Outside/In FREE PERFORMANCE: Prairies – A double bill featuring New Dance Horizons and Farhad & Murray

Set 1: New Dance Horizons

RE-Tangled is in response to and as a remixing of a duet dance and dance on film creation entitled TANGLED.

FLOWERS: an ode to the beginnings and ending of life. Flowers hold a plethora of meaning and associations. The creation of Krista Solheim’s solo commission began in the fall of 2019 and was sparked by a bouquet of fresh stem flowers

Artist’s Bios: New Dance Horizons

Anastasia Evsigneeva
Performer

Anastasia Evsigneeva is a contemporary artist of Russian origin, dancer, and circus performer. In 2019, Anastasia graduated from the Professional Program of the School Contemporary Dancers in Winnipeg, with a BA Honors in Dance. In spring 2020, she contacted Robin Poitras in hopes to commission new work and/or to create a remix based on the original duet TANGLED. Anastasia created a company entitled Moving Roots in June 2020, which brings together Anastasia’s eclectic dance, contortion and circus interests into a unique space inviting guest artists and collaborators from dance, music, circus, and visual art.

Anna Protsiou
Performer 
 

Originally from Thessaloniki, Greece, Anna Protsiou is a contemporary dance artist and contortionist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She graduated from the School of Contemporary Dancers’ Professional Program in 2018 and has since been performing. Some of the performances include works by Odette Heyn, Stephanie Ballard, Peter Quanz, Harold Rhéaume in Quebec City; and Ilse Torres and Roberto Mosqueda in Mexico. Anna created two versions of TANGLED, in collaboration with Anastasia Evsigneeva in 2020; a live performance piece and TANGLED the film. Anna co-directed, choreographed and performed in Moving Roots: Reflections, multidisciplinary contemporary that took place in Winnipeg in June 2022 with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Krista Solheim
Performer

Krista Solheim is an independent dance artist and movement teacher based in Regina, SK. Over the past 25 years, since completing a BFA in Contemporary Dance from Concordia University, Krista has pursued an independent creative and performative dance practice. She has worked with a range of choreographers from across Canada. Since 2017, Krista has focused on working with New Dance Horizons Creation Base, NDH/ Rouge-gorge; dancing in solo and group creations by Robin Poitras and Edward Poitras.

Jeff Morton (he/him) 
Composer

Jeff Morton is a composer, media artist, and arts worker based in rural southeast Saskatchewan, Treaty 2 territory, land of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Assiniboine, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the traditional homeland of the Métis Nation. As an artist and composer, Jeff’s work integrates music and media art, exploring themes of sound-making, communication, and transcription. Drawing on traditional instruments, found musical objects, natural materials, and technology, his performances and installations have been presented in galleries, festivals, and showcases across Canada and internationally over the past 20 years.  Jeff has worked for and with arts organizations including the Canada Council for the Arts, Saskatchewan Arts Alliance, CARFAC SASK, SK Arts, Neutral Ground Artist Run Centre, Holophon Audio Arts, Open Space, and the University of Victoria, among others. As a self-employed arts professional, Jeff takes on roles as project leader, consultant, producer, curator, preparator, technician, editor, writer, and designer.

Robin Poitras C.M.

Artistic and Managing Director

Robin Poitras C.M. is one of Saskatchewan’s most prolific dance and performance creators. Creating dance, performance, and installation works, she has been actively engaged in contemporary dance practice since the early 80s. For many years Robin has traversed the formal worlds of dance and performance art. She co-founded New Dance Horizons in 1986, with Dianne Fraser where she continues to act as Artistic Director. With an interest in research into diverse fields of artistic and somatic practice she has developed a unique interdisciplinary approach. Robin’s works have been presented across Canada, in Spain, France, Germany, Mongolia and Mexico. She is a recipient of the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, 2021 recipient of the Order of Canada, 2016 Lieutenant Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2006 Mayor’s Awards for Business & The Arts’ Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2004 Women of Distinction Award for the Arts.

Edward Poitras

Co-Artistic Director

Edward Poitras is a member of the George Gordon First Nation and resident of Treaty Four Territory. He is an artist who has always recognized his mixed heritage – Métis/Cree/Saulteaux – as a powerful source of energy, creativity and contradiction.

Since the early 1980s Poitras’ “artistic benchmark [has been] his masterful ability to combine seemingly contradictory materials” [1] such as fiberglass, circuit boards and magnetic tape with bone, horse hair and rawhide. His work examines complex issues of history and identity, and their connection(s) with place. As critic Nancy Tousley observes, his “family and regional history are [often] interwoven with references to the story of Aboriginal people in the Americas.” [2] Themes of colonization, assimilation, integration, genocide, displacement, migration, survival, nationalism and transnationalism permeate his work as he explores tensions, contradictions, narratives and interactions.

Poitras has exhibited extensively across Canada, as well as in the United States and Europe. His work may be found in the collections of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, MacKenzie Art Gallery, National Gallery of Canada, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC), among others. In November 2020, Edward joined Robin Poitras C.M. as the Co-Artistic Director of New Dance Horizons.

Set 2: Farhad & Murray

The earliest version of the santur dates to as far as Babylonian stone carvings (669 B.C.) The second half of this Prairie double-bill will give the audience the opportunity to hear the evocative sound of this ancient Persian instrument performed in contemporary style that traverses time. The long resonating tones of Farhad Khosravi’s santur weave naturally with the earthy sounds of Murray Smith’s percussion, creating a seamless musical journey. Note: Daniel Stadnicki can no longer attend due to personal reasons. Murray Smith will be performing in his place.

Don’t miss the outdoor street festival from 2-5pm in Hyack Square featuring local artisans, musicians and more. Visit the City of New Westminster website for more details.

Come in from outside to experience exceptional live performing arts with your friends and neighbours. Go outside from in to connect with community and friends you haven’t met yet.

About Outside/In

The Outside/In Canadian Performance Series is a special presentation occurring between January and March 2023 and will feature national performing artists from across Canada. The series is made possible with a grant from the Department of Canada Heritage (Celebration and Commemoration Program). As part of the series, we will be offering six live theatre performances, an outdoor street social event featuring local music and cultural groups, and a promotional campaign to encourage attendees to support local businesses and restaurants. These activities will increase opportunities for Canadians to participate in various commemorative activities and celebrations to mark Canada’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic. The project will support the revival of local economies through in-person events. All events, including the professional theatre performances, will have free access for the community.

Tickets are FREE to this show, but only a limited amount are available so act quickly!

This series has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada. Ce projet a été rendu possible en partie grâce au gouvernement du Canada.

Event Details
Event Details