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An intimate exploration of depression and the radical act of carrying light for another
Performers and co-creators:
Frank Hull and Adrian Chuquipiondo
Live music:
Tamara Williamson
Choreographer and Director:
Kathleen Rea
"Around the Whorl"
The REAson d'etre dance company performs "Around the Whorl," a score-based work by Kathleen Rea, with dancers Kathleen Rea, Suzanne Liska, Samantha Johnson, Mika Lior, Harrison Argatoff, Berkan Gorgon, and Marina Robison. The work explores the soft places of vulnerability that, if attended to, can lead to explosive and majestic athleticism.
A new dance work co-created by Nancy Christie and Kathleen Rea that explores the repeating circle of loss and love in the lives of women as mothers and caregivers and care receivers who are more than the sum of all these roles. It is a piece about aging and being ageless. It is a piece about all of us due to the fact that we all have mothers, and we all have mothered something, whether it be a person, a project,t or a pet, and we all have losses.
LENGTH: 35 minutes
When you reconnect with a lost part of yourself and find that it has changed and grown in your absence. "Finding Helix" is an integrated dance/circus piece that is a quirky look at connection within self and with
others and all of the uncomfortable, wonderful, and scary parts of being in a relationship. There is an audience creator chat after the performance.
DANCERS: Luke Anderson and Jayeden Walker
CHOREOGRAPHY: Kathleen Rea
MUSIC: Cheryl Ockrant
DRAMATURGE: Tristan Whiston
LENGTH: 28 minutes
SUPPORTED BY: Toronto Arts Council. Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Vivian Chong tells the story of her sight loss and discovery of herself as a multi-disciplinary artist
TRAILER:
Premiered at Fleck Dance Theatre as part of Harbourfront Centre's CoMotion International Deaf and Disability Arts Festival.
CREDITS:
Lead Artist: Vivian Chong
Co-direction: Vivian Chong and Kathleen Rea
Choreography and Staging: Kathleen Rea
Dramaturge: Tristan R. Whiston
Original Music: Vivian Chong, Cheryl O, and Rudi Äneas Natterer
Ensemble Dancers and Co-creators: Sofia Castillo Ardines, Brayden Cairns, Sid Ryan Eilers, Nickeshia Garrick, Karen Kaeja, Ryan Kostynikl, Suzanne Liska, Rudi Äneas Natterer, Zita Nyarady, Elise Tigges.
SUPPORTED BY: Toronto Arts Council. Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Kathleen Rea returns to the stage to perform "Five Angels on the Steps" choreographed by Newton Moraes, a Toronto-based Brazilian choreographer. Moraes lives to transform moments that mark life, positive or negative, into dance. The title derives from Rea’s near-death experience in which she floated out of her body and met five angels. What she learned from them is the driver of this dance work. The angels are forever present in the work, represented by five large octagonal cylinders. Along for the ride is “Skelly”, a medical skeleton that Rea uses in her functional movement classes.
LIGHTING DESIGN: Sharon DiGenova
Playdate by
Premiered: March 2026 (Rafos Hall, 310 Danforth Ave, Toronto)
Dancers and Co-creators: Wai Liu and Alex St-Onge
The Man who carries dawn
Premiered: January 2026 (Betty Oliphant Theatre, Toronto)
Dancers and Co-creators: Frank Hull and Adrian Chuquipiondo
Director and Choreographer: Kathleen Rea
Live music by: Tamara Williamson
Marry Mary Merry Go Round and Around the Whorl
Premiered: January 2025 (Al Green Theatre, Toronto)
Dancers and Co-creators: Mika Lior, Samantha Johnston, Suzanne Liska, Adrian Chuquipiondo, Harrison Argatoff, Marina Robinson, Berkan Gorgun, Kathleen Rea and Nancy Christie.
Director and Choreographer: Kathleen Rea
Two Bodies and Nobody
Premiered: January 2024 (Rafos Hall, 310 Danforth Ave, Toronto)
Danced and co-created by: Gibum Dante Lim and Adrian Chuquipiondo.
Director: Gibum Dante Lim
Mythic Shifts
Premiered: January 2024 (IGAG Studio, Toronto)
Dancers and Co-creators: Suzanne Liska and ensemble (Samantha Johnson, Gibum Dante Lim, Mika Lior, Suzanne Liska, Zita Nyarady, Kathleen Rea, Tess Takahashi, Mateo G. Torres.
