YEARS OF TRIUMPH! A N N U A L R E P O R T

Transcription

1 YEARS OF TRIUMPH! A N N U A L R E P O R T

2 CONTEMPORARY UNIQUE INTEGRATED LIVING THE UNDESIRABLE LIFE, DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY RENATA SOUTTER, PRESENTED BY GCTC IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NAC CANADA SCENE. DANCERS: SYLVAIN BOUCHARD, BELLA BOWES, SIÔNED WATKINS, AMELIA GRIFFIN, ROBERT CHARTIER, LIZ WINKELAAR PHOTO: ANDREW BALFOUR

3 PROPELLED BY THE POWER OF POSSIBILITY LIVING THE UNDESIRABLE LIFE, DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY RENATA SOUTTER, PRESENTED BY GCTC IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NAC CANADA SCENE. DANCERS: AMELIA GRIFFIN, SYLVAIN BOUCHARD. PHOTO: ANDREW BALFOUR

4 Propeller Dance creates transformative artistic experiences that defy traditional notions in the dance world. Propeller creates, performs and teaches dance that celebrates dancers diverse voices, bodies and minds. LIVING THE UNDESIRABLE LIFE, DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY RENATA SOUTTER, PRESENTED BY GCTC IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NAC CANADA SCENE. DANCERS: LIZ WINKELAAR, NATHALIE JOANISSE. PHOTO: ANDREW BALFOUR

5 a message from the chair As we enjoy the celebrations and achievements of Propeller Dance s 10 th anniversary, I reflect on how we arrived at where we are. The first 5 years were very much about survival, year to year, as the Co-Directors, Shara Weaver and Renata Soutter, strove to obtain financial support from the City and arts agencies at the provincial and national levels and everywhere else. To do this Propeller needed to create and perform art of high quality, to gain recognition and support in the dance and disability communities and in the public at large. A Performing Company was created and nurtured. Propeller began to go into the schools and recreational classes for children, youth and adults were established. The last 5 years have featured consolidation and continuing artistic achievement. A solid body of professional performance works have been created. Some of these works have been taken on the road to other venues in Ontario. A school program has been developed and delivered across Ottawa, with support from Foundations. The recreational classes are full and now they are led by teachers and dance partner specialists trained in Propeller s methodology for integrated dance, rather than Congratulations and thank you Bob for 10 years of dedicated leadership as a Propeller Dance Board Member! PROPELLER IS NOW WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN INTEGRATED DANCE. by the Co-Directors. In 2016, by invitation, the Artistic Co-Director s led the first teacher training in integrated dance, in western Canada. Operational policies have been put in place and our administrative capacity (led by a General Manager) is better than ever. Propeller now regularly gets funding from arts agencies, from all levels of government and from Foundations. But what of the next 5 years? Propeller is now widely recognized as a leader in integrated dance. There is an interest in taking the Performing Company on tour within Canada and internationally, exposing the work to a broader audience. Another likely priority will be to codify Propeller s specialized teacher training methodology for integrated dance so it can be more widely disseminated. Opportunities abound! Propeller Dance must chart its future course wisely to make the best use of its leadership role and fully realize its potential. Bob Bowes, Chair of the Board Bob Bowes

6 a message from the artistic co-directors What a Year it s Been!! We celebrated a huge milestone as we proudly raised a toast to our triumphant 10 th anniversary season - our most varied and ambitious to date. From performances at the Canadian War Museum and the National Arts Centre, to a moving sculpture along Wellington West, a new work on the GCTC mainstage, a livestream broadcast across the country and a garden dance at the Experimental Farm, Propeller was literally dancing outdoors, onstage, online and in the streets! Our unique and compelling artistry abounds. Of particular note was the launch of our first-ever fulllength piece, Living the undesirable Life, made possible in large part by the generous financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts New Chapter program. This was one of the largest dance grants awarded by the Council for a new creation as part of the country s 150th anniversary celebrations. Being awarded this grant underscored how very far we ve come, and moreover was a testament to the quality of our artistry on a national scale. As a small but dynamic performing arts organization, our success relies on a steadfast mix of creativity, collaboration and connection to community. As you scroll through our 10 th Anniversary Season Highlights, you will be struck by how this approach threads through everything we do, whether it be our professional company activities, our education and training programs, or how we operate as an organization. Thank you to GCTC who welcomed and supported us as company-in-residence for a third season. We were thrilled to be in such a beautiful and professional space and look forward to continuing together next year! And huge thanks as always to our dedicated Propeller dancers, collaborators, friends and fans who continually inspire us and keep us dancing on a powerful path of possibility. Renata Soutter & Shara Weaver Artistic & Executive Co-Directors Shara Weaver and Renata Soutter with CBC s Adrian Harewood

