Intrepid Theatre

“Calligraphy is meant to be a pure expression of our souls and spirit, and in a way that is difficult to articulate in words, [Carter] manages to show us complex inner layers of herself—without ever being literal.” – Stir Magazine

Stick around after the opening night (Thursday February 8) for a post-show discussion with the artists and Yukari Peerless from the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society.

Residuals (住み・墨) draws visual, sonic, and physical influences from Japanese calligraphy, integrated with dynamic choreography to reinterpret the traditional form through a contemporary lens. Calligraphy brush strokes inform Carter’s movement as they dance among hundreds of sheets of translucent paper, channeling moments and impressions from their childhood, while the lighting evokes an abstracted memory of their Japanese grandparents’ rural home where many of the artist’s memories of domestic life and cultural rituals originate.

The culmination of 3 years of artistic research and development, interweaving interdisciplinary elements such as full-stage video projections, sculptural costume design, and bilingual spoken text, Residuals (住み・墨) takes audiences on a personal journey of self-discovery, where the inner layers of Carter’s identity begin to unfurl.

The work’s title holds a double meaning:
住み /sumi/ = to reside in a place
墨 /sumi/ = ink

“Who we have met, where we have been, and what we remember make us what we are. Calligraphy is meant to be a pure expression of our souls and spirit, and in a way that is difficult to articulate in words, the Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award-winner manages to show us complex inner layers of herself—without ever being literal. The piece is also just really cool to watch, with its parchment-coloured light and distinct visual language.” – Stir Magazine

The performance will open with a work-in-progress choreographed by Angela Mousseau, titled Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. Featuring dance artists Elya Grant and Nyah Wong Penner, the piece is a multi-phase collaborative exploration of how contemporary dance can be interwoven with sketch artist illustrations and the use of lighting design. Angela Mousseau is a 2023/24 Dance Victoria Residency Artist and a past Choreographic Lab participant.

This presentation has been made possible with support from Dance Victoria, Intrepid Theatre, and Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society. Additional support for Shion Skye Carter’s performance and related outreach activities is generously provided by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment.

Accessibility

Sensory warnings: There are no warnings for this show

Content warnings: There are no warnings for this show

Please indicate any accessibility needs, including wheelchair accessible seating or if you require seating with no stairs, in the provided field. We will do our best to assign seating that works for you and get in touch if we have any questions. A Visual Guide for The Metro Studio has been created, and is current as of August 2023. View it here.

About the artists

Shion Skye Carter (she/they) is a dance artist originally from Gifu, Japan, who lives and dedicates time to their artistic practice in Vancouver, Canada. Through choreography hybridized with heritage artforms that interact with digital and sculptural objects, Shion’s work looks inward to the facets of their intersectional identity as a lens to process the world around them. Recent presentations of their work include The Dance Centre (Vancouver), Tangente (Montréal), Kinetic Studio (Halifax), and Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto), and their experimental dance films have been screened at festivals globally. They’ve performed in the works of artists such as Anya Saugstad, Vanessa Goodman (Action at a Distance), Wen Wei Dance, and Ziyian Kwan (Dumb Instrument Dance). Shion holds a BFA from Simon Fraser University, and is the recipient of the Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award (2022) and the Chrystal Dance Prize (2023). http://www.shionskyecarter.com

Andie Lloyd (any pronouns) is a queer interdisciplinary artist and community advocate, currently based on unceded Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Territories. She works internationally as a lighting designer and media artist, and is co-founder of HK House 香港屋, a volunteer-powered non-profit based in Vancouver, BC. As a justice-motivated artist, Andie aims to work alongside collaborators in alignment with her values of self-determination, land sovereignty, climate justice, body liberation, queer liberation and anti-capitalism. She hopes to bring these values into all of her creations through radical compassion and respect. Some of her notable involvements include: Happy Valley/馬照跑．舞照跳（rice & beans theatre) – Projection Design, Lose Myself Again (Music Video, Argel MDR) -Media/Lighting Designer, BQFKN Online! (rEvolver Fest 2023) – Digital Design Director/Lighting Designer, ūtszan (to make better) (The Cultch) – Projection Designer, Clean/Espejos (Neworld Theatre) – Surtitle Designer, whip (FakeKnot) – Lighting Designer, and Peace Country by Pedro Chamale. GFHG SDGM.

Agnes Hui [she/her/佢] is a settler from Hong Kong, currently based in Vancouver, BC on the ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. A veteran arts and cultural event planner and an emerging stage manager, Agnes is a passionate team player and an enthusiastic, active member of the performing arts community. Her recent stage managing credits include Discounted Hotpot Centre by Anthony Lee (presented by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre) and Big Queer Filipino Karaoke Night! ONLINE By Davey Samuel Calderon at rEvolver Festival 2023.

Credits