Rail Against: Dance Film - Illuminate the Night

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Please note: this event plans to go ahead on Saturday, Sept. 26.

The Winnipeg Summer Dance Collective presents the first stages of a dance film with Indigenous influence projected on the wall of the Beer Can, while a dancer performs live in front of it.

Concept and Choreography: Cameron Fraser-Monroe

Director: Philippe Larouche

Videographer: Michael Osikoya

Dancers: Bryce Taylor, Emilie Lewis, Liam Reid, May Saito

As a status member of the Tla’amin First Nation, I wanted to bring attention to the Indigenous rail blockades that were being erected just before shut downs in March. While the original concept was driven by the Wet’suwet’en Nation’s attempt to assert their land rights, and the acts of solidarity across the country, my research opened my eyes to First Nations’ long history with the railways, including the Constitutional Express. What I am choreographing on the five dancers is not literal, although it is filmed on a decommissioned rail line. Instead, it focuses on the emotions that the blockades stir in me; feelings of anger, defiance, helplessness, and ultimately frustration. My movement vocabulary is influenced by my classical training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and career as a professional ballet dancer, as well as my knowledge of traditional Indigenous Hoop Dance and Grass Dance. My experiences with Red Sky Performance in Toronto, and even more so with Dancers of Damelahamid in Vancouver have given me a good guide for creating new work from a place of tradition and respect.

Showing a short loop of the film outdoors at the Beer Can is wonderful, as the content and inspiration also occurs outdoors, and in close proximity to the railways. As an added dimension, the Summer Dance Collective’s Resident Choreographer Bryce Taylor will perform in front of the projection. As a dancer in the video, he will be able to mirror my choreography. This will fill an entire evening of Nuit Blanche with dance, a particularly difficult task simply because of the physical limitations on endurance. I look forward to premiering the full film soon!

Sincerely,

Cameron Fraser-Monroe

The Winnipeg Summer Dance Collective gratefully acknowledges the Manitoba Arts Council, the Canada Summer Jobs Grant, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet for their support.

The project takes place outdoors at The Beer Can's patio space, with capacity limits and physical distancing measures in place. (Hand sanitizer and a hand washing station will be available on site.)

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Illuminate the Night - Winnipeg Summer Dance Collective

Each year, an Open Call is held for artists to propose pieces that will enhance the audience experience of Nuit Blanche Winnipeg through the Illuminate the Night program. Projects are selected by a jury of artists and art professionals and are featured in Winnipeg’s downtown core.

This is a call inviting artists working in all artistic mediums to submit projects- performance artists, installation artists, textile artists, graphic designers, media artists, architects and general creative thinkers – with a performance, exhibition or installation that will enthrall, excite and possibly introduce Winnipeggers to something they have never seen or experienced before.

Premiering the film outdoors at the Beer Can is wonderful, as the content and inspiration also occurs outdoors, and in close proximity to the railways. As an added dimension, I would like to have the Summer Dance Collective’s Resident Choreographer as well as dancer Bryce Taylor perform in front of the projection. As a dancer in the video, he will be able to mirror my choreography, and I can add nuance through his live performance to an already complete image. I see the video cycling throughout the evening, and Bryce dancing intermittently while interacting with attendees. This will fill an entire evening of Nuit Blanche with dance, a particularly difficult task simply because of the physical limitations on endurance.

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