Soulocentric Festival 2012, Oct. 3-6 Vertigo Studio Theatre, Calgary AB
Theatre. Dance. Music.
The 2012 Soulocentric Festival features an array of talent in a variety of disciplines: dance, theatre, music and multi-media. This is a rare opportunity to witness raw performance as artists experiment and push boundaries within their disciplines. All artists are independently producing original new work in our community and abroad, and represent the wonderful homegrown talent this city has to offer.
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Overview of Events 2012
Each event combines a variety of powerful, engaging, quirky, charming, absurd, thought provoking and mesmerizing performances. Each artist has a different story to tell and an incredible way to tell it.
Mainstage events feature a full length act sometimes combined with 1-2 short opening acts. Showcase events usually feature a collection of short-works by various artists. The "solo" is explored both as a form of performance and a methodology for creating group pieces.
Schedule at a Glance 2012 (click to enlarge picture)
Tickets on sale now! General $20 Students, Seniors and groups of 6+ $15. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online or call Vertigo Box Office at 403.221-3708. Contact us directly at artisticdirector@soulocentric.org for festival passes.
Artists and Performances
12:10pm - Wed. Oct 3rd – Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (Free Event!)
Free noon hour concert of original songs by youth singer-songwriters Brielle Usher and Emily Richardson. Co-presented by the Pro Arts Society. This is an informal event where you can bring your lunch, take a break in the day and witness some amazing up and coming talent in Alberta's music scene. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
8pm - Wed. Oct 3 - Mainstage 1 – Vertigo Studio Theatre
ORIGINAL SONGS BY JULIANNA HINDEMITH Written and Performed by Julianna Hindemith (Opening act. Rock/Blues/Folk)
WILMA-MAY AND HER TIGHT WHITE SOCKS by Jennifer Roberts (Feature Act. Theatre/Drama/Comedy).
Wilma-May is afraid of everything, from popcorn to tall buildings to giraffes (they think they know everything!) And the dark. She’s definitely afraid of the dark. Written and performed by Calgarian Jennifer Roberts, this wildly funny play follows Wilma-May as she battles with her own extreme fears, constantly calls her grandmother, bats her outrageous eyelashes, and falls madly and deeply into love with - the milkman of course.
Julianna Hindemith
8pm – Thurs. Oct. 4 – Showcase 1 – Vertigo Studio Theatre
A theatre showcase of quirky short-works by artists exploring themes of urban alienation, childhood nostalgia and post apocalyptic worlds. *Mature content*
RAIN CLOCKS by Jennifer LeBlanc (Theatre/Drama/Comedy). Rain Clocks explores gathered half-digested wisdom and observations from someone who doesn’t always believe she knows what she’s talking about. Performed by Jennifer LeBlanc.
LETTERS FROM LOVERS by Jeremy Verkley (Theatre/Drama/Comedy). When was the last time you sent a letter? The information age has made communication easy, accessible, and perhaps frivolous. How do you pack meaning and intention into a letter? Come see how one man does. Performed by Jeremy Verkley.
THE BUS by Jed Tomlinson (Clown/Comedy). A homeless clown finds himself riding the bus for as long as he can in an effort to keep a roof over his head. Performed by Jed Tomlinson
FALLEN MOON by Jessica Barrera (Comedic Theatre/Puppetry/Dance). Fallen Moon is a story that follows the life of a fallen moon fairy in 2070, and her adaptation to life as a fertile mortal in a barren world. She sacrifices herself to the noble cause of human survival and learns that there are some aspects of humanity that are just a little difficult to bear. Performed by Jessica Barrera.
Jennifer Roberts
9:30pm – Thurs. Oct. 4 – Mainstage 2 – Vertigo Studio Theatre
THE HOODWINK by Melanee Murray and Cat On The Table Productions (Comedic Theatre). Albie Davis is a singer with a heart of soul. But the world doesn’t seem to be ready for Albie’s blend of outspoken word, creative freedom and righteous take on pop culture, hip hop and hairweaves. In order to find her way in a world dominated by Beyoncés and hard core rappers, Albie makes a choice that might lead her to the brink of either megafame – or megadisaster – and, maybe, just maybe – the love of her life. *Mature content*.
8pm - Fri. Oct. 5 – Showcase 2– Vertigo Studio Theatre
This powerful showcase of Alberta contemporary dance choreographers and performers examines deep, emotional themes through a high aesthetic of dance, multi-media, Butoh and more. *Mature and graphic content*.
MISS/CONNECTED by Melissa Tuplin (Dance-Theatre, Multi Media). Miss/Connected is about the strange duet danced by a couple in a long-distance relationship and the technology they use to connect. Miss/Connected is about desire for connection, love and intimacy, and the lengths we will go to achieve that. Performed by Melissa Tuplin and Brett Tromburg.
THE EXPANSE BEYOND THE LINES/CONFINE MYSELF IN (Dramatic Contemporary Dance). Two interconnected solos by Anastasia Maywood and Nicole Perry. Two women with two solos, weave together a web of nostalgia, intrigue, and entrapment. With wire they transform the stage into a grid of memory, secrets, and seduction.
