Welcome and thank you for joining us for Here in sonder!

Thank you for joining us for Here in sonder - the first virtual presentation of our annual Choreographic Workshop performances. The 2021 graduating class of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre’s Professional Training Program is pleased to share with you these unique creative projects choreographed with the virtual and the stage in mind.

The Choreographic Workshop is a kind of thesis project, a vehicle for responding creatively to three years of intensive dance training and artistic studies. Undaunted, these creators have met unimagined obstacles with ingenuity, readiness, and defiant creative energy. They have invested their imaginations and acquired skills into crafting these captivating proposals: concise, inventive experiments in form, concept, physicality, and point of view. Expressing their visions through the camera’s lens, a new imagining unfolds. Adeptly produced by the second year class, Here in sonder illuminates and celebrates what it might be possible to achieve creatively and in collaboration with others.

We are grateful to faculty, staff, and the student body for engaging with and supporting Creative Process activities. Very special thanks to Patricia Fraser, Christopher House, and guest Creative Process mentors, Heidi Strauss https://adelheid.ca/ and Yvonne Ng https://princessproductions.ca/tiger/. Special thanks to Allen Kaeja and the Film for Dance course team.

Thank you for taking the time to experience this singular moment with us. To share your thoughts, visit us on facebook.com/schooloftdt and visit schooloftdt.org to join our email list.

Peace. Love. Joy.

Julianna Heft, Jaimee Leggett, Choreographic Workshop Producers

Julia Sasso, Choreographic Workshop Artistic Director ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF TRADITIONAL LAND The School of Toronto Dance Theatre would like to acknowledge the sacred land on which we operate, the site of human activity for over 15,000 years. This land is the traditional territory of many nations: the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land and to share our space with all peoples – those indigenous to Turtle Island and those from the world. sonder n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

Narrated, written, directed, edited, and coined by John Koenig. Koenig wrote The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a compendium of invented words and definitions aiming to fill a hole in the language—to give a name to emotions we all might experience but don’t yet have a word for. These neologisms are listed on a website with paragraph-length descriptions and also have individual video entries on a YouTube channel called Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.

Out of the Chrysalis Choreographer: Christina Litt Belch in collaboration with Adèle Ross Music: Shattering Resistance, Christina Litt Belch with improvisation by Max Filazek Recording Engineer: Max Filazek Videographers: Lou Amsellem, Arlo Filazek Video Editor: Adèle Ross Costume designer: Christina Litt Belch Dancer: Adèle Ross

Out of the Chrysalis explores different stages of tension and release, and where the breaking point lies. This piece unites music and dance in an intimate relationship of discovery and freedom. – CLB The Ritual Choreographer: Ben Cox Music: Heart of Darkness, Secession Studios Videographer: Evan Kimber Video editor: Ben Cox Dancer: Ben Cox

Everything is gone, everything is the same, and somehow, nothing matters.

How far must you push yourself for what lies just out of reach? How many sacrifices will you make? Stare into the ruined world and understand, as you get closer to creation, something else gets closer to you. Because even on the path forward, some things can’t be left behind.

It always follows. – BC

"Even people who are in the dark search for their shadows. Shadows exist only if there is light. We will never find total darkness – not even in death...... and we always cast a shadow no matter how overcast our skies become. You are never alone." – M. Teresa Clayton something lucid Choreographer: Hannah Pilon Music: Dusk Diving, Brendon Moeller Sound editor: Hannah Pilon Videographers: Lou Amsellem, Michael Rayson Video director/editor: Hannah Pilon Dancers: Charlotte Cain, Adèle Ross something lucid is a work exploring the relationship of bodies using perspective and time. The dancers never come into physical contact, but instead relate to each other through the space and environment around them.

