'Waiting in the Wings No More' performed by Propeller Dance
Presented by The Disability Collective with support from Fall for Dance North
October 4 @ 2:00 PM* October 5 @ 7:30 PM** October 6 @ 2:00 PM*** Betty Oliphant Theatre
*Please note that on October 4 there will be a post-performance artist chat. **Please note that on October 5 ASL Interpretation will be offered. ***Please note that on October 6 Audio Description will be offered.
Runtime: Approx. 80-minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
Venue Partner
A NOTE FROM THE DISABILITY COLLECTIVE
On behalf of The Disability Collective, we are thrilled to welcome you to this powerful and ground-breaking performance celebrating disability pride, joy, and culture as expressed through the dynamic choreography of Lucy Bennett and Renata Soutter.
It is an honour to present Waiting in the Wings No More by Propeller Dance as part of Fall for Dance North’s 2024 festival. This performance offers a space to reflect on the beauty of disability, the power of taking up space, and the profound ways we challenge society’s expectations of disability and dance. We believe deeply in the transformative potential of art, and tonight, we hope these performances inspire you as much as they have us.
Thank you for being here and for supporting this journey as we continue pushing boundaries and creating accessible and inclusive artistic experiences.
In ‘Waiting in the Wings No More’, two distinct but connected worlds emerge from two internationally recognized inclusive dance choreographers Lucy Bennett (Artistic Director, Stop Gap Dance Co.) and Renata Soutter (Co-Founder and former Artistic and Executive Director). A ground-breaking moment in the Canadian dance landscape; witness reflections on experiences of disability, musings on the beauty of disabled bodyminds taking space, and the pride that comes through pushing back against society’s standards and expectations of disability and dance through the lens of Disability Pride, joy, and culture.
Bennett's creation Stage Door is a site-generic work of immersive dance conversations and revealing vignettes, conceived by Bennett and Hannah Sampson from Stopgap Dance Company. It is a commentary on why artists with disabilities are still 'waiting in the wings'. The piece blends harmoniously with Soutter's Living the unDesireable Life, that is about questions and the possibility of answers; the right to a voice; loving our bodies; rejection and belonging; and the risk of applying binaries (disabled/non disabled, woman/man, queer/straight, valuable/worthless) to ourselves and to others.
As complex human animals we all share many things, including the desire to live our lives fully and how we wish.
This show is a RELAXED PERFORMANCE
Relaxed Performances are open to everyone, but the environment has been specifically adapted for those who are neurodivergent and may experience sensory sensitivities, folks with communication or learning disabilities, and people who would benefit from a more relaxed environment. During a Relaxed Performance audience members are welcome to exit and re-enter the show as needed, move about the space and make noise, and spend time in our dedicated quiet area where there will be fidget toys and earplugs. There will be no flashing or strobing lights, fog or haze, loud sound effects, or other overstimulating special effects. The house lights will remain on at a low level throughout the performance.
ACT 1
Stage Door
Choreographer: Lucy Bennett Dancers: Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson, Moni Hoffman, Dylan Phillips Special thanks to Russell Winkelaar Composer: Andy Higgs Rehearsal Direction: Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson
In 2007, Renata co-founded Propeller Dance with Alan Shain and Shara Weaver, motivated to change the dance world by creating meaningful performances including people with disabilities. Her tenure finished in 2024 as Artistic Executive Director. During her time Propeller grew into a thriving mid-sized arts organization, recognized nationally and internationally. Renata’s prolific career is highlighted in ‘Flesh and Spokes’ and ‘Living the unDesirable Life’; these works were presented at The National Gallery of Canada, NAC’s Canada Scene, GCTC, and DanceWorks. She developed collaborations with StopGap UK, Ordinary Wand Korea, All Bodies Dance, and was co-chair of Somerset Gladstone Arts Hub.
INTERMISSION
ACT 2
Living the unDesirable Life
Choreographer: Renata Soutter Dancers: Jason “JC Fresh” Collantes, Shay Erlich, Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson, Moni Hoffman, Dylan Phillips, Elizabeth Winkelaar Casting change: Russell Winkelaar’s part will be performed by Shay Erlich Podcaster: Paulina Drohomyrecky ASL Interpretation: Nancie Anderson, Rhonda Kaassamani, Gaitrie Persaud-Killings (provided by Phoenix the Fire) Audio Description: Rebecca Singh, Janis Mayers (provided by Superior Description services) Composers: Jesse Stewart and Dominique Saint-Pierre Rehearsal Direction: Amelia Rose Griffin
Immersed in Stopgap’s work since 2003, Lucy blends and expands the dynamic interaction of distinctly different dancers. As a choreographer Lucy has created many original dance productions for international touring including indoor, outdoor, and digital productions such as Tracking, SPUN Productions, Artificial Things, Bill & Bobby, The Seafarers, The Enormous Room, The Road, and FROCK. Lucy won ‘Best Screen Choreography’ at DanceScreen 2019.
Lucy, alongside Stopgap colleagues, has developed Stopgap’s creative learning programme and has supported Stopgap becoming world renowned for their inclusive choreographic and teaching practice leading residencies throughout the UK, Asia, Europe, and Scandinavia.
Operating funders for this presentation/company was provided by Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, TD Ready Commitment and City of Ottawa.
Propeller Dance also wishes to thank: National Arts Centre, Great Canadian Theatre Company and Ottawa Dance Directive for their partnerships.
