What is your first memory of dance?

Every time I walk into a studio to take a dance class, or teach, or to rehearse. My senses are overwhelmed. Though I have little memory of my first dance class (ballet and I was 3), one of my strongest first memories of dance when I returned many years later was buying my first shoes. I was taking modern dance, so they were half-soles. They looked very different from what contemporary dancers wear today. They looked like this:

You can still purchase this style today!

I still can remember how they smelled and the feel of them on my feet when I would dance.

Tell us…..What is your first memory of dance?

Moments

It is hard to pick just one favourite moment in my career, but I wanted to share with you one of the moments in the past year that ranks as one of the top 3 for me. This year that Kinetic Elements performed at FAT: Fashion Alternative week in Toronto. The atmosphere was incredible. The crowd was packed, the music was blaring – you could feel the vibration in your bones and I got to walk down the runway! It was an amazing experience!

Thank you to FAT for having us and a huge thank you to all the dancers that brought their wonderful talent to this event.

 

reSURGEnce Promo

 

Thank you to the dancers and our Stage Manager Jennifer McKinley for making this production possible. A big thank you to everyone who came to see the show and that gave their support. It was a journey to bring this second show together, but it was an amazing experience!

 

Reviews are in!!

Here is what people are saying about reSURGEnce:

reSURGEnce by Kinetic Elements was like watching an extended episode of So You Think You Can Dance and I mean that as a compliment. I hope that TV shows like SYTYCD encourage people who wouldn’t normally see live dance to go and see shows like reSURGEncebecause it is wonderfully entertaining and performed by a very talented bunch of dancers.

The show is divided into short pieces and they all have something to say through their dance. This young company is a positive role model for their peers as they do not shy away from dancing about sexuality, the concept of beauty and the G2o. They commit to their dancing fully and you can see them sweating and hear them breathing which all adds to the power of the piece.

The music choices are perfect and some of them really evoked emotion within me. The ensemble worked exceptionally well together but I personally had a hard time looking at anybody else when Chelsea Lee was on stage, she is a fascinating dancer and has a very strong presence.

I also loved the two solo pieces by Elizabeth Vecchio and Sandra Clarke. Vecchio’s piece was extremely powerful and her costume choice added to the piece as well. Clarke’s piece was beautiful and her music choice was paired wonderfully with her choreography. In another piece these two performed together for a moment with just their backs to the audience and the lines they created were amazing.

The whole show was a wonderful way to pass an hour and anyone who loves dance should see this show and anyone who wants to be introduced to dance should see this show, the pieces are short so you get a real taste test of different styles and dances. I commend Kendra Hughes on creating this company and her excellent choreography.

To see the full review and reviews of other Toronto Fringe Shows please visit here!

Win Prizes!!

Kinetic Elements is pleased to announce their new production reSURGEnce for the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival. We have been preparing and we cannot wait to show you what we having been working on! This is your chance to be a part of the experience!

 

For every $5 you donate to Kinetic Elements, your name will go into a draw to win ones of these great prizes:

-Kinetic Elements T-Shirt
-Two tickets to the opening performance of reSURGEnce
-One free 8 week dance session with Kinetic Elements

Donate here today! Draw will take place on July 7th!

Hope to see you there!!

Kendra Hughes
Artistic Director

Kinetic Elements Presents:

reSURGEnce

as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival

 

Where: Factory Mainspace Theatre

125 Bathurst St Toronto

 

When:

Saturday July 9  @ 9:15pm

Sunday July 10   @ 1:15pm

Monday July 11  @ 8:30pm

Wednesday July 13  @ 3:30pm

Thursday July 14 @ 11:00pm

Friday July 15 @ 4:00pm

Saturday July 16 @ 2:15pm

Reviews of Eternal Eclipse
Presented as part of the 2010 Toronto Fringe Festival

*** – 3 Stars
Eye Weekly Reviews
“…even I can appreciate Kinetic Elements’ skill and artistry – including Kendra Hughes’ choreography, which contrasts jerk, robotic gestures with graceful, sweeping motions.”

Merge Zine added that we are refreshing.

Related articles

• Kinetic Elements Presents reSURGEnce (kineticelements.wordpress.com)

Potential Performance- Women in Dance: The Next Generation

Potential Elements is performing this Friday night! Do not miss this incredible event with amazing choreographers and upcoming dancers!

See you there!

Potential Performance- Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival

Youth Moves

June 5, 2011 | 2 pm
Co-operator’s Hall
River Run Centre

Symmetry takes a look at the concept of beauty, and transcending the conventional ideas of beauty posed by society. Together choreographer Kendra Hughes and the dancers have worked together to create Symmetry.

reSURGEnce Trailer #1

Here is the first of many trailers of our production reSURGEnce presented this summer as a part of the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival. Don’t miss it!

Kinetic Elements Presents reSURGEnce

reSURGEnce is a collection of dances takes a look at society and examines the way that we view authority, power and beauty. Through contemporary dance Kinetic Elements deconstructs and transcends the boundaries of the labels put on us. Come join Kinetic Elements in their second year at the Toronto Fringe Festival.

Warning: Mature Themes

Factory Mainspace Theatre
125 Bathurst St, Toronto

Saturday July 9 @ 9:15pm

Sunday July 10 @ 1:15pm

Monday July 11 @ 8:30pm

Wednesday July 13 @ 3:30pm

Thursday July 14 @ 11:00pm

Friday July 15 @ 4:00pm

Saturday July 16 @ 2:15pm

All tickets $10 at the door, or book in advance by calling the Fringe Hotline at 416.966.1062 or online at www.fringetoronto.com.

For show info please visit www.kineticelementsdance.com

Media Contact:
Kinetic Elements representative: Kendra Hughes;  kendra@kendrahughes.com

Meet The Dancers – Gillian

Gillian

Gillian Moult had been dancing for 18 years, through elementary school, high school and now trains at York University. Though her involvement was mostly recreational as a child, through her teens she began training professionally to be accepted into York’s Dance program to achieve a Bachelor of Fine Arts in contemporary dance. Her rigorous training at school is going to afford her the privilege of performing at International Dance Day, F.A.T. Toronto Alternative Fashion, and the Toronto Fringe Festival this summer. Recently, she has had the honour of dancing with Kinetic Elements, and is looking forward to continuing this summer.

Q&A

Who is your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration are my friends and family. I am so lucky to have people around me that support what I’m doing. It’s not every day that you get such a large support group. Their  encouragement inspires me and give me the confidence to keep doing what I love to do.

How did you get into dance?

I started dancing because my parents put in me in class. I was not the one begging to go into a studio at first. In fact I was extremely shy when I was young, but putting me into those classes was probably the best thing my parents could have done for me. Once I got on the stage I knew there was no other place for me.

Why do you keep dancing?

I keep on dancing partly for the excitement, partly for the opportunity to learn, but mostly for the opportunity to share. There is nothing I want more but to inspire others with my own art form. I think you can form such amazing connections in dance and I would not want to give that up.

What are your future aspirations?

I want to perform and teach all at the same time. I want to travel and see everything I can. At this point I can’t settle on doing one thing because I see so many options. I think I still have sometimes to figure out what I really want to do.

Check Gillian out this summer at the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival!