Curatorial Statement
David Norsworthy (L) and Dedra McDermott (R).
Photo by Kendra Epik.
As co-leaders, we are actively questioning the role of the presenter, historically, and how this act of facilitation can support the creative fulfillment and prosperity of local and national artists and their communities. We are devoted to advocating for artists' needs, recognizing that without support for research and practice, presentation becomes obsolete.
At DanceWorks, we value an evolving, comprehensive curatorial practice that wholeheartedly embraces the individuality of creators and interpreters. We are invested in a curatorial approach that removes assumptions around artists’ contexts and urgencies—favouring questions to catalyze conversation and bridge gaps of understanding. Our function as curators is to shape and serve artistic environments—facilitating the development of choreographic practice and performance through supportive challenge and fellowship. We embody a similar approach to engaging with audience; welcoming divergent perspectives to share space and be present with complexity.
We understand choreography as the distinct practice of shaping embodied action for the exploration, development and articulation of an idea in time and space. It is a relational activity that positions different materials (bodies, sound, emotion etc) in a shared context, with an intention of meaning-making, and potentially, transformation. Our commitment is towards expanding the umbrella of choreographic performance, to hold a multiplicity of movement and performance traditions emerging across time, geography, and diasporic lineage. At DanceWorks, choreographic performance is inclusive of inter/multidisciplinary artists who use movement as a key component of their practice.
At this time, we invite local and national artists at any point in their choreographic development who identify with the aforementioned notion of choreography to view and respond to our Artistic Introduction and Ideas Form.