Creative lead: Suzanne Liska
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
"Poetry and Dance Evening"
Premiered: October 2022 (Beaches United Church, Toronto)
Award-winning poet Gili Haimovich
Dancers: Adrian Chuquipiondo, Jeff Moskal, Olivia Proudfoot and Kathleen Rea
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
Contact Dense
Premiered: October 2022 (Beaches United Church, Toronto)
Dancers and Creators: Olivia Proudfoot, dancer Tim Spronk, and sound score and guest appearance by Ference Szabo.
Dancing with the Universe
Premiered: April 2022 (Fleck Dance Theatre as part of CoMotion Deaf and Disability Arts Festival)
Lead Artist: Vivian Chong
Co-direction: Vivian Chong and Kathleen Rea
Choreography and Staging: Kathleen Rea
Dramaturge: Tristan R. Whiston
Original Music: Vivian Chong, Cheryl O, and Rudi Äneas Natterer
Ensemble Dancers and Co-creators: Sofia Castillo Ardines, Brayden Cairns, Sid Ryan Eilers, Nickeshia Garrick, Karen Kaeja, Ryan Kostynikl, Suzanne Liska, Rudi Äneas Natterer, Zita Nyarady, Elise Tigges.
Supported by: Toronto Arts Council. Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Nominations: nominated for a DORA award for outstanding performance.
Querying Gender
Premiered: February 2021 (Beaches United Church)
Dancers and co-creator: Paul Lewis, Jayeden Walker, and Mateo Galindo Torres
Created with support from the Canadian Heritage Foundation
Five Angels on the Steps
Premiered: November 2021 (Wychwood Theatre)
Choreographer: Newton Moreas
Dancer and Co-creator: Kathleen Rea
Lighting Design: Sharon DiGenova
Neuro Possible
Premiered: April 2020 (Canada Performs Live Stream)
Choreographer/Director/Writer: Kathleen Rea
Dancers: Kathleen Rea and Jeff Moskal
Choreographed with support from Canada Performs, National Arts Centre
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
Thread Bound
Premiered: Oct 2019 (IGAC Studio Theatre)
Choreographers/Directors/Writers/Dancers: Kathleen Rea and Suzanne Liska
Dramaturge: Tristan R. Whiston
Lighting design: Tristan R. Whiston
Stage Manager: Michael Haltrecht
Choreographed with support from the Toronto Arts Council
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance
Mens Circle
Premiered: November 2017 (Betty Oliphant Theatre)
Choreographer/ Director: Kathleen Rea
Performers and co-creators: Allen Kaeja, Bill Coleman, Mateo Galindo Torres, Kousha Nakhaei, Paul Lewis, Deltin Sejour, Rudi Natterer, Harold Tausch
Dramaturge: Tristan R. Whiston
Lighting design: Tristan R. Whiston
Stage Manager: Michael Haltrecht
Choreographed with support from Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council and Canada's Ballet Jorgen
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
Unraveling The Tight Weave
Premiered: June 2011 (Winchester Street Theatre)
Choreographer/ Director: Kathleen Rea
Performers and co-creators: Yves Candau, Miranda Forbes, Samantha Farruggio, Janet Johnson, Karen Kaeja, Kirstie Keenan, Suzanne Liska, Sarah MacDonald, Jessica Runge, Holly Small, Teisha Smith and Lee Walder
Dramaturge: Tristan R. Whiston
Lighting design: Gabriel Cropley
Stage Manager: Michael Haltrecht
Costume Designer: Kathleen Rea
Choreographed with support from the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, Canada's Ballet Jorgen and Greg Schilhab Photography
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
The Wild In Us (Youth programming)
Premiered: June 2011 (Winchester Street Theatre)
Choreographer/ Director: Kathleen Rea
Performers and co-creators: Cheryl Chan, Mallory Belzile, Jaquelin Brown, Samantha Farruggio, Emily Goulet, Kirstie Keenan, Marc Kwapis, Leora Kirshenblatt, Heather Lumsden-Ruegg, Sarah MacDonald, Lauren Runions, Victoria Seguin, Eric Solu and Vanessa Vici.
