In 2016, I received funding for the modern dance work, Moveable Walls<\/em>. It was another of the annual summer shows Rondos Dance Theatre has produced, as a project-based dance company, of which I am Choreographer and Artistic Director. The annual performances showcase a new creation, as well as remounted choreography, and feature both local and professional dancers from across Canada. That same year we were fortunate to also receive an artsnb Residency grant for Liam Caines, for Moveable Walls<\/em>. It is with this funding that the development and collaborations were possible to make this piece such a tremendous success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dancers Clare Bassett and Liam Caines in <\/em>Moveable Walls. Photo: Kleis Rondos-Duchesne.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I try, when possible, to work with local artists on projects. For Moveable Walls,<\/em> I collaborated with visual artist Mary Fleet on the set. In her process of researching and working on the project Fleet had a dream, which she later described to me like this: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Well actually everything is held up by humans — the walls, the table, the chairs, the picture on the wall and they keep changing up the environment for the guest\u2026it was a beautiful funny dream<\/em>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The imagined set became reality, when my daughter and coworker Kleis and I drove to Blacks Harbour (twice) in search of discarded fisherman\u2019s rope. We were fortunate to find a large garbage bin and we drove away with a trunk full of rope. Later in the week, I returned for a second time for more. In my driveway one sunny afternoon, we disentangled all the rope and rolled it up into big balls that were used as set pieces and incorporated into the choreography.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n As an abstract piece, I explored both organic and industrial shapes, how they move and reverse, and from this, created a synergy and cohesion between the set and the dancers. The contour of the panels helped shape the movement, and the rope was manipulated and incorporated into the dance as well. I like my work to be characterized as expressive and physical. I like to reimagine the lines and style of classical dance in a current way. I often work with technique and convey an aesthetic characterized by ambiguity between classical and modern dance. I think this comes across in Moveable Walls.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/artsnb.ca\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Moveable-Walls-2-1024x683.jpg\")
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