Expanse Festival
as part of the Chinook Series
February 6-16, 2020
The ATB Financial Arts Barns
10330 84th Avenue
A celebration of the body in performance including performances by local and national artists, salon discussions, workshops, and pop-up lobby performances.
Expanse is one stream in the Chinook Series.
The Lobbyists
Thursday, February 6
Friday, February 7
Saturday, February 8
Thursday, February 13
Friday, February 14
Saturday, February 15
Westbury Theatre Lobby and all the spaces in between
FREE EVENTS
Facilitated by Amber Borotsik
Somewhere in-between performance, installation and site specific squat lie The Lobbyists, a yearly collective of interdisciplinary artists and charged with the task of awakening spaces, both on the festival site and in the city surrounding. This year the relationship between community and art is being teased apart by an outstanding ensemble of creators, performers and instigators: Yvette Prefontaine, Cynthia Sentara, Dhana Cartmell, Brooke Leifso.
In addition to live performance the lobbyists are also honoured to feature and engage with the dance film:
A Provocation on Wheels
by Shay Erlich and Jenna Roy
Wheels represent possibility and plurality: the space between motion and stillness, the balance point between safety and risk, and how imagination creates opportunities for new motions to emerge. In animating the inanimate device, the user is in turn animated, perpetuating motion, relationships and explorations.
This project is supported by the Pilot Fund for Gender Equality, a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with support from the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est soutenu par le Fonds pilote pour l’égalité des sexes, une collaboration entre Fondations communautaires du Canada et le Fonds Égalité, avec l’appui du gouvernement du Canada.
Century Song
A Volcano production
in association with Moveable Beast and Richard Jordan Productions
Photography by: John Lauener and Dahlia Katz
Thursday, February 6 at 9 p.m.
Friday, February 7 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, February 8 at 8:30 p.m.
Westbury Theatre
Century Song is a live performance hybrid created by powerful Dora-Award winning soprano Neema Bickersteth, and Dora-award winning collaborators Ross Manson (direction) and Kate Alton (choreography).
Inspired in part by Virginia Woolf’s Orlando and Alice Walker’s In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens, Bickersteth seamlessly melds song and movement to inhabit a century of women whose identities are contained within her own.
This exquisitely unique show features music by some of the past 100 years’ most adventurous composers, as well as a projection design by Germany’s fettFilm – extraordinary visuals that bring alive major art movements of the 20th century. Both whimsical and riveting, Century Song is a wordless chronicle of the age, built from art.
Special thanks to Piano Centre Edmonton for their support
Akpik Theatre’s
Pawâkan Macbeth
© Marc J Chalifoux Photography 2017
Thursday, February, 6 at 7 p.m.
Friday, February 7 at 1 p.m.
Friday, February 7 at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 8 at 2 p.m.
Pawâkan Macbeth happens before colonization, when Plains Cree were allied with Stoney Nakoda, and at war with Blackfoot over territory, food, supplies and trade. The Canadian Government were making their way west with Sir John A. MacDonald as its leader. Harsh environments brought immense fear, starvation, and uncertainty together to awaken the darkest of Cree spirits, the Wihtiko – a being with an insatiable greed. Through the exploration of Cree language, history, stories and cosmology Arluk asks, what is it to be human? What makes a human vulnerable to the Wihtiko? Inspired by working with the youth of Frog Lake First Nation, and shared stories from Elders in the Treaty 6 region, Arluk has created a terrifying journey through love, greed, honour and betrayal, with coyote howlers teaching us that resurgence requires balance.
This presentation is part of Akpik Theatre’s Treaty 6 tour.
culturecapital
the performing arts economy trading card game
Games:
February 9th at 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8 pm, 9 pm
February 10th at 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm
February 11th at 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm
February 12th at 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm
February 13th at 6:30pm, 7:30pm (semi-finals)
Fringe Board Room
Semi-Finals and Finals Tournament Schedule:
February 13 at 6:30pm, 7:30pm, and 9pm
Westbury Theatre
It might sound crazy, but two artists have built a card game about the performing arts industry in Alberta. And now it’s time to compete.
