Hybrid Women
Performed and Choreographed by Norma Araiza and Olga Barrios
Concept, Direction and Choreography by Norma Araiza and Olga Barrios
Sound and music composition by Edgardo Moreno
Cameras: Marcela Lucia Rojas, Alejandra Higuera, Colin Mendez, Michael Morrtitt and Gillian Turnham
Editing by Olga Barrios and Sergio Orozco
Stage Manager Esther Vincent
“Hybrid Women” is the first work commissioned by Vanguardia Dance Projects. It is a dance-theatre-ritual-action that departs from the pulsating of the body in connection with and in response to the environment that surrounds us and to ourselves. Specifically, the connection with plants, trees, water, natural and urban environments, taking into consideration the diverse aspects of decadency of our planet and our society.
Created with the generous support of The Canada Council for the Arts
Mexican of Yoeme/Basque heritage, performer, choreographer, and instructor living in Toronto, Norma Papalotl Araiza works in different modalities within the arts blending dance, theatre, vocals, percussion, and text with cultural and traditional themes in a contemporary context.
Norma has studied with international artists such as Jerzy Grotowski, Eugenio Barba, Natsu Nakajima, Tascabile di Bergamo, Kei Takei, Pol Pelletier, among others.
Norma is the co-artistic director of Vanguardia Dance Projects, a collective promoting Latin American and Indigenous dance artists, and member of The Beautiful Canoe Collective an Indigenous women’s group working with dance and theatre. She holds a Master’s Degree in Dance Ethnology from York University and she graduated from the Expressive Arts Therapy Program at CREATE Institute. She has a private practice as an Expressive Arts Therapist. Her work has been presented at different venues in Toronto, throughout Ontario, Montreal, Hungary, California, Rochester, NY, New York City, Colombia and throughout Mexico.
Olga Barrios is a Mestizx woman born in Colombia. She is choreographer, dancer, arts educator and the co-founder and co-artistic director of Vanguardia Dance Projects. MFA at York University of Toronto. Olga has collaborated with dance, theater, musical and multidisciplinary projects in Canada, USA and Colombia. www.olgabarrios.com
Edgardo Moreno is a Chilean born, Hamilton based sound artist who has worked as a composer and sound designer for many choreographers touring internationally. His most recent collaborations have been with Indigenous artists from different communities in Canada.
Chapter 21
by Starr Muranko
Presenting the documentary (work-in-progress) and conversation with choreographer/performer Starr Muranko
Created by filmmaker Sophia Mai Wolfe this documentary film follows the journey of choreographer Starr Muranko and the making of Chapter 21. It offers an intimate look into the first impulse and creative process that she has embarked on in order to share her personal story of courage, transformation and becoming. Joined by her circle of creative collaborators throughout the film they offer their reflections and take viewers on a journey of experiencing the power of art, healing and community in action.
(work-in-progress film to premiere Spring 2022)
Reflections on a Chapter: An Offering to the Land That Held Me
A visual poem of gratitude inspired by the full-length dance/theatre piece Chapter 21 and commissioned by the National Arts Centre – Indigenous Theatre – Dancing the Land Series
Chapter 21 explores what happens when a vibrant, active artist comes face to face with a crippling collision of events. Chapter 21 is a reflection on the days that have come to pass, and the art of becoming. A new baby boy; Chromosome 21; the big “C” diagnosis, 21 days between treatments, and 21 days to re-pattern beliefs; Courage; Faith; Resilience.
Choreographed & Performed by Starr Muranko
Director Yvette Nolan
Composer Edgardo Moreno
Lighting Design Jonathan Kim
Stage ManagerAmanda Parafina
Costume Design Jeanette Kotowich
Mentors Alvin Tolentino and Michelle Olson
Filmmaker & Editor Sophia Mai Wolfe
Videographer Yasuhiro Okada
Photographer Melanie Orr
Starr Muranko is a Vancouver-based choreographer/dancer Co-Artistic Director of Raven Spirit Dance. She honours and celebrates her mixed heritage of Cree (Moose Cree First Nation – Treaty 9), French and German in all of her work. Her choreography has been shared both locally and nationally including the Talking Stick Festival, Coastal Dance Festival, Dancing on the Edge, Weesageechak Begins to Dance, Impact Festival and InFringing Dance Festival. She has been a company member of the Dancers of Damelahamid since 2005, touring across Canada and internationally, and is passionate about sharing dance and culture with children and youth.
Sophia Wolfe (filmmaker) is a dance artist who also works in visual media including photography, film, and video art. She typically is from Vancouver, Canada on unceded Coast Salish territories, of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and is currently in London completing her MA in Screendance at the London Contemporary Dance School. Sophia has danced and toured with companies and independent choreographers such as Company 605, Co-Erasga, Chick Snipper, Cindy Mochizuki, Kelly McInnes, Antonio Somera, Zahra Shahab, The Only Animal and New World Theatre.