Dance
John L. Haar Theatre (10045 - 156 St)
$18 – $28

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