Lighting design: Gabriel Cropley
Stage Manager: Michael Haltrecht
Costume Designer: Kathleen Rea
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
Long Live
Premiered: July 2008 (Betty Oliphant Theatre)
Choreographer/ Director: Kathleen Rea
Performers and co-creators: Suzanne Liska, Robert Halley, Tom Brouillette, Karen Kaeja, Lee Walder, Chelsea OBrian, Teisha Smith, Marlene Latour
Lighting design and Dramaturge: Tristan R. Whiston
Stage Manager: Michael Haltrecht
Costume Designer: Amelia Ehrhardt
Choreographed with support from the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, Canada's Ballet Jorgen and Greg Schilhab Photography
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
Nominations: nominated for three DORA awards, outstanding choreography, dancer and musical score.
Close Knit
Premiered: Sept, 2007 (Outdoor stage in Parkdale, Toronto)
Choreographer: Kathleen Rea
Performers: Meghan Smith, Marlene Latour, Taylor Lorette, Marlowe Porter, Monique Comeau, Veronica Smyth, Aya Belshiem and Suzanne Liska
Choreographed for: Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2007
Produced by: The Parkdale BIA and REAson d'etre dance productions
IRE
Premiered: July 2006 (Winchester Street Theatre)
Choreographer: Kathleen Rea
Performers and co-creators: Johanna Bergfeldt, Bess Callard, Anna Finkel, Pam Johnson, Karen Kaeja and Teisha Smith - are featured.
Choreographed for VIVID 2006 with support from the Ontario Arts Council, the Laidlaw Foundation and the Toronto Arts Council
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
Lapinthrope
30 minute dance film that was presented at various film festivals world wide
Music: Rachel Smith
Dancers: Anna Hein, Allen Kaeja, Malgorzata Nowacka, William Yong and Ella Gladstone
Produced by: Decadence Films and REAson d'etre dance productions
Marrow
Premiered: July 2003 (Winchester Street Theatre)
Dancers: Amy Hampton, Karen Kaeja, Lisa Otto, Yvonne Ng, Nicole Fougère
Choreographed for: VIVID 2003, with support from The Laidlaw Foundation and The Toronto Arts Council
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
Flux
Premiered: Oct 2002 (Dancemakers)
Dancers: Kathleen Rea
Musician: Roman Koudriavtsev
Choreographed for: I SAW made in canada/fait au canada
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions and princess productions
Fleeting
Premiered: July 2002 (Winchester Street Theatre)
Dancers: Piotr Biernat, Johanna Bergfeldt, Courtnae Bowman, Tom Brouillette, Eryn Dace-Trudell, Amy Hampton, Karen Kaeja, Malgorzata Nowacka, Lisa Otto, Tim Spronk and William Yong
Choreographed for: VIVID 2002, with support from The Laidlaw Foundation and The Toronto Arts Council
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
Elysian
Premiered: February 2002 (Winchester Street Theatre)
Dancers: Amy Hampton and Courtnae Bowman
Choreographed for: Before During After, festival of duets
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
I Once Was
Premiered: April 2001 (Studio303, Montreal, Quebec)
Dancer: Kathleen Rea
Choreographed: With support from The Laidlaw Foundation
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
Frames
Premiered: April 2001 (Studio303, Montreal, Quebec)
Dancer and choreographer: Kathleen Rea
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions
The Velveteen Rabbit
Premiered: March 2001 (George Brown Theatre)
Composer: Ivan Barbotin
Music recorded by the Waterloo Symphony Orchestra
Set Designer: Glen Davidson
Produced by: Canada's Ballet Jorgen, for the Prologue for the Performing Arts
The rights ot this ballet have now fallen back to REAson d'etre dance productions
Respire Me Through
Premiered: August 2000 (Buddies In Bad Times Theatre)
Dancer: Kathleen Rea
Choreographed for: fFIDA 2000
Produced by: REAson d'etre dance productions and fFIDA with support from The Toronto Arts Council
Frauenmythos
Premiered: August 2000 (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre)
Dancers: Anna Hien and Eve Muller
Choreographed for: REAson d'etre dance productions and fFIDA with support from The Toronto Arts Council
