December 1–2, 2022

In-Ward

Ebnflōh Dance Company

Presented by DanceWorks

In-Ward

Photo by Bobby Leon

Overview

Choreographed by Montreal’s Ebnflōh Dance Company founder, Alexandra ‘Spicey’ Landé, IN-WARD depicts the complex, contradictory nature of human emotions through a performance interweaving seemingly contradictory styles of dance: hip-hop and contemporary.

Six highly skilled dancers, renowned Hip-Hop beat maker and producer Shash’U, and artistic advisors Anne Plamondon and Helen Simard, confront the deep waters of the human psyche and present a unique dance experience. 

About Alexandra ‘Spicey’ Landé, Choreographer

A major player on the Québec Hip-Hop dance scene, Alexandra ‘Spicey’ Landé is a Montreal choreographer, dancer, and instructor with more than 20 years’ experience. Her passion for the art form was born in the 1980’s. She works out of a choreographic language tracing its roots and origins to the beginnings of Hip-Hop. In 2015, she founded Ebnflōh Dance Company to create, produce, and showcase inspired, authentic, and ground-breaking works, and to promote original choreographic language that is essentially rooted in Hip-Hop. The symbiotic relationship between both language of her work, and her creations, constitute the essence of her artistic signature. Her work raises relevant social themes, bridging multi-disciplinary genres of dance, theatre, film, music, and visual arts. She has broadened her artistic horizons by developing new choreographic work with promising young talent in the urban dance scene.

In 2008, Alexandra kicked off her independent choreographic career presenting Retrospek at the MAI (Montréal, Arts Interculturels), featuring 60 minutes of pioneering work brought to life by 9 dancers. The show was warmly received by audiences, and further inspired other choreographers in street dance. Following Retrospek’s showing in the ‘Vue sur la Releve’ Festival, Spicey was awarded with the Rideau-Entrées en Scene Loto Québec Bursary in 2009. The show was presented in twenty different venues in Québec, between 2008-2010. In 2011, she was hired as an urban dance instructor for the Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour show by Cirque du Soleil. As instructor and choreographer, she also took part in ‘ils dansent’ on CBC along with Nico Archambault. She taught at l’École National de Cirque de Montréal, and founded the renowned Bust A Move Festival (2005-2015), a great event in urban/street dance in Canada. The event indelibly inspired the coming generation of street dancers. In 2015, Alexendra joined the judges panel for the international dance competition, Eurovision Young Dancer, shown on Czech TV, in the Czech Republic. In 2015 the MAI presented Ebnflōh’s creative début, Complexe R, largely inspired by the malaise in our existential obsessions. The work was widely hailed during its showings through Montreal, Toronto, New York, Amsterdam. In-Ward premiered at the MAI’s Gallery in January, 2019. The piece gained support from several major partners (CCOV, Danse Danse, Agora de la Danse, etc.).

Alexandra is a pillar in the street dance community. especially, in the keen eye she keeps on the way these values are handed down to today’s and tomorrow’s best talent. She mentors many new, young artists and shares her knowledge and experience through conferences, panel discussions and juries devoted to street dance (i.e., judging battles, cyphers), as well as professional workshops across Canada. Her signature artistry; her direct creative involvement in the dance community, and her total artistic contribution make her a central and dynamic part of the Canadian urban dance scene.

About Ebnflōh Dance Company

Ebnflōh Dance Company was founded in 2015 by dancer and choreographer Alexandra ‘Spicey’ Landé from Montreal. Her mission is to create, produce, and present engaging, authentic, and original work. By putting forth a novel choreographic language that is deeply rooted in the spirit of Hip-Hop, the company presents its creations throughout Québec, Canada, and abroad.

About DanceWorks

A leading presenter of dance in all forms, DanceWorks develops and promotes seasons of high quality, culturally pluralistic dance programming created by professional dance artists. DanceWorks’ programming supports cross racial solidarity, holding space for BIPOC artists and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIAP. Work that addresses social justice issues, and challenges racism against Indigenous, Black, and Asian peoples is valued and encouraged. DanceWorks advances opportunities for the Disability Community within the dance milieu. Based in Tkaronto/Toronto since 1977, DanceWorks cultivates meaningful engagement with dance artists through outreach, education and animation initiatives.

Dates & Times

December 1
8pm
60 mins

December 2
8pm
60 mins

Venue

Harbourfront Centre Theatre

231 Queens Quay West
Toronto, Ontario
Canada

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Keywords Dance