This piece was created in collaboration with the dancers, Charlotte Cain and Adèle Ross, and I would like to thank them for their amazing adaptability throughout the process.– HP Leiden, Glück Choreographer: Evan Kimber Music: Stand Up, Secession Studios Videographers: Andrew Kimber, Evan Kimber Video editor: Evan Kimber Dancer: Evan Kimber

Leiden, Glück explores the power and influence media has on individuals in the present day. This piece speaks of the hidden relationship between mainstream media and the consumer, capturing the negative influences and behavioral changes occurring in the human mind. – EK

To Look Deeper Choreographer: Lyla-Jean Bowman Music: Jesus We Love You, Bethel Music Videographers: Charlotte Cain, Yael Zifroni Video director/editor: Lyla-Jean Bowman Costume designers: Charlotte Cain, Yael Zifroni Dancers: Charlotte Cain, Yael Zifroni

To Look Deeper is a work that was choreographed in collaboration with two dancers, and is inspired by Faith and experiences with the Holy Spirit. This piece is moved by Love, Joy, Peace, Forgiveness, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control. It is an exploration to look deeper, and to listen to what is felt in the soul and in the heart. – L-JB

Mi primera piel Choreographer: Marina Méndez Juárez Music: untitled, Christian Teodoro Sánchez Altamirano Videographers: Alan Habib Ascención Hernández, Evan Kimber Video editor: Alan Habib Ascención Hernández Editing director: Marina Méndez Juárez Set designer: Marina Méndez Juárez Costume designer: Marina Méndez Juárez Dancers: Marina Méndez Juárez, Kurumi Yoshimoto, Yael Zifroni “No sé lo que está pasando dentro de mi; pero a cada momento siento que hay algo grande y noble por lo que se puede luchar y vivir. Esto lo he sentido desde hace mucho, más ahora que estoy lejos lo he ratificado y comprendido”. – Juan Rulfo. Carta a Clara Aparicio.

Dedico esta pieza a mi casa, que en ella viven mis recuerdos, mis anhelos, mi sangre y todo lo bueno. TLASOJKAMATI

“I don't know what is happening inside me; but every moment I feel there's something big and noble for which it matters to fight and be alive. This I've been feeling since long ago, more now that I'm away I have ratified and understood it”. – Juan Rulfo. Letter to Clara Aparicio

I dedicated this piece to my home, inside lay down my memories, my desires, my blood, and all the good things. TLASOJKAMATI – MMJ ebb and flow // a modern love. Choreographer: Denver Scott Music: Cello Suite no.2 in D Minor, Johann Sebastian Bach Music editor: Denver Scott Videographers: Alaina Scott, Denver Scott Video director/editor: Denver Scott Dancer: Denver Scott

“We consider ourselves special cases. But we're really not, you know? We are a part of the whole and everything in the whole transforms all the time. It changes form. Transfigures.” – The Midnight Gospel

This work is a reflection of my recent thoughts and feelings. Thank you to my beautiful mother for helping me film. – DS Of Introspection Choreographer: Michael Rayson in collaboration with the dancers Director/editor: Michael Rayson Artistic/editing Consultant: Charlotte Cain Music: What Lies Within, Christina Litt Belch Videographers: Zacharie Bowman, Angela Dezall, Camille Huang, Samantha Pilon Costume Designer: Michael Rayson Dancers: Lyla-Jean Bowman, Hannah Pilon, Adèle Ross

The glass can be half full and still break.

Of Introspection explores an inner dialogue: the solitude of being with yourself, deep inside your own mind. It can be lonely and uneasy from within, yet seemingly put together on the outside. As mute becomes a familiarity, an entity of ourselves is created. While others are witness to this, we are only passengers to the forced feelings, begging the question of true self. Thoughts, in essence of introspection.. – MR justhere Choreographer: Charlotte Cain Artistic consultants: Munia Djungu-Sungu, Michael Rayson Sound effects: Epidemic Sound Vocalist: Angella Sineus Sound editor: Charlotte Cain Videographers: Charlotte Cain, Kezia Djungu-Sungu Video editor: Charlotte Cain Costume Designers: Charlotte Cain, Munia Djungu-Sungu Dancer: Charlotte Cain Special appearance: Alexa Maya Simmons