A huge thank you to Fall for Dance North and The Disability Collective for this momentous opportunity.
Propeller Dance Production Team
Stage Manager: Kat Wong Access Support Worker: Lianne Davies Technical Director: David Degrow Lighting Designer: Franco Pang Set Designer: David Magladry Costume Designer: Sarah Waghorn
Thank you to our support team: Lianne Davies, Sarah Doucet, Sandy DeVries, Becky Hughes, Kwende Kefentse, David Sims, Omar Tehran, Debbie Westine
ABOUT PROPELLER DANCE
Interim Artistic Director: Amelia Rose Griffin Interim Executive Director: Jaime Alink Company Dancers: Nicolas Benoit, Sylvain Bouchard, Bella Bowes, Robert Chartier, Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson, Moni Hoffman, Dylan Phillips, Liz Winkelaar Artistic Associate: Shara Weaver Education Manager: Genevieve Beaulieu Company Administrator: Vern Martin-Ivie Outreach Coordinator: Shanice Pereira
Board of Directors: Myroslava Tataryn (Chair), Heather Daley (Vice-Chair), Stephanie Gan (Secretary), Elizabeth Tromp (Treasurer), Bernadette Hendrickx, Anne Roland, Kirsten Van Houten, Taryn Allen (Education Representative)
Propeller Dance has been an innovator in the field of disability and dance, and diverse performance practices in Canada since 2007. Propeller Dance is committed to excellence — creating, teaching, performing, presenting inclusive dance and inter-arts performance. At the core of company's work is the belief that dance is for all people, and value as wide a breadth of expression as possible. Propeller Dance is recognized as a leader in Canada for our innovative creations and teaching practices.
Now in their 18th season, the company celebrates artists with diverse voices, bodies, and minds, and view disability as part of the human experience. Disability is not a limitation or something to overcome, but a creative impulse for brilliant artistic reflections on the human experience. 'We recognize the work of disability advocates, and actively pursue access, self-determination, and an expectation of solidarity for all members of our community'.
propellerdance.com
ABOUT THE DISABILITY COLLECTIVE
Artistic Director: Emily Maxwell Managing Director: Nathan Sartore Director of Accessibility & Consultation: Ali Hand Development Officer: Lauren Wu Marketing Manager: Sadie Cahill Board of Directors: Theodore Walker Robinson (Chair), Angela Sun, Maverick Smith
The Disability Collective (TDC) is the only fully disability-led performing arts organization in Toronto. Dedicated to celebrating and showcasing work created solely by disabled artists, TDC strives to de-stigmatize disability and challenge perceptions of disability by providing disabled artists with paid opportunities to share their work in a variety of forms, along with actively advocating for and improving accessibility and inclusion in the Canadian arts community by providing disability consultation services. We are committed to strengthening the disability community's presence in the arts and creating a space where disabled artists can connect and grow their practices together.
We would like to acknowledge funding support from TD Ready Commitment, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Government of Ontario for their support.
Listen to FFDN's in-house podcast series Mambo. Season 5 is out now and features conversations with FFDN 2024 festival artists, including a chat between Amelia Rose Griffin & Liz Winkelaar and Mambo's co-host Nicole Inica Hamilton.
Director of Design: Simon Rossiter Director of Production: Barney Bayliss Assistant Director of Production: Anthony Allan Associate Lighting Designer: Noah Feaver Wardrobe Crew: Maria Kofman, Alyksandra Ackerman, Claudia Matas
Assistant Lighting Designers: Christian Horoszczak Sruthi Suresan Mathilda Kane Niall Durcan
The Creative School Chrysalis Crew Head Carpenter: Chelsea Santiago Head Flyperson: El Patey Head Electrician: Theo Belc Head of Sound: LJ Kadey Head of Video: Mitchell Ayres
Adam Achacon Samantha Alonzo Luca Cazorla Bak Winnifred Blair Niall Durcan Nathan Gregory Ryan Davy Rowan Jones Diana Martinez-Barrera Kaya Northway
ADVERTISEMENT
Fall for Dance North Team
Leadership
Ilter Ibrahimof - Artistic Director
Aviva Fleising - General Manager
Melissa Forstner - Director of Advancement and Philanthropy
Lily Sutherland - Executive Producer
Milana Glumicic - Producer, Digital Programming
Melina Osorio - Finance Officer
Faith Buchanan - Education & Outreach Coordinator
Simon Rossiter - Director of Design
Barney Bayliss - Director of Production
Felicia Myronyk - Advancement Officer
Seasonal Staff
Julia Mak - Festival & Volunteer Coordinator
Bradley Langham - Box Office Manager
Zita Nyarady - Company Manager
Laura Philipps - Company Manager
Angela Xu - Festival Assistant
Ozzy Sert - Marketing Assistant
Oliver Pitschner - Digital Marketing Coordinator
Emma Haynes - International Presenters Program Assistant
Grace Johnson - Administrative Assistant
Year-Round Collaborators
Web Development & Graphic Design Team -Mouth Media
Publicity & Communications -Murray Patterson Marketing Group
Financial Services -Robert Gore and Associates
To read more about our team and their bios, please visit theOur Village page on the FFDN website.
FFDN is Toronto’s premier professional international dance festival that exists to break boundaries and remove barriers.
With pluralism and affordability at its core, FFDN celebrates, nurtures and amplifies established and emerging Canadian dance artists, creates global connections, and inspires future audiences to sustain the artform.
