{"id":76141,"date":"2022-08-04T10:59:02","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T14:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=76141"},"modified":"2022-08-05T11:56:06","modified_gmt":"2022-08-05T15:56:06","slug":"preview-yensa-festival-celebrates-black-women-dance-august-13-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2022\/08\/04\/preview-yensa-festival-celebrates-black-women-dance-august-13-28\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | The Yensa Festival Celebrates Black Women In Dance August 13-28"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Yensa
Yensa Dance Festival (Photo: Dahlia Katz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The new Yensa Festival is dedicated to showcasing the work of Black women dancemakers, drawing from Toronto\u2019s rich talent pool as well as beyond. The biennial festival, launching Aug. 13, is a labour of love for Artistic Director Lua Shayenne, who has become a fixture in the city\u2019s dance community.<\/p>\n

Her work has been featured in Fall for Dance North, Dusk Dances, and she was co-choreographer for National Ballet School\u2019s Sharing Dance 2021, among other projects. We caught up with her to talk about putting the festival together, and its particular focus.<\/p>\n

Lua Shayenne, Artistic Director<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Yensa Festival came about as the end result of a process. \u201cIn 2018, we had the first iteration \u2014 the Wassa! Wassa! Africa Dance & Drum festival,\u201d recalls Yensa\u2019s Artistic Director, Lua Shayenne. That festival, held at Crow\u2019s Theatre, showcased African dancers. \u201cI think how it rallied the community together was really wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Based on feedback, she was encouraged to look for funding for a new dance festival. After presenting her piece Kira the Path \/ La Voie<\/em> at the Luminato Festival in 2019, (excerpts of which will be performed in the festival), and a successful tour, COVID put a pause on all things dance. However, in the meantime, Shayenne consulted with a wide spectrum of professionals in Toronto\u2019s dance community, and got planning for the festival underway. \u201cI got a lot of encouragement,\u201d she says. In particular, she names Ilter Ibrahimof, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Fall for Dance North. \u201cIlter has been mentoring me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Lua
Lua Shayenne (Image courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The result, Yensa Festival, is an expression of community as well as artistic excellence. \u201cIt was really the result of deep, deep conversations,\u201d she says. \u201cI believe that any endeavour has to come out of deep listening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eventually, her goals focused. \u201cI came to the idea of highlighting Black female dancers,\u201d she says. It\u2019s a group whose contributions to the dance world have \u201ctoo often been relegated to the background,\u201d as she points out. Along with performance, she believes it\u2019s important to showcase the underpinnings of dance as well in talks and workshops.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlack women leaders in dance have a unique approach to their practice,\u201d she notes. In her programming, she was aiming to explore the diversity in that approach. She\u2019s included both local and international artists. \u201cTo me, it was important that it starts with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

From the artists\u2019 statements…<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cI am a spontaneous creative and I pull from what is happening in the room. I love to listen and take inspiration from whoever is there and what they are working with; and guide a process of collaboration to find the language and choreography\/movement and sound.\u201d \u2014 Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone<\/strong> (Toronto)<\/p>\n

\u201cMy background is in African dance drama and storytelling which continues to be the basis of my somatic-based inquiry. My solo performances are stories which take various forms from movement-based theatre to dance improvisation, performance poetry to promenade theatre. My performances tend to have a psychological edge as they emerge at meeting points between spiritual and philosophical contemplation, internal and external pressures.\u201d \u2014 Funmi Adewole Elliott<\/strong> (UK)<\/p>\n

\u201cMy medium as an artist is amalgamating my knowledge in Afrofusion which is a blend of traditional and contemporary West African dance with Urban, Modern, Latin and Caribbean styles of dance alongside my knowledge as a movement director. Spending years in theatre, I became intrigued about bringing intention into the world of movement. Movement as storytelling is a way to dig differ into the why. Why do we move? Can we be specific with our questions to bring clarity in how we can unlock the possibilities in our body.\u201d \u2014 Esie Mensah<\/strong> (Toronto)<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough dance, we can share a story, culture, and pieces of oneself with others. It allows for a connection with the here and now, the tangible and intangible. There is an unparalleled power and transmission of energy when sharing with a community. Dancing allows for the creation of experiences. Being able to communicate through dance is an honour.” \u2014 Aika Mathelier, Executive & Artistic Director, Ekspresyon<\/strong> (Montreal)<\/p>\n

The Festival at a glance<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The festival will culminate in two performances, each with a unique program.<\/p>\n

On August 26<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone Open Light<\/em> (Toronto) \u2014 a solo work from an artist steeped in theatre, Carnival, contemporary dance and spirituality;<\/li>\n
  • Artists in Motion (AIM) Our Stories<\/em> extract of Ashes<\/em> (Toronto) \u2014 hip hop and fusion dance with a strong message;<\/li>\n
  • Lua Shayenne Dance Company (LSDC) Kira the Path \/ La Voie<\/em> excerpt (Toronto) \u2014 a work informed by West African traditions in a contemporary mode.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    On August 27<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Funmi Adewole Elliott The Blind Side<\/em> (UK) \u2014 a scholar, mentor and sought after dramaturge in a solo work;<\/li>\n
    • Esie Mensah A Seat at the Table<\/em> (Toronto) \u2014 an explicit solo work by an artist with a message;<\/li>\n
    • Ekspresyon Contraste<\/em> (Montreal) \u2014 dancers travel through their mixed identities, European and African, through dance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n