2025 Festival of New Dance: Fourfold Mixed Program TUFF, Sara Porter, Hilary Knee, Rooted Dance Projects
September 27 at 7:30PM, doors at 6:30PM
General: $25.00
Child/Youth: $10.00
This mixed bill brings together a bold range of choreographic visions—from jazz-driven physicality to poetic solo performance, street-informed inquiry, and seasonal embodiment rooted in place. Featuring work by TUFF (Toronto), Sara Porter Productions (Toronto), Hilary Knee (Corner Brook), and Rooted Dance Projects (Halifax), this 85-minute program pulses with rhythm, reflection, wit, and wonder. Together, these works speak across form and geography, offering a dynamic snapshot of contemporary dance in motion.
“Binary-Codes” by TUFF
“Bad Poetry” by Sara Porter Productions
“Of the Earth; Propelling Forward” by Hilary Knee
“BASSline” by Rooted Dance Projects
85-minute total
Mature language, comedic, poetry,
“Binary-Codes” by TUFF
TUFF’s production “Binary-Codes” derives its name from a coding system defined by its use of 1’s and 0’s to create. The title is a metaphor, framing the idea of how binary-centric or diametric thinking defines or “codes” a person’s perception of the reality they are situated in. Binary-centric thinking, the idea of things being separate, “me or you”, “this or that”, “1 or 0” permeates human thought, it allows for streamlining of categorization, but it also defines boundaries. How do these boundaries restrict, support, or herd our thinking? The production inspects in depth the many ways these effects manifest.
“Bad Poetry” by Sara Porter Productions
Bad Poetry is a Thing of Delight.
It’s not something you should try to Get Right.
But if you feel you Really must Do It
I’ve organized something to help you get through it.
Inspired by the article “”Loving Bad Poetry”” by Tristanne Connolly, Sara Porter offers solo performance at the intersection of several forms. Part lecture-demo, part dance performance, part queer clown turn, “”Bad Poetry: Live in St. John’s Newfoundland!”” presents the absurdity of creative process and asks the pressing question: how is writing poetry like being gay? In this quick-witted and quirky educational solo, Sara creates a unique choreo-literary logistics of poetic feet, asserts that dance is not a language, and turns herself into a poem (in front of your very eyes). Ultimately, “”Bad Poetry: Live in St. John’s Newfoundland!”” is a testament to how loving your own bad poetry can lead to self acceptance.
It’s a dance piece. It’s a support group. It’s a world view.
“Of the Earth; Propelling Forward” by Hilary Knee
“Of The Earth; Propelling Forward” takes the audience through the seasons as we experience them in my home province, the island of Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland and Labrador). Though the work is rooted in personal observations and experiences of the natural world, because it was created in Ktaqmkuk which is the traditional territory of the Beothuk and Mi’kmaq, it’s important for me to acknowledge the importance of seasonal shifts to these groups who were and are the stewards of the local environment and whose customs and migrations heavily relied on the seasons for much of their history. “Of The Earth; Propelling Forward”” draws its inspiration from the ever-changing tapestry of Newfoundland’s seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, and delves into a captivating exploration of Newfoundland’s weather.
“BASSline” by Rooted Dance Projects
BASSline is a jazz dance piece which takes inspiration from the prominent bass line within the music, with the sounds influencing the movement choices, rhythmic timing, and shapes in the dancers’ bodies. This high energy work is driven by musicality and rhythm, featuring 7 incredible dancers, set to music by Walter Lang Trio, Adam Ben Ezra and Matthew Halsall.
