2021/2022

Good Women Dance Collective


GWDC is overjoyed to be welcoming you back into our theatre and studio spaces this season. We have missed you! We are extremely grateful to be showcasing some new work, new initiatives as well as our postponed performances and opportunities. Our season is jam packed and we can’t wait to share it with you all.


Space Share Program

GWDC’s Space Share Program provides free rehearsal space and mentorship to performance-based artists and collectives. Space Share artists will engage in some form of community outreach during their time at the Shumka Dance Centre, so watch out for updates on possible showings, workshops and blog posts from this fantastic group of artists! We are thrilled to welcome the following artists into our space this season:

Lauren Brady – Sept 6-17, 2021
Eryn Tempest – Sept 20-Oct 1, 2021
Krista Lin (rescheduled from 20/21) – Nov 15-26, 2021
Emily Losier – Dec 13-17, 2021
Marynia Fekecz – June 6-24, 2022
Lebogang Disele (rescheduled from 20/21) – TBA
Larissa Pohoreski (rescheduled from 20/21) – TBA




The Beginning of Happiness (film)

Release date TBA, Sept/Oct 2021

GWDC’s new collaboration with FEMME Vocal Quartet has been transformed into a film! Composed by Jane Berry, this new work brings to light contemporary female perspectives on domestic violence. We spent the last half of the 2021 summer transforming this piece into a beautiful dance film with Tamarra Lessard as the director of photography. Stay tuned for updates on when we will be releasing the final product!


New Collaboration Project

April 21-23, 2022
L’Uni Théâtre

GWDC will be embarking on its most ambitious and collaborative project to date. The project includes all five GWDC artists and welcomes the contributions of multi-disciplinary collaborators Nancy Tam, Whittyn Jason, Mustafa Rafiq and Brandon Wint. By embracing a non-hierarchical and curiosity-led devising process, we hope to create something wonderful together. Can’t wait to show you what it is!




Convergence

November 11-13, 2021
8pm shows
L’Uni Théâtre

Convergence 2021 will include the premiere of how many emails does it take to make a dance piece?, a new work by Montréal-based choreographer Sasha Kleinplatz. This new work was postponed in 2020 due to COVID restrictions and we are very excited to be able to share it with you now! The program also features a solo by Montréal’s Karen Fennell, and performances by local fancy dancer Dustin Stamp and guests.


Creative Incubator

April 25-29, 2022

We are excited for the fourth edition of the Creative Incubator, a week-long creation workshop open to artists of all disciplines. Artists bring their current ideas and interests, and can work surrounded by the creative energy and input of their peers and community members. The week will include facilitated exercises, sharing and discussion between participants, opportunities for collaboration, and an informal public showing/sharing at the culmination. Facilitated by dance+theatre artist Amber Borotsik.




Classes

Our classes are open to the public and run every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10-11:30am. We provide contemporary dance instruction in a 1.5 hour class format, led by one of the collective artists or a guest instructor. Keep your eye out for other exciting one time workshops added throughout the year!

All classes and workshops are held at GWDC’s space at the Shumka Dance Centre at (10515-111 street), unless otherwise stated. More info at goodwomen.ca/classes


Scholarship Program

GWDC continues its Scholarship Program, now in its fourth year! The program provides the opportunity for artists to attend GWDC classes for free for one term in the season (September – December 2021 or January – April 2022). This year we are supporting four amazing artists with this opportunity, including the two recipients of our scholarship last year who were unable to use their scholarship as we stopped running in person classes due to COVID.
Phany Peeña (Fall term, 2020 recipient)
Deviani Bonilla (Fall term, 2020 recipient)
Natércia Napoleão (Winter term)
Dayna Hoffmann (Winter term)



Feature Artist Program

An entirely new adventure, the GWDC team is excited to announce this new initiative. Over the course of two years, the organization will support an artist with a project they dream up on their own. The intention is to expand our idea of what our programming can be while supporting an artist without the expectation that their artistic work will fit into anything predetermined by GWDC. The program will allow for an artist to envision their own project and complete it within their own parameters. This is a two-year pilot project: In 2021/22 the feature artist will learn more about the resources GWDC has to offer them, and we will be showcasing the desired project outcome in our 2022/23 season. We are so happy and excited to have Jessica McMann join us as the inaugural feature artist!