7 10 th anniversary season highlights 6,462 engaged through performances & community events 3 rd season as artists-inresidence at GCTC 13 Vlogs with artists and collaborators 30+ guest artists 76 students in Propeller classes 9 artists with disability employed 800+ participants in school workshops Increased accessibility of performances at GCTC with special tools such as: audio flyer and program ASL interpreters assisted listening devices personal support workers sensory seats for people who are Deaf or low hearing

8 LIVING THE UNDESIRABLE LIFE, DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY RENATA SOUTTER, PRESENTED BY GCTC IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NAC CANADA SCENE. DANCERS: SYLVAIN BOUCHARD, BELLA BOWES, ROBERT CHARTIER, GEOFF DOLLAR, AMELIA GRIFFIN, MONI HOFFMAN, JESSIE HUGGETT, NATHALIE JOANISSE, SIÔNED WATKINS, LIZ WINKELAAR. COMPOSER AND MUSICIAN: JESSE STEWART. PHOTO: ANDREW BALFOUR

9 PERFORMANCES Fall/Winter Performed at the Canadian War Museum in celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities Propeller dance students performed at Community Day for over 200 family and friends Company The Hockey dancers performed Sweater as with special guests NAC in Orchestra The Hockey Sweater with the NAC Orchestra Spring 2016 Shara Weaver led over 70 dancers of all ages in EveryBODY Dances participatory parade along Wellington Street West Renata Soutter s new full-length Company work Living the undesirable Life presented by GCTC in association with NAC Canada Scene premiered to sold-out audience PROPELLER IN THE MEDIA It s that attention to the complexity of the human experience that has attracted audiences to Propeller s work for 10 years. Propeller Dance Company marks 10 years with introspective new show (CBC Radio Ottawa Morning) The notion that ability only exists in one form is an insult to the realms of possibility that we all contain Canada Scene: Propeller Dance premiere new work at the GCTC this weekend (Apt613 Guest Post by Eric Coates, GCTC Artistic Director) Propeller has challenged traditional concepts of what dance can be, of what a dancer looks like and moves like. Propeller Dance compelling (Artsfile Review by Natasha Gauthier, Dance Critic) Renata Soutter s story was included in the commemorative yearbook What s Your Story - a Canada 2017 Yearbook by CBC and Canada 150 DANCE IS MY FEELINGS MOVING - PROPELLER D ANCE STUDENT

10 Spring 2016 E D U C AT I O N & TRAINING First-ever live streaming of a Propeller performance, Living the undesirable Life, broadcast across Canada Mentored an Emerging Choreographer with Disability, an Artistic Associate and a Rehearsal Director Summer 2017 Performed on Canada Day for prestigious audience that included the Prime Minister, the Governor General and Prince Charles! Offered 16 company classes with 5 guest teachers for dance and theatre professionals PERFORMANCES Over 100 people took part in Propeller s Inclusive Dance Party at the NAC s Canada Scene Festival A work-in-progress showing of Soutter s The Wild Life The took place at Hockey Shenkman Arts Sweater Centrewith NAC Orchestra A site-specific performance of The Wild Life presented at Canadensis Gardens at Experimental Farm Offered 18 workshops and shows through MASC artists in schools program for over 1,300 students Taught 60 students in 94 recreational dance classes for children, youth and adults at community centres and Centennial public school LEFT / PREVIOUS PAGE EVERYBODY DANCES MOVING SCULPTURE CONCEPTUALIZED AND DIRECTED BY SHARA WEAVER. PROPELLER DANCERS, STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS PHOTOS: ANDREW BALFOUR RIGHT THE WILD LIFE DIRECTED BY RENATA SOUTTER IN COLLABORATION WITH SIÔNED WATKINS, LIZ WINKELAAR, MARC WALTER AND JESSE STEWART AND THE PROPELLER DANCE PERFORMERS PHOTOS: JAKE MORRISON