Looking out at the world, at an infinity of things. Stirring up questions, perceptions and sensitivity. Overwhelming thought processes should not eclipse the sensations of just being. justhere explores the unravelling wonders of introspection through movement as a means to demonstrate thought or maybe simply, observation. … I am fascinated by the unexplainable feelings of underlying complexity that influence my ever-changing perspective of the world. This process has been an exploration, delving into feelings, thoughts, and observations apropos the shifting view of the city. From my window, my balcony, I experience participatory intimacy while simultaneously upholding an outside, observational distance. This landscape is always alive with detail, alive with depth, alive with culture, alive with personality, alive with nothing. Sometimes I relegate these to mere romanticisms, not disregarding reality but conceptualizing life differently.

Rather than making choreography, I investigated how improvisation could allow my intentions to shine through my movement without necessarily planning it out. An enthralling saying Peggy Baker repeated: “you can’t avoid yourself,” invigorated this exploration for me. I paired this with a phrase: “the world is yours.”– CC

RENA (renn-a) Choreographer: Yael Zifroni Music: Eventually, Jonathan Druker, Alon Razin Videographers: Charlotte Cain, Yael Zifroni Dancer: Kurumi Yoshimoto

RENA is a solo dance work revolving around connections. Connection with our past selves, other people, the space around us, and connections that we did not make. I would like to thank everyone who was involved in this process for generously making my vision come to life. This piece is dedicated to the memory of my grandmother, Rena Zifroni. – YZ Reginald Sincerity Choreographer: Adèle Ross Music: Improvisation, Yaron Ross Music editors: Adèle Ross, Yaron Ross Videographer: Lou Amsellem Costume designer: Adèle Ross Dancer: Adèle Ross

To take yourself too seriously is a crime. To deny yourself the pleasure of being fully is atrocious. So just have fun... – AR

Awai（間） Choreographer: Kurumi Yoshimoto in collaboration with the performers Music: Original sound score by Kurumi Yoshimoto featuring voice work by Marina Méndez Juárez, Christian Teodoro Sánchez Altamirano, Kurumi Yoshimoto, Nadav Zifroni, Yael Zifroni Videographers: Miyu Kawano, Kurumi Yoshimoto Video director/editor: Kurumi Yoshimoto Dancers: Marina Méndez Juárez, Yael Zifroni

Awai is projecting my curiosity about what connects two things.

Awai (間) is a Japanese word and is also read as "ma". It has various meanings such as distance, interval, time, space, and margin. The work explores the possibility of connecting two people, two spaces, and two objects.

Awai was created in collaboration with, and is performed by, Marina Méndez Juárez and Yael Zifroni. I would like to thank these beautiful dancers for collaborating with me, and additionally thank my friend for helping me film. – KY

PRODUCTION TEAM Co-Producers: Julianna Heft, Jaimee Leggett Stage Managers/Technical Editors: Fannie-Rose Bernard, Frédérique Perron Marketing and Publicity: Nidhi Baadkar, Kayla Champis, Ben King, Frédérique Perron Fundraising: Nidhi Baadkar, Ben King Program Editor: Ellen Moore Bios and Headshots: Sydney-Grace James, Jayna Shi Box Office Manager: Kayla Champis Business Manager: Hannah Faith Masters of Ceremonies: Katie Adams-Gossage, Ben King Wardrobe: Yael Zifroni Third Year Liaison: Charlotte Cain

ARTISTIC STAFF Artistic Director: Patricia Fraser Artistic Associates: Johanna Bergfelt, Susan Macpherson Admissions & Records Manager: Andrea Roberts Training & Performance Associate: Rosemary James

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Managing Director: Michelle Yeung Student Services & Financial Aid Officer: Lindsay Naft Communications & Engagement Manager: Colin Frotten Production & Operations Manager: Robynne Harder Development Coordinator: Reesa Barkhouse Social Media & Engagement Assistant: Tiffany Chan

THEATRE STAFF Director of Operations: Gregg Kittell Cleaning Staff: Kaelin Isserlin, Ryan Kostyniuk

Upcoming Professional Training Program Performances:

● ACCELERATION 2021, April 8,9