Summon real Alberta Companies, roll for Grants, play Projects, and use Strategies to attract more communities to your side. Welcome to culturecapital.
In this show, a $21 deck is your ticket to play: https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/merchandise.php?merchandiseRef=601:177.
So buy your own deck, learn to play, and compete with other audience members in the round robin tournament to reach the finals—where YOU CAN WIN THE CASH PRIZE of $500 of public funding.
**** if price is a barrier to playing, Play it Forward decks are available at no cost at the ATB Financial Arts Barns Box Office. These decks are available on a first come, first served basis.
The first four days will be the round robin tournament: bring your deck, sit at a table, and battle your opponent to get a higher score. The tournament events culminate in finalists from the leaderboard ascending to the digital media spectacle arena, where the 2020 Chinook Series Champion will be crowned. It could be YOU.
culturecapital is designed from a mix of interviews with local artists about their experiences making performance and four years worth of public funding data on performing arts companies in Alberta. Edmonton’s 2020 Chinook Series performance marks the inaugural public tournament for culturecapital. Concurrent versions of the game are being developed for tournaments at festivals across Canada, including Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary.
Everything you need to know in order to play can be found online at https://www.culturecapital.cards/chinook2020. It’s easy to learn, fun to play, and no prior arts experience or card game experience is necessary.
We hope to see you there!
For information about the finals, please click here: https://chinookseries.ca/event/culturecapital-finals/
Round Robin Tournament Schedule
Sunday, February 9 in the ATB Financial Arts Barns Boardroom (located just off the main lobby) with games starting on the hour from 2pm – 4pm and 6pm – 9pm, ending at 10pm.
Monday, February 10 in the ATB Financial Arts Barns Boardroom (located just off the main lobby) with games starting half past every hour from 6:30pm – 9:30pm, ending at 10:30pm.
Tuesday, February 11 in the ATB Financial Arts Barns Boardroom (located just off the main lobby) with games starting half past every hour from 6:30pm – 9:30pm, ending at 10:30pm.
Wednesday, February 12 in the ATB Financial Arts Barns Boardroom (located just off the main lobby) with games starting half past every hour from 6:30pm – 9:30pm, ending at 10:30pm.
For information about watching the epic media Finals and what it takes to win the Championship prize on Thursday, February 13 in the Westbury Theatre, go to:
The Magical Kingdom of Queens
The Nina Haggerty Dance Collective
Saturday, February 8 at 7 p.m.
Studio Theatre
FREE EVENT
The Magical Kingdom of Queens is a fantastical exploration of duality created and performed by the Nina Haggerty Dance Collective. The Nina Haggerty Dance Collective, facilitated by Amber Borotsik and assisted by Cynthia Sentara, is a collective of artists with developmental disabilities who pursue both a dance and visual art practice at The Nina Haggerty Centre. For The Magical Kingdom of Queens the collective has been working with musicians Laura Raboud and Aaron Macri, exploring the various ways in which their dances, voices, stories and truths take space in the world.
Very Special Thanks to The Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, to Karen and everyone a the The Alberta Avenue Community Centre and to Gerry Morita and Mile Zero Dance who began this whole program.
Company/Artist:
Creation and Performance:
Yvette Prefontaine, Erin Lepine, Kelsey Hawkins, Jaymee Howarth, Sam Crier, Cynthia Sentara, Amber Borotsik, Laura Raboud, Aaron Macri
Music Composition and Performance:
Laura Raboud, Aaron Macri
Narration:
Brittany Leitheiser
This project is supported by the Pilot Fund for Gender Equality, a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with support from the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est soutenu par le Fonds pilote pour l’égalité des sexes, une collaboration entre Fondations communautaires du Canada et le Fonds Égalité, avec l’appui du gouvernement du Canada.
The Makings of a Voice
written and performed by Dana Wylie
Tuesday, February 11 at 8:45 p.m.
Backstage Theatre
FREE EVENT
A public reading of a new musical performance in development about discovering our individual identity within generational narratives. A personal and intimate journey that sits in a fluid place somewhere between the past and the present, between motherhood and daughterhood, between music and monologue.