11 PROPELLER DANCE IS ONE OF THE CULTURAL TREASURES OF OTTAWA - PARTICIPANT, INCLUSIVE DANCE PARTY TOP CANADA DAY PERFORMANCE AT GRAND REOPENING OF THE NAC PHOTOS: FRED CATTROLL BOTTOM INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PERFORMANCE AT CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM OPPOSITE DANCERS, CREATIVE COLLABORATORS, PRODUCTION TEAM AND DANCE PARTNER SPECIALISTS FROM LIVING THE UNDESIRABLE LIFE PHOTO: ANDREW BALFOUR

12 financial report 42% increase in overall operating budget Special one-time funding came from several grant programs to mark and celebrate Canada s 150 th We received funding to: Create our first-ever full-length new work Showcase Propeller s strength as a community connector through first-ever site specific dance creations and performances Collaborate creatively with dancers, musicians, a visual artist, a disability arts dramaturg and others Work in partnership with the Great Canadian Theatre Company and the National Arts Centre s Canada Scene Festival Increase audience engagement through digital and other access tools Provide professional training to Propeller Dance teachers and dance partner specialists Enhance recreation and outreach initiatives for children, youth and adults of all abilities Provide accessible integrated dance training to all who choose to dance, regardless of financial situation Bring well-being through dance to people living with mental health challenges Build organizational capacity to address community need and support the growth of integrated dance overall Promote Propeller Dance as a leader in Canada for artistic expression through integrated dance INCOME Government grants $180,000 $238,094 Private sector revenue $50,508 $62,166 Earned revenue $43,234 $44,455 Other - - Total revenues $273,742 $389,715 EXPENDITURES Artistic fees $126,454 $168,846 Administration $119,113 $123,342 Programming expenses $9,131 $14,584 Marketing $3,730 $7,177 Fundraising & development $7.978 $7,535 Facility operating expenses $9,092 $14,374 Production $7,109 $16,750 Total expenditures $278,501 $352, Excess (deficiency) of income over expenditures $(8,865) $37,107 Balance, beginning of year $79,041 $70,176 Balance, end of year $70,176 $107,283 Detailed financial statements are available on request.

13 the people Board of Directors Bob Bowes (Chair), Caitlin Crockard, Mary Dufton, William Graham, Monica Song Artist Representative to the Board Liz Winkelaar Artistic & Executive Co-Directors Renata Soutter, Shara Weaver Company Dancers Sylvain Bouchard, Bella Bowes, Robert Chartier, Amelia Griffin, Moni Hoffman, Renata Soutter, Shara Weaver, Liz Winkelaar Guest Dancers Geoff Dollar, Nathalie Joanisse, Siôned Watkins Guest Composer & Musician Jesse Stewart Creative Collaborators Benoit Brunet-Poirier, Michele Decottingnies, Chantal Labonte, Jacques Poulin Denis, Benoit Roy, Julie Anne Ryan, Laurie Shannon, Sarah Waghorn Rehearsal Director Amelia Griffin Artistic Associate Liz Winkelaar Dance Teachers Genevieve Beaulieu, Renata Soutter, Siôned Watkins, Shara Weaver, Liz Winkelaar Guest Teachers Hugh Neilson, Lola Rylan, Susan Sinclair, Siôned Watkins Dance Partner Specialists & Teaching Assistants Geneviève Beaulieu, Bella Bowes, Robert Chartier, Geoff Dollar, Moni Hoffman, Susan Sinclair, Geneviève Sirois-Leclerc, Kira Zanyk-Davey Musicians Angel Araos, Mike Essoudry, Mark Rehder, Jason Sonier Operations Administrative Coordinator: Melissa Kaestner General Manager: Julea Boswell Social Media: Kira Zanyk-Davey Digital Engagement Coordinator: Isinsu Sakalli Outreach Coordinator: Sarah Waisvisz Bookkeeper: JoAnne Sherry Fundraising Advisor: Julia Huffman Special Thanks Propeller extends a huge thanks to the many, many dedicated and valued Propeller artists, collaborators, production staff, friends, fans, donors and volunteers who have generously contributed