{"id":105963,"date":"2024-07-15T16:59:29","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T20:59:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=105963"},"modified":"2024-07-16T08:00:02","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T12:00:02","slug":"preview-artistic-director-michael-caldwell-talks-summerworks-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/07\/15\/preview-artistic-director-michael-caldwell-talks-summerworks-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Artistic Director Michael Caldwell Talks About SummerWorks 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_105965\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-105965\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-105965\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-54.jpg\" alt=\"Lukas Malkowski, Microphone Controller (Photo: Drew Barry)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-54.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-54-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-54-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-54-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-105965\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lukas Malkowski, Microphone Controller (Photo: Drew Barry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Contemporary performance and community building are at the heart of SummerWorks, offering more than 40 events and activities designed, created and curated by independent artists. The festival takes place from August 1 to 11, 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The theme for this year\u2019s festival is survival, and it\u2019s a concept that is explored in many diverse ways and methods.<\/p>\n<h2>SummerWorks<\/h2>\n<p>SummerWorks presents new works in four distinct programming streams, working with both emerging and established artists and curators. The goal is to experiment, try new directions, and connect with audiences in innovative ways. For the artists, it\u2019s a chance to develop professional capacities.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>SummerWorks Presentations<\/strong>: These are new and cutting edge works that are in a fully developed state, including touring productions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>SummerWorks Lab:<\/strong> Performance works are shared at key stages of their development in a space that fosters experimentation, particularly of processes. Audiences can cannot with the work in its development stage.<\/li>\n<li><strong>SummerWorks Public Works<\/strong>: This set of free performances and art installations invites audiences and artists to come together, and inhabit public spaces in new ways.<\/li>\n<li><strong>SummerWorks Exchange<\/strong>: Works in this stream are in the early stages of creation, where conversations are crucial, and perspectives help shape the emerging work. Audiences will join the artists in considering creative proposals and artistic practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition, the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/summerworks.ca\/summerworks-at-union\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SummerWorks at Union<\/a><\/strong> program launched June 26, and continues until August 21 with concerts at Union Station.<\/p>\n<p>We spoke to Artistic Director Michael Caldwell about this year\u2019s offerings.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_105968\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-105968\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-105968\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Michael-Caldwell.jpg\" alt=\"SummerWorks Artistic Director Michael Caldwell (Photo: Omer K Yukseker\u00a0)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Michael-Caldwell.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Michael-Caldwell-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Michael-Caldwell-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Michael-Caldwell-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Michael-Caldwell-768x769.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-105968\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">SummerWorks Artistic Director Michael Caldwell (Photo: Omer K Yukseker\u00a0)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Michael Caldwell, Artistic Director<\/h3>\n<p>Michael Caldwell comes to the position of Artistic Director with a background as a dancer, choreographer, producer and arts advocate. Michael earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in film\/art history from Syracuse University in New York, and trained as a dancer at Dance Arts Institute.<\/p>\n<p>As a choreographer, his works have been presented across Canada in various contexts from large festivals and venues to community engagements. He\u2019s worked with more than 55 Canadian companies and individual creators, and has worked internationally throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. He is a two-time Dora Mavor Moore Award winner for outstanding performance in dance.<\/p>\n<p>His \u2018Two x 30\u2019, a large-scale performance\/sound work, premiered in as part of ArtworxTO: Toronto\u2019s Year of Public Art in 2021\/22.<\/p>\n<p>Along with his work as Artistic Director at SummerWorks, he is the Programming Advisor for Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal, in Nova Scotia. Previously, Michael served as Executive Producer of Fall for Dance North for eight years<\/p>\n<p>Michael is President of the Board of Directors at The CanDance Network.