Featuring: Dana Wylie (Guitar, vocals, text), Audrey Ochoa (Trombone), Christine Hanson (Cello), Mo Lefever (Guitar)
This project is supported by the Pilot Fund for Gender Equality, a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with support from the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est soutenu par le Fonds pilote pour l’égalité des sexes, une collaboration entre Fondations communautaires du Canada et le Fonds Égalité, avec l’appui du gouvernement du Canada.
Interior Landscapes
Three pieces curated by Good Women Dance Collective
Tuesday, February 11 at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, February 12 at 7 p.m.
Westbury Theatre
Interior Landscapes includes:
The Strike
by Alison Neuman
as part of the Good Women New Work Award
The Strike examines the lives of a building’s residences who fight between light and darkness as the walls close around them.
Choreographer:
Alison Neuman
Performers:
Angela Sekulic, Heath Birkholz, Iris Dykes, Julie Heffel, Roxanne Ulanicki, Rebecca Sadowski
Choreography Understudy:
Ainsley Hillyard
Choreographic Support Staff:
Angie Staines
Composer:
Tom Merklinger
Lighting Designer:
Elise Jason
The Strike is supported by the Edmonton Arts Council, the City of Edmonton and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
Marynia’s house of awkward pleasure
by Marynia Fekecz
Curated by Good Women Dance Collective
Marynia’s house of awkward pleasure is the examination and interpretation of Polish dancer Marynia Fekecz’s life in Canada. Drawing from childhood memories, animals and humans, Marynia creates her own world which can be defined as awkward or full of pleasure.
what we don’t see/site of a sacrifice
by Kristy Janvier
“sacrifice” MiBC Creative Residency Showing, July 26 2019/photographer (c) Sophia Mai Wolfe, 2019
Curated by Good Women Dance Collective
It’s often we don’t see what one has given up when making decisions. A sacrifice can be made for another, an idea, something of value for ourselves or greater good of all or survival. At times all we have left is what we can hold onto.
Company/Artist:
Choreographer/Performer: Kristy Janvier
Sound: Shamanic DJ, recordings by Kristy Janvier, vocals Jana Dutkiewicz
Video: Kristy Janvier
Stump Kitchen LIVE!
with Alexis Hillyard
Alexis Hillyard created the web series “Stump Kitchen.”
Friday, February 14 at 8:45 p.m.
Westbury Theatre
Join Alexis from Stump Kitchen for a whirlwind adventure featuring some delicious vegan cooking and, you guessed it, her Stump! Alexis will create a delectable vegan meal for you in front of your eyes, featuring many of the ‘Stump Techniques’ that are featured weekly on her YouTube Channel, and maybe even a few surprise guests!
And don’t forget our WORKSHOPS…
Audition Workshop With Allyson Pratt At Expanse As Part Of Chinook
Saturday, February 8 at 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Backstage Theatre
Whether you are brand new to auditions, or looking to brush up your skills – this workshop with Edmonton’s own Allyson Pratt will leave you with practical and personalized tools to add to your actor’s work belt. Focusing on audition technique, choosing material that speaks to you, as well as boundaries and personal safety, this workshop invites you to bring joy and play into the audition room, and take back your personal power. Working in groups as well as one-on-one coaching, this workshop features a mock audition process to help the actor find comfort and confidence in the audition setting. We will also focus on how to connect body and breath to the text, even when nerves and butterflies abound.
About Allyson:
Allyson Pratt hails from Edmonton, AB, and lives in Toronto, ON. A member of the Alexander Cree Nation, her mother is Plains Cree, and her father is of British and Scottish origins. Allyson studied at the Randolph Academy in Toronto, and received the Triple Threat Award in her graduating year. Allyson has performed in theatre roles across the country for companies such as The Citadel, The Charlottetown Festival, YPT (Young People’s Theatre), RedSky Performance, Akpik Theatre, and more. Allyson can be seen in the CSA nominated series Mohawk Girls in her recurring role as Iostha, and the award-winning Web-series Teenagers. Allyson also starred in and co-created the short film Stephanie’s Room, which screened at the 2016 Cannes Festival. Allyson has facilitated workshops for children, teens and young adults across the country, specializing in acting technique, voice, and the audition process. Make sure you catch Allyson’s performance in Pawâkan Macbeth by Reneltta Arluk at Expanse as part of Chinook.