CAGED BIRD SYNDROME by Oriana Pagnotta (Political/Abstract Dance). A flutter, followed by an almost imperceptible spasm: is her body moving, or being moved? What happens when she follows the rules or breaks them? How does the legislation of bodies get under her skin? Caged Bird Syndrome examines the issues of reproductive rights and legislations by physicalizing their underpinning philosophies.
THE RETURN OF QUETZALCOAT! by Gessuri Gaitan (Butoh Contemporary Dance/Mystical Mayan Myth). A return to his Mayan ancestry, Gessuri Gaitan will embody the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl, known as the creator sky-god, patron of priests, inventor of books and of the calendar. Combining contemporary and Butoh dance through the symbolism of death and resurrection, "The return of Quetzalcoatl" will take you on a journey through the mysticism of the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations.
AWAKENING by Tony Olivares (Dramatic Visual Dance/Abstract). Awakening is an exploration of death, mourning, and resurrection of new life using body paint, visual imagery and contemporary dance. It is a reflection on the events of the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami.
Gessuri Gaitan
9:30pm – Fri. Oct. 5 – Mainstage 3 - Vertigo Studio Theatre
SOUNDS FROM A BUCKET OF PAINT by Kyle Hinton (Opening Act/Visual Art/ New Media/ Graphic Notation/Ambient). Who would’ve thought you could play a painting like sheet music? Using laptops and video game controllers Kyle Hinton interprets a painting by Nicole Hoffman into music and performance art.
FISHSCALE RAINCOAT by Jamie Tognazzini (Feature Act/Comedic Feminist Musical Theatre/Whimsey/Animated Objects). A Mythology of Fish! "Someone fishy" takes you on a quirky joyride to the swelling depths of lunar seas... Jamie "Tea" Tognazzini fuses music, storytelling, physical theatre, and animated objects in an eccentric, colorful, original transdisciplinary solo performance. This experiment was made possible in part by the generous supportive sponsorship of Calgary 2012. Special thanks to Dean Bareham and Green Fools Theatre Society.
Jamie Tognazzini. Photo by Citrus Photography
8pm – Sat. Oct. 6th – Showcase 3 – Vertigo Studio Theatre
The final showcase of the festival presents a mixture of theatre, dance and music short works using “solo” in its purest form, as one person onstage, or as an approach to creating group performance. With a fabulous cross section of talents in one event, this is a great way to witness local independent artists, from all walks of the performing arts, strutting their stuff! *Mature content and strong language*.
POINTED VIEWS by Amy Sawka (Comedic Theatre). A behind the scenes look at a festival not unlike Soulocentric. Through tech time where the actors first meet the technicians through to the actual performance, this piece shows those funny moments that happen in order to get a show on its feet. Co-created and performed by Amy Sawka, Shandra Gallant, Jacqueline Strilchuk and Matt McKinney.
AN ENGAGEMENT WITH DEATH. A solo-duet by Shelby Jansen and Allison Zwozdesky (Comedic Theatre/Dance/Melodrama/General Cheekyness). Through a hybrid of wordplay, intense physicality and melodrama, two detectives investigate the truth about a terrible homicide....or is it? Performed by Shelby Jansen and Allison Zwozdesky.*Cigarette smoking in performance.
THE STU WERSHOF ACOUSTIC FUNK EXPERIENCE by Stu Wershof (Music/Funky/Ambient). Stu Wershof is a one man band. He creates original songs and soundscapes from the ground up in front of a live audience using call and response and audience interaction. Using live looping with guitar, vocals, beatbox, and keyboards, Stu rocks a unique mix of chilled out funk grooves, music concrete, trance and jazz – picture Reggie Watts meets James Brown meets DJ Tiesto.
ORIGINAL SONGS BY SARA TKACHUK (Folk/Alternative Rock). Sara features original songs with lilting qualities and relaxed melodies set to acoustic guitar.
ACQUIESCENCE by Corinne Vessey (Contemporary and Urban Dance/Ambient/Abstract). Acquiescence is an exploration of surrendering oneself to rhythm, beat, accent, and melody through contemporary/groove based fusion. The work traces a progression from subtle, reluctant release into the music, to complete submission to the beat. Performed by Corinne Vessey.
TWISTING by Jamie Freeman Cormack (Combined Solo/Jazz). Twisting is all about constant movement. We can relate this idea to every aspect of life on earth, as a human or an element. Even when we are still, there is still movement inside our bodies. We are motion. COUNTERPOINT by Jessalyn Britton (Combined Solo/Jazz/Funk/Groove). Transforming the auditory complexity of jazz music to visual movement, this piece explores the balance and playfulness between music and movement.
VOICES by Jessalyn Britton (Combined Solo/Jazz/Funk/Groove). Transforming the auditory complexity of jazz music to visual movement, this piece explores the balance and playfulness between music and movement.
Stu Wershof. Photo by christait.ca
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