Stand Your Ground - Act II
Karen Jamieson & The Carnegie Dance Troupe
2008
About
Stand Your Ground - Act II was part of the Dancing on the Edge Festival in 2008, and was a 10 for 20 Dancing on the Edge Commission Project.
Stand Your Ground - Act II is a dance performance celebrating the spirit of place – it is a collaboration between choreographer Karen Jamieson, participants from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and members of Vancouver’s dance community.
Audiences journeyed from the Firehall courtyard through the streets of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside finishing inside Carnegie Community Centre – a metaphor for dialogue, in the language of dance, between diverse communities. The performance emerged from the multi-year Carnegie/Firehall Community Project, which was completing its third year in 2008. Participants are from Dance 101 free weekly dance workshops at Carnegie and from the professional dance community.
Transformation is the major theme. Standing on the earth and being present…
When:
July 8-12th at 5:00 pm
Where:
Firehall Arts Centre courtyard
Itinerary:
Firehall Arts Centre courtyard – Vancouver’s No. 1 Firehall in 1906 – A vibrant performing arts centre since 1982
First United Church – in 1885 before Vancouver was a city First Church was serving the poor
Hastings Street Vendors – Integral part of the commerce of the neighbourhood
Ovaltine Café – Serving the neighbourhood since 1943
The Listening Post – A quiet place for peace and sanctuary
Aboriginal Front Door – First Nations cultural and support centre
Carnegie Community Centre – The 1903 library became the neighbourhood’s “living room” in 1980
The People
Choreography: Karen Jamieson and community dancers
Introduction and Territory Acknowledgment: Steve Litton
Sound design and live music: Murray Black and Mike Richter
Performers: Sheena Black, Deborah Charlie, Wendy Chew, Graham Cunningham, Dolores Dallas, Sarah Good, Karen Jamieson, Iris Kujansuu, Rick Lavallie, Robyn Livingstone, Darcy McMurray, Joan Morelli, Robert Milton, Lisa Petrucci, Mirae Rosner, Priscillia Tait, and Su-Lin Tseng
Drummers/Singers: Rick Lavallie and Sarah Good
Soloists: Deborah Charlie, Robyn Livingstone, and Su-Lin Tseng
Community Liaison: Deborah Charlie
Project Assistants: Mirae Rosner and Su-Lin Tseng
Generously sponsored by: Miller Thomson LLP, Wendy Baker Law Corp., R.A. Wattie, and Marsha Ramsden
Dance 101 workshop participants brought in ideas, for movement and song as part of this collaborative creation. These contributions can be seen at the Carnegie portion of the journey:
8. Traditional dance (Deborah)
9. Sculpting (Su-Lin)
10. Elder transformations (Mirae)
11. Animal constellations (Iris)
12. Follow the leader (Graham)
13. Friendship dance - include audience (Deborah)
1. Wash the floor
2. Circle
3. Step Dance (Rick)
4. Four Season (Robert)
5. Street of Dreams (Robyn)
6. Poetry Solos (Lisa)
7. Listen to the drum (Sarah)
Dance 101 is an ongoing free weekly dance workshop led by Karen Jamieson at the Carnegie Community Centre. Every person that has attended these workshops over the last three years left a trace of themselves – an energy that became a part of this performance.
Sharon Burns, Caroline, Yves Caron, Claire, Olga Dimitri, Eiko, Faye, Fran, Nivea Gane, Gayle, Hamida, Hannah, Hope, Roger Howie, Jason, Justina, Keith, Kevin, Montana King, Lo Mei Kuen, Lou, Lou (Tip), Mei, Michael, Caroline Moore, Carole Nak, Mabel Nipshank, Marguerite, Ilya Parizhsky, Patricia, Ryanne, Sage, Sophia, Carole Smith, Olga Sorenson, Sue, Teresa, Victor, Karenza T. Wall, Walton
Reviews
Stand Your Ground - Vancouver Sun Review (2008) by Kevin Griffin
Stand Your Ground Report (2008) by Jil Weaving for Canada Council Community Engaged Dance Project in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