Azimuth Performance Lab at Expanse presents:
Move up, move up: Sharing diverse stories through Playback Theatre
with Third Space Playback Theatre Edmonton
Sunday, February 9 at 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Westbury Theatre
Move up, Move up invites us all to consider how we can move towards telling our stories that don’t often have the space to be shared or to move towards listening to stories in order to honour diverse voices. In this 2 hour workshop, participants are invited to experience playback theatre-based activities to embody and share stories. Playback Theatre is a form of improvisational theatre that invites audience members to share stories from their lives, which actors reflect back using improvisation including movement, words, metaphor and music. The workshop is open to all levels of experience with theatre-based activities and people can choose the level of participation to which they feel comfortable.
Third Space Playback Theatre Edmonton is a group of diverse individuals committed to exploring the themes of intersecting identities through playback theatre in order to promote dialogue, community change, and social justice. We are committed to creating spaces of dialogue from a diversity of Indigenous and settler communities.
Performers:
Michelle Buckle, Lebogang Disele, Paul Gareau, Lucy Lu, Shawn Tse, Philiana Wong
Azimuth Performance Lab at Expanse:
Enlivening the Peripheral in Text-Based Performance
with Amber Borotsik and Vanessa Sabourin
Sunday, February 16 at 11am – 12:30pm
Westbury Theatre
A laboratory continuation guided by Amber Borotsik and Vanessa Sabourin based on their experiences in the rehearsal hall together where the text and the body wanna play together instinctually and in synchronicity. These sessions explore processes for combining a movement-based practice within the context of text-based performance. Methodologies used will be a mush of process and practice that have been built over 10 years of collaborations on theatrical performance where the body needs to speak its own sister language to the words coming out of the performers’ mouths. No need to have attended the first session!
Brain stuff.
Body stuff.
Mix it up stuff.
Jam on this together stuff.
Please come.
But WAIT! There’s MORE!
Be a part of the conversation at our SALONS…
You’re an Inspiration: Moving beyond teachable moment narratives in art featuring disabled artists
Saturday, February 8 at 5:30pm
– 6:30pm
ATB Financial Arts Barns Lobby
FREE EVENT
ASL/English accessible
Featuring Kristi Hansen, Carly Neis, and Alison Neuman
It is often heard that someone who lives life with a disability is an “inspiration” or that they are somehow exceptional for simply existing. This panel, led by Kristi Hansen of Azimuth Theatre, Alison Neuman, choreographer of The Strike, and Carly Neis, playwright of Tune to A, seeks to explore the notion and the ways that art created by and about disabled life can be seen beyond personal philosophical enrichment for able-bodied audiences.
culturecapital: what is it?
Tuesday, February 11 at 5:30pm – 6:30pm
ATB Financial Arts Barns Lobby
FREE EVENT
ASL/English accessible
Join us for an in-depth artist discussion with Milton Lim and Patrick Blenkarn, the two artists behind culturecapital, the performing arts economy trading card game!
Question #1 will be: Did they really spend hundreds of hours over 2.5 years going through public funding data and interviewing hundreds of artists to make a card game about the arts economy in Canada?
Yes.
So come hang out and learn more about culturecapital, the game that (some) arts funding juries call “divisive and niche” and that almost everyone else calls “absolutely necessary for arts workers and the greater public to play” and “incredibly accurate and fair.”
Contractors’ Clinic
curated by Good Women Dance Collective
Photo by Marc J. Chalifoux Photography
Wednesday, February 12 at 5:30pm
ATB Financial Arts Barns Lobby
FREE EVENT
ASL/English accessible
This salon will act as a clinic for artists working independently and as contractors. There will be a twenty-minute panel discussion with leaders in the fields of: health care for independent dance artists, knowing your rights in the rehearsal hall, standards of pay, safety and contracts, as well as an overview of opportunities and programs offered by the City of Edmonton for low-income households. The last section of the salon will be an informal living library where participants can have one-on-one time with any of the panelists.