Join us for an exciting double-bill performance celebrating our first 10 years in the DJD Dance Centre.
The show features the beautiful DJD company of 9 dancers, live original jazz music composed by Carsten Rubeling and played by an ensemble of 5 remarkable musicians, spectacular costume design by Hannah Fisher, and magical lighting by Steve Isom.
Act 1 is a vibrant journey inspired by sounds and images from the most southern and northern parts of the Caribbean—Trinidad and New Orleans. Carne Vale is a brave new piece by longtime DJD dancer Sabrina Naz Comănescu, exploring the transition of the spirit into the afterlife and how, in this story, the spirit flows like water from the river to the sea.
Act 2 explores the crucial, rooted and sacred relationship between jazz dancer and musician. Created by Kimberley Cooper, Between the Bandstand and the Dancefloor dives deep into this relationship through improvisation, spoken word and fabulous physical and musical conversations between the dancers and musicians.
Special Events
Join us for one of our special events throughout the run — including Opening Night Celebrations , a Post-Show Talkback with the artists, and a Relaxed Performance designed for a more inclusive audience experience.
PERFORMANCE EVENTS
Relaxed Performance - May 3
Regular Run - April 23-May 10
Performance information:
Latecomers policy: Please allow extra time to arrive as roads may be busy with closures and construction. Our theatre is very intimate hence, we are unable to seat guests after the show has begun without disturbing the rest of the audience. Latecomers will not be seated until intermission, and will be invited to watch Act 1 from a monitor in the lobby.
Artistic Director’s Message
Kimberley Cooper
Welcome to Matters of Rhythm and Harmony! We are thrilled to present this new double-bill show to you. We have created something special, with input from a spectrum of DJD artists.
Sabrina Naz Comanescu has been dancing with the company since 2015. She is a bright
light in and out of DJD. Her new work Carne Vale—which directly translates to farewell to meat or farewell to the flesh—follows the soul’s journey to the afterlife, like the journey of water from a river to the sea; the dance flows beautifully
and magically in a joyous carnival ride. Using sounds, colours and images from Trinidadian Carnival and its sister festival Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Sabrina’s vision and movement for this piece will take you on a beautiful journey.
The conversation Between the Bandstand and the Dance floor is one that is crucial to jazz culture. In Act II we explore this conversation literally and figuratively, with words, sounds and bodies, spoken word, music, and improvisation.
Improvisation is key to jazz, and how we improvise in jazz can teach us about how to
improvise in life. Improvising in jazz sometimes means you can do whatever you want, but more often, you are responding to what’s happening around you. For dancers this
means you are connecting deeply with the music and if there are other dancers on the
floor, you are connecting, responding and supporting them too. If you have something to say, you say it, but you must also pull back and listen, even if you don’t agree. The world could take some lessons from jazz.
I hope you enjoy this fantastic double bill.
READ KIMBERLEY'S BIO
Photo by Laura Kleiner
Photo by Laura Kleiner
Photo by Laura Kleiner
Photo by Laura Kleiner
Photo by Laura Kleiner
Photo by Laura Kleiner
Photo by Laura Kleiner
Trailer by Noel Bégin
Trailer by Noel Bégin
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
Filmed & Edited by Maddy Faunt
"Decidedly Jazz Danceworks is closing its season with a two-part performance that also marks an important anniversary for the Calgary company, which is celebrating ten years since DJD moved into its purpose-built home in the Beltline."
Andrea Montgomery - CityNews
VIEW ARTICLE"Matters of Rhythm and Harmony aims to be a celebration of this legacy, a declaration that jazz dance can thrive in the heart of Alberta."
Jenna Shummoogum for the Calgary Herald
VIEW ARTICLEAUDIENCE REACTIONS
DANCERS
Rare Beauties features the DJD Company dancers Isaac Abriel, Gisele Ardosa, Thys Armstrong, Cassandra Bowerman, Sabrina Naz Comănescu, Mara Liao Esnard, Catherine Hayward and Kaja Irwin.
Parking at DJD
The DJD Dance Centre parkade offers FREE underground parking Monday to Friday after 5PM and on Saturdays and Sundays. The parkade is free to valid ticket holders and students. Please note a code is needed to enter the parkade. (you will receive a code for the parkade 24 hours before the performance you are attending or with your class purchase). You can access the DJD parkade off Centre Street (at the back of the Kahanoff Centre). Walk offs are not permitted, your car can only remain in the DJD parking lot while you are at the DJD Dance Centre.
Please note: There is a 6 foot maximum height restriction for our underground parking.
Additional parking
Two large paid-public parking lots are located at the South and East sides of the building. Two-hour meter street parking is available on Center Street SE, between 12 and 13 Avenue SE. Two disabled parking spaces are available on the south side of the building.
