Happy International Women's Day Guelph! March 8, 20011

* Joanne Shuttleworth, Mercury staff
* Tue Mar 01 2011
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Dancers will commemorate International Women’s Day in Guelph
The Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival and Dance Theatre David Earle are combining to stage a performance called Women’s Voices. It will be performed March 8, at 7 p.m., at the E.L. Fox Auditorium at John F. Ross High School.
Big day The Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival and Dance Theatre David Earle are combining to stage a performance called Women’s Voices. It will be performed March 8, at 7 p.m., at the E.L. Fox Auditorium at John F. Ross High School.
Karolina Kuras

GUELPH — The 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day is something to dance about, and the Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival and Dance Theatre David Earle are joining forces to celebrate the milestone.

The program, called Women’s Voices, will be performed March 8, at 7 p.m., at the E.L. Fox Auditorium, at John F. Ross high school.

“Women are usually the people behind dance,” said Janet Johnson, a founder of the dance festival who choreographed The Illumination of Willow, part of the women’s day program. “It seems natural for dancers to celebrate the cause as well. Dance can be a potent piece of communication.”

Last Friday night, Temple Studios opened its doors to the public, those who attended got to watch the dancers in an open rehearsal. Observers saw snippets of what’s to come next week.

Johnson said her piece was inspired by her mother, who was primarily seated at the end of her life.

“It’s an unveiling of ourselves,” Johnson explained before the dancers started. “There are so many women who can’t tell their stories. This is a mantra to them.”

Suzette Sherman choreographed the piece Thoughts on Leaving, which explores the notions of coming and going and saying goodbye. She dances a solo part in it, which was gorgeous.

“People need to see that,” was David Earle’s comment when she finished. “That’s my only note. I have no criticism.”

Julia Garlisi choreographed the final piece, Weeping Meadow and Dust of Time. The section performed last week was full of contrast and unexpected juxtaposition, like the delicate music contrasting with the strong movements of the dancers, and the notions of being and maintaining individuality in an interconnected and interdependent world.

The dancers have been doing motion and movement workshops with girls and women in the community, and the hope is to add to this component in the future. Understanding and using purposeful movement can help overcome obstacles, to lead to better understanding of the relationships in their lives and indeed, to better understanding of oneself.

Tickets for the International Women’s Day performance are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $5 for high school students through eyeGo. They are being sold through the River Run Centre box office, 519-763-3000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 519-763-3000