<\/p>\n<h3>Michael Caldwell: The Interview<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m still newish to SummerWorks,\u201d says Michael Caldwell. It will be his second year, but the first programming on his own. \u201cEven in the short time, the one thing that I\u2019ve learned is how nimble SummerWorks is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>From last year\u2019s call for submissions, he says they received 355 applications, about 120 more than ever before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the guesses, I really hope, is that people are really excited about SummerWorks,\u201d he says, wondering why the surge in the fall of 2023. \u201cI think it also speaks to a lot of pent up energy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emerging from the pandemic, there were fewer and fewer opportunities to platform work, particularly new pieces. Many companies, while still operating, were clawing back their programming bit by bit in a struggle to stay afloat.<\/p>\n<p>Of all the proposals, they shortlisted 80, and Michael spoke to all of them. In fact, SummerWorks has contacted more than 155 of the companies and individuals who submitted their ideas. Fostering community and connections goes beyond programming one festival. Some of the Exchange programming comes from those conversations. The Exchange projects enlarge and expand the conversation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat truly has been the best part of my job,\u201d he says. \u201cThat\u2019s why I do what I do. A lot of beautiful connections and conversations have come forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The theme of survival came from the applications they received, rather than predesign. \u201cThat was an interesting thing for me, as a curator.\u201d Naturally, he often comes into a programming environment with specific ideas he\u2019d like to explore. This time was different. \u201cBut it was just so clear to me. The word \u2018survival\u2019 was written in so many applications. We\u2019re kind of all trying to survive,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the microcosm of arts and culture in Toronto, things are tough,\u201d he says, noting that difficult times extend to all levels of society. It was a theme he couldn\u2019t ignore.<\/p>\n<p>Survival is also a complex theme, ranging from the plight of people around the world who are literally simply trying to survive, to those who are struggling with issues of identity and heritage. It\u2019s a complex issue, and it has a darker side, but the focus is on ways of moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat is the role of any festival?\u201d he asks. \u201cTo bring people together. To move towards joy. I think that\u2019s really all we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_105969\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-105969\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-105969\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Copy-of-REVIEW-48.jpg\" alt=\"L-R: C3 (Camille Cubed) by Micaela Janse van Rensburg (Photo courtesy of the artist); Subject To (Photo courtesy of Deda Productions); Slip away (Photo: Andrew Carroll)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Copy-of-REVIEW-48.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Copy-of-REVIEW-48-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Copy-of-REVIEW-48-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Copy-of-REVIEW-48-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-105969\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">L-R: C3 (Camille Cubed) by Micaela Janse van Rensburg (Photo courtesy of the artist); Subject To (Photo courtesy of Deda Productions); Slip away (Photo: Andrew Carroll)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>SummerWorks: Focus on Dance<\/h3>\n<p>There are a number of dance works in the SummerWorks calendar. \u201cI\u2019m excited about them,\u201d Michael says. \u201cSensorial and body practices are kind of my jam.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4>The Movements (Alex McLean)<\/h4>\n<p>The Movements is described as \u201ca high-octane theatre\/dance spectacular\u201d about&#8230; the economy?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Movements takes a lot of dry economic data and aims to make it visceral. I hope people come away from the show understanding why this stuff is worth thinking about, even though it\u2019s massive and nuanced and hard to decipher from our individual vantage points. It is overwhelming at times, but\u2014like the gruelling workout undertaken by the four performers \u2014 it\u2019s also kind of exhilarating.\u201d \u2014 Alex McLean, Director and lead writer of The Movements<\/p>\n<h4>Warm Up (Mykalle Bielenski)<\/h4>\n<p>A dance theatre piece about overconsumption that\u2019s powered by a stationary bike.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would like the audience to leave with a better understanding and greater awareness of their consumption habits, their needs, and what could change. I want them to leave with a greater desire for simplicity and a stronger commitment to respecting nature. I hope they feel inspired to change their perspective and to question themselves for a better future.\u201d \u2014 Mykalle Bielenski, Warm up<\/p>\n<h4>Microphone Controller (Lukas Malkowski)<\/h4>\n<p>Lukas Malkowski\u2019s piece is presented in association with dance: made in\/fait au canada Festival. It\u2019s described as \u201ca dance and sensory concert with songs, speeches, moans, thrashes, and American Sign Language\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><em>I hope audiences, Deaf and hearing, understand something.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>None will understand everything.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>CODAs will understand most.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Children of Deaf Adults.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Microphone Controller is the person I wish I could be.