Megan English

Dancers from left to right: Megan English, Barbara Lindenberg, Holly Treddenick.
Photo by Kathleen Brown.



THE NELL SHIPMAN PROJECT
Dances Inspired by the Silent Films of Nell Shipman

Barbara, Holly and I have been having fun and working hard to emulate the movement from the silent films of Shipman. The starting point for the process was my interest in the odd tempo and rhythmic quality of the movement in the films and my fascination with Shipman’s life and work. We’ve been playing with the dramatics and the quirky, adventurous storylines in an abstract way. The dances we’ll perform today are excerpts from a larger work in development, which included snippets of Shipman’s films.

ABOUT NELL SHIPMAN
‘She’s our forgotten star, a Canadian siren who carved out her own Hollywood North – far north – to become a symbol of untamed wilderness, and untamed womanhood. From 1912-24, Nell Shipman became famous as the heroine of silent film melodramas visibly set in the wilds of Canada, a land she called “the Great White North.” She worked as a writer, producer, director, star – and intrepid stuntwoman. ‘Macleans’s, Sept. 1, 2003

THE PERFORMERS:
Jason Benoit has been performing, composing, or improvising music, vocally or instrumentally, since the age of 6. For him, music is an important way of connecting to the real world. He has independently released one album under his own name, She Omen (2006), and has another tentatively slated for release sometime this year under the mantle of his improvising duet with Eric Chenaux, Nightjars. Currently, he regularly gives solo performances and plays in the band Dream of Distance. His previous musical involvement with dance includes collaboration with Marcus Quin for the first production of Maya (directed and choreographed by Brandy Leary) and collaboration with Jennifer Castle and Jonathan Adjemian for True Lady of Mystery (conceived and choreographed by Barbara Lindenberg).

Megan English began her dance career improvising in her living room in Sudbury, Ontario. She is a graduate of York University’s Dance Program and has presented work at many Toronto venues and series. Her solo, ‘This Dance is Mic’ed’, was selected for Dance Matters, A Woman’s Work. (Toronto, 2008) From 2003 until 2005, Megan worked with the dance theatre company Zephyr in Zanussi while living in England. She dances in The Great Lake Swimmers’ video for their song, ‘Backstage with the Modern Dancers.’ One of Megan’s interests is finding sources for her dance work that will produce unique movement aesthetics. Currently, she is finding those sources in the work of female artists from different eras.

Tania Gill is a pianist, composer and arranger who has worked extensively in Canada’s jazz and improvised music scenes. She is a member of The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, Charles Spearin and the Happiness Project, Andrew Downing’s Melodeon, Saint Dirt Elementary School, See Through Trio, Runcible Spoon, Blah Blah 666 and Deep Dark United. She has composed for many ensembles and recently finished a piece for CONTACT Contemporary Music that will be premiered in June, 2009. She teaches at Humber College and has a Master of Music degree from the University of Toronto.

Holly Treddenick is a graduate from The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, and has also studied fire performance, clown, aerial silks, harness, bungee, static and dance trapeze. Holly has worked as a dancer and circus artist with various choreographers including Sally Morgan, Free Flow Dance Company, Ballet Creole, Goodness Gracious, The Goodtimes, Zero Gravity Circus, Barbara Lindenberg and Circus Orange. Holly co-founded Femmes du Feu, who are currently working on their first full-length aerial dance show for the London, Toronto and Hamilton Fringe Festivals this summer. Holly also works as osteopath. This has been Holly’s first time dancing for Megan and first introduction to Nell Shipman.

There are many talented and generous people Megan would like to thank for their enthusiastic support. Barb, Holly, Jason and Tania. Marian Barnett, Dan English and Philip. Lisa Gigliotti. Terry Pidsadny. Emily Walker Thornton. Kathleen Brown. Lisa Cristinzo. Lo Bil. Matt Ferguson. Jacky Sawatzky. Georgia Webber. Ray Stedman. Charlette Treddenick. And Manuel Cappel, the prop magician.

Produced with the support of the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.