Digital Program

We are delighted to welcome you to RISE: Fall Dances 2022 — our first live and unmasked dance performance open to the general public since February 2020!

Following the university’s example, we changed the name of our Fall production from “Ryerson Dances” to “RISE: Fall Dances”. Rise is a word of hope, growth, courage, and vision. Together, rise and fall suggest the cyclical and transformative process of life. I couldn’t think of better words to describe my feelings about dance, live performance, and artistic expression. 

After years of heightened challenges in what seems like an increasingly polarized world, the performing arts — with their ability to enlighten, inspire, and cultivate compassion — may be more indispensable than ever. I feel so proud of our students, who choose to dedicate their time and energy to dance, an ancient and yet often misunderstood art form. Dance brings forward the language of the body, a poetic language made of breathing flesh, fluid bones, and pounding heartbeats. This language transcends cerebral understanding and, therefore, inevitably speaks profound truth. It remains a relevant language worth listening to and fighting for.

for you, to you; in groove, we trust. 

a maximalist fever dream of rhythm, spine, groove, and delicious undulations. In our world, we aim to stand down straight, to soak in gravity and liberate our pelvis, torso, spine, and spirit. 

How do our meetings impact us and shape our future? How do some events bring us together even when we live on opposite sides of the world? In this dynamic work, we explore the dark and bright side of human connections. Sometimes these connections bring pain and negative results and sometimes they give you courage and hope. From me to you for us, is the result of our collective experiences meeting and interacting with one another.

Hanna Kiel would like to thank Vicki St. Denys, Louis Laberge-Cote, Tanya Evidente, Ryan Lee, Nicole May Decsey, Katie Robinson, Minjun Hua, Wing Hua, the whole production team of RISE and the dancers of ‘From me to you for us’ for their trust and openness in this journey.

Why is humankind fascinated with the unknown? “Below” began as an exploration into my fascination with the unexplored depths of the ocean. Growing up, I was always captivated by the vastness and wonderment that is the ocean. Standing on the shore looking across the horizon line the ocean often felt calm, peaceful and full of beauty; once submerged however, that very same ocean felt chaotic, ominous and even dangerous. How one entity can embody such vastly different qualities amazes and inspires me. Much like the ocean, we as humans are entities that embody qualities that are vast and immeasurable. Our surface facade is often simply a veil covering the mysteries and truths residing deep within our core. 

The work begins with the dancers embodying the surface of the ocean - catching light, creating mist and crashing against one another. As the work progresses, we dive into the depths of a fleeting portrait of the unknown. 

“Below” was made in collaboration with the dancers. I am grateful for their respect, artistry and commitment! 

Finally, thank you to Vicki St.Denys for the invitation, Tanya Evidente for rehearsing the work in my absence and Louis Laberge-Cote for your continued support.