It’s like reading a who’s who of Halifax‘s dance community.
“It’s a whole roster this year, and it is wonderful,” Kelly Horne says about this year’s Maritime Dance Performance Showcase, called Fusion.
“It’s huge this year,” the company’s artistic director said about the show, which will feature 11 choreographers and 12 dances. “The variety of pieces, because you have so many people involved, makes the show that much more interesting.”
Taking place at the Alderney Landing Theatre this weekend, the performance will include works by Jacinte Armstrong, Ruth-Ellen Kroll Jackson, Kate Hayter-Reid, Susanne Chui, and Trailer Park Boys actor Cory Bowles.
“Cory’s piece is a remount of one we died last year.
“It had so much acclaim from people last year,” Horne said.
“It is a really powerful piece. It is dark and deals with a lot of topics young girls deal with; from peer pressure to depression and anorexia.”
The ninth annual showcase will also feature work by Mocean Dance’s Melanie Ferro and Toronto Dance Theatre student Ronda Baker.
Another highlight is Kathleen Vessey, a member of the company who recently won the 18 and over category at Dance Nova Scotia’s Taking Steps to Fly showcase. “It is a very prestigious award,” said Horne.
“We have given her the opportunity to perform the piece she did at the Taking Steps to Fly show in our show.
“So, it will be on the stage, with professional lighting, and it will be a great part of the show.”
Horne said over the years the show has been a wonderful opportunity to showcase the works of emerging youth dancers as they begin taking their first steps into the world of performing.
“Some of our dancers have gone on to pursue dance as a career bigger than us,” she said.
“It’s a stepping stone for them.”
