A dance theatre company is coming to Powell River and looking for participants for its upcoming performance of a classic Christmas story.
Motus O Dance Theatre, a company based out of Stouffville, Ontario, has, for the past 20 years, been performing inclusive community shows. Since 2007 the company has been taking performances of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol to communities across Canada.
Jacquie Dawson, manager for Max Cameron Theatre, has wanted to bring the company to town for several years and this year she was able to book it.
“It’s my effort to provide a more community-related piece,” said Dawson, who added that this is an excellent opportunity for Powell River to celebrate Christmas. “It’s a lot of money to go to Nanaimo or Vancouver for a show of A Christmas Carol, so this is a gift on my part to Powell River for all the support the community has shown for the theatre.”
James Croker is a Motus O artistic director and will be in Powell River for its November auditions. The company is looking for approximately 25 participants to be on stage with 10 professional dancers.
“We go into communities throughout Canada and include both young and old in the productions,” said Croker. “Our style of theatre is all movement-based.”
He said that part of the company’s goal is to break down the walls around art. The company’s background is in education and when it is not touring with its 16 shows throughout the year, the company teaches leadership development at Banff Centre of the Arts.
“Our motivation is to be inclusive and our responsibility is to make sure that no one looks silly on stage,” he added. “We give them the tools to empower themselves so they feel good about what they’re doing. That’s why we really encourage parents to bring their children to audition.”
Powell River auditions are scheduled for Friday, November 15, and are not conducted like a traditional audition. Instead of actors preparing monologues and dance numbers, the auditions are more like a workshop, said Croker. People who audition must be available on November 16 and 17 and the day before the performance for rehearsals.
The main performance is scheduled for Tuesday, December 17 at the Max.
The play is the story set to movements without lines of dialogue, he said. The company does not require participants to have taken ballet lessons or have a lot of experience on stage. The only requirement is the willingness to be on stage and to listen to direction.
For more information about Motus O Dance Theatre company, readers can visit its website.
