Islands of Utopia
Dance artist, Deviani Andrea, is excited to present the first part of the performance Islands of Utopia, an interactive performance about options, decision, scarcity and abundance to be completed in Summer 2023. For this first public performance, dancers Deviani Andrea and Shammy Belmore will present a 20-minutes long choreography in different locations around the city accompanied by an original music score from Aaron Macri.
The first part of Islands of Utopia is kindly supported by The CanDance Network as part of The Creative Exchange Program and Mile Zero Dance Society.
These performances are free and everyone is welcome to attend!
Locations and Performance Times:
Wednesday, September 14 | Churchill Square | 1 – 2 PM
Thursday, September 15 | Paul Kane Park | 6 – 7 PM
Friday, September 16 | Paul Kane Park | 2-3 PM
About The CanDance Network
The CanDance Network works to strengthen Canada’s presenting and artistic community by encouraging cooperation in the dissemination, public appreciation and commissioning of dances that reflects our pluralistic cultures and aesthetic points of view. The CanDance Network’s vision for Canada is for a nation where dance performances are increasingly valued by informed, enthusiastic audiences in communities in every region of the country and abroad. Our task as a network is to use our collective resources to influence and enhance the appreciation of dance performance in Canada.
About Mile Zero Dance
Mile Zero Dance (MZD) is a dance-based arts non-profit organization based out of Edmonton, Canada, and is a member of the CanDance Network of presenters, the Alberta Dance Alliance, and Theatre Alberta. Since 1985 we have been devoted to the creation, training, and presentation of contemporary dance, and moved into producing complete seasons of artistic works in 2005.
Featuring
Deviani Andrea – Lead Artist and Collaborator
Deviani Andrea is a dance artist based in Amiskwaciwâskahikan / Edmonton. Originally from Mexico City, she holds a BA in Literature by the University of Mexico and studied at the Mexico City’s Dance School and Ema Pulido’s Dance Studio. Since landed in Canada, Deviani has worked as Movement Instructor for the Citadel Theatre, and as a guest teacher with Azimuth Theatre. She has performed with Skirts Afire, Mile Zero Dance, Fringe Festival, Found Festival and Orchesis Dance Society and has choreographed for the Alberta Musical Theater Company.
Her independent work has been kindly supported by the Edmonton Arts Council and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
This summer she’s going to perform the final version of her solo ESPARTANAE and collaborate with Shammy Belmore to create a choreography to be performed in public spaces around the city as part of the Creative Exchange Project by the CanDance Network.
She likes biking in the summer and skiing in the winter, brewing kombucha, and consuming content in different languages.
MZD ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
SEPT/JUNE
Deviani is developing research towards a new outdoor site-specific
dance work “Islands of Utopia", with collaborators Shammy Belmore and
Aaron Macri.
See the finished work for free, June 1-17, 2023, location TBA.
Shammy Belmore – Dance Artist and Collaborator
Shammy is a multi-talented artist from Edmonton Alberta,currently located in Vancouver British Columbia. Training with Toyguns Dance Theatre as well as taking part in the Citadel Young Acting program, they developed a passion for dance-theatre and storytelling. Coming from both Dene First Nations and Somalian heritage they aim to be a part of works that elevate the voices of BIPOC communities and individuals.
Performance credits include: Narcissist Or Pretty Boys Who Play Alone At Recess, What Black Life Requires (ATB Arts Barns); Concord Floral (Citadel Theatre ); Alive! (Edmonton Poetry Festival); Bears (Belfry Theater/Factory Theatre/Citadel Theatre) ; AYITA (ATB Arts Barns)
Aaron Macri – Music Artist
Aaron Macri is an Edmonton based award winning composer and sound designer. His works have been produced across Canada, broadcast nationally, off Broadway New York, and in Europe. He has created music and sound design for multiple television series, theatre, film, and dance.