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>He is my embodied fantasy of the perfect CODA pop star, understood and adored by all.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Like Freddie Mercury \u2014 if he was a CODA.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>He performs Amazing sensory concerts that are intensely visual.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>You can feel the vibration of every word, and see the meaning in his hands and face.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Each of you will understand something different.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>I hope you are curious about what you don\u2019t understand.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>If you\u2019re hearing, I hope you learn Sign.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Whoever you are, I hope this brings you joy.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>I hope it connects with you.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>That\u2019s the point.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Isn\u2019t it?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lukas Malkowski, Microphone Controller<\/p>\n<h4>Subject To \/ \u062e\u0636\u0648\u0639 (Mehdi Dahkan)<\/h4>\n<p>This imaginative work is a solo performance that examines the nature of silence.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe performance \u2018Subject To \/ \u062e\u0636\u0648\u0639&#8217; aims to propose silence as a stronger (&amp; louder) form of protest and resistance. The performance is without music, without sound, without speech. But even in this silence, the intention of the performance is to share with the audience a very strong need for change, a very strong disruption, a very strong protest. I hope the audience will feel the performance\u2019s message: even if nothing is said, that doesn\u2019t mean everything\u2019s fine. If there\u2019s no noise, it doesn\u2019t mean there\u2019s no change.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis applies to people as individuals or as groups, the Arab Spring movement didn\u2019t happen by accident, it happened after years and years of silent resistance \u2014 until it exploded one day. The people who commit suicide are not necessarily the ones who talk about it the most beforehand; this changeover takes place in silence.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI hope the audiences will be touched by the message this performance tries to communicate.\u201d \u2014 Mehdi Dahkan, Subject To<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just a stunning work,\u201d Michael says, \u201creally impactful in its simplicity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Subject To is paired with slip away by Indigenous performer Samantha Sutherland in what he calls a \u201cbeautiful double bill\u201d. Sutherland\u2019s piece is about learning to hang on to her maternal language<br \/>\nKtunaxa. \u201cHow do we hang on to things that are disappearing?\u201d Michael asks. \u201cIt\u2019s just a beautiful work.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4>slip away (Samantha Sutherland)<\/h4>\n<p>\u201cI hope that my audience sees the beauty in Indigenous Languages, particularly in Ktunaxa. I created slip away to not only share what my experience has been in learning Ktunaxa, but also to share the language with those who have not heard it before. The language holds the knowledge of who we are as Ktunaxa people, and of the beautiful lands which we are from. \u2014 Samantha Sutherland, slip away<\/p>\n<h4>Surrendered Spirits (Irma Villafuerte)<\/h4>\n<p>\u201cThe possibility of healing through connection, togetherness, and love. In the most raw, and truest form, through the beauty and not so beautiful moments of emotional and ancestral ebbs and flows.\u201d \u2014Irma Villafuerte, Surrendered Spirits<\/p>\n<p>Other dance piece include the hyper-physical solo performance <strong>Slug Meal by Camille Huang<\/strong>, and <strong>C3 (Camille Cubed)<\/strong> by <strong>Micaela Janse van Rensburg \/ Dance Arts Institut<\/strong>e, a solo dance piece about negotiating through uncertain spaces.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_105970\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-105970\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-105970\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Girls-Notes-III-by-Lin-Hsuan-Lang.jpg\" alt=\"Girl\u2019s Notes III (Photo: Lin Hsuan Lang)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"799\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Girls-Notes-III-by-Lin-Hsuan-Lang.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Girls-Notes-III-by-Lin-Hsuan-Lang-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Girls-Notes-III-by-Lin-Hsuan-Lang-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Girls-Notes-III-by-Lin-Hsuan-Lang-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-105970\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Girl\u2019s Notes III (Photo: Lin Hsuan Lang)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Taiwanese works are featured this year, including the Canadian premiere of <strong>Girl\u2019s Notes III<\/strong>, a solo performance that turns a spotlight on women who have been isolated since the pandemic, along with <strong>Meet the Bones<\/strong>, a movement meditation, and the world premier of <strong>Three Dots<\/strong>, a play set inside contemporary Taiwanese Indigenous family structures.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find out more about the complete schedule and performances [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/summerworks.ca\/summerworks-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? 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