Laneway ART-ery Dances
Laneway ART-ery Dances was an interactive digital installation that invited audiences to visit and experience two of downtown Toronto’s unique alleys in exciting new ways. Audiences encountered large visual art imagery with QR codes that prompted 3 short dance films plus one augmented reality (AR) experience. The films were triggered and experienced from a mobile device, making the performance personalized and safe to enjoy while adhering to COVID protocols. Shot in the laneways, the dance films featured 7 professional dancers, several community participants, and original music, creating a beautiful site-specific experience. This installation was open from September 2021 to September 2022 as part of ArtworxTO: Toronto's Year of Public Art 2021 – 2022. Installations were located in Broadcast Lane (Cabbagetown) and Ciamaga Lane (Seaton Village/ West Annex).
Artistic Description
Laneway ART-ery Dances invites audiences to pause in the back alleys we usually hurry through, and to be present with the triggered imagery, each other, and the space we can share. The usual bustle of people weaving their presence in Tkaronto/Toronto streets becomes separate from the calm laneway environment. This piece subverts the common perception of back alleys being deserted and dangerous by highlighting 7 diverse womyn performers in powerful and vulnerable dances. The performance has an expansive nature over its duration: from solos to ensembles and finally inviting the viewer into the dance; playing with the circles of connection we make from individual to neighbourhood to City. Think artifacts, historical and significant legends, garages with urban graffiti, intimate underpinnings, arteries of the body, the city, and compilations of life’s wisdoms.
Laneway on the Lakeshore
ART-ery Dances - Laneway on the Lakeshore was a live performance inspired by Laneway ART-ery Dances, as part of ActiveARTsTO, produced by OpenStreetsTO. Three short performances were presented at Marilyn Bell Park on Sunday, September 26, 2021, danced by Brayden Cairns, Roshanak Jaberi, Karen Kaeja, Michael Mortley, Katherine Semchuk, Mio Sakamoto, Elke Schroeder, and Yui Ugai.
Photo Gallery
Photos by Karen Kaeja, featuring Laneway ART-ery Dances professional performers and community participants.
Concept and Direction
Karen Kaeja and Allen Kaeja
Choreography for Film 1 (ART-ery HEART DANCE)
Karen Kaeja
With influences from the Moving Connections Heart Dance developed with 30 older adult community members. The Heart Dance is named after the late Sallie Lyons whose movement contribution and spirit has enlightened us all.
Choreography for Film 2, (ART- ery SOLO DANCES)
Allen Kaeja
Choreography for Film 3 (ART-ery TOUCH) and Film 4 (ART-ery TOUCH AR)
Karen Kaeja
Developed with dancers Michael Caldwell and Stéphanie Tremblay for Crave/Touch
NOTE: The dancers in Laneway ART-ery Dances have brought their personal artistry into the development and interpretation of the work.
Executive Producers
Karen Kaeja, Allen Kaeja, Kaeja d'Dance
Film Direction
Allen Kaeja
Additional Film Direction
Drew Berry
Artistic Producer
Mateo Galindo Torres
Ciamaga Lane Dancers
Karen Kaeja, Katherine Semchuk, Irma Villafuerte
Broadcast Lane Dancers
Aria Evans, Karen Kaeja, Elke Schroeder
AR Dancers in both Lanes
Nickeshia Garrick, Mio Sakamoto
Original Score
Edgardo Moreno
Cameras
Allen Kaeja, Drew Berry
Editor
Drew Berry
AR Design
Mateo Galindo Torres, Jacob Niedzwiecki
Dramaturg for original creations on Films 1, 3, 4
Pil Hansen
Costume Design
Irma Villafuerte, Karen Kaeja
Costume Coordinator
Irma Villafuerte
Graphic Design
Adriano Bertuzzo
Community Participants
Pat Beaven, Jane Deluzio, Anne Fleming, Catherine Kourkounakis, Lizzie Moffatt, Lisa Meschino, Abigail Rosas, Karla Rosas, Lesley White, and Patricia White
Funded by
Community Partner
Presented
Laneway ART-ery Dances Films
Below are the short dance films that were featured in this project. As audiences moved down each laneway, they encountered three different site-specific films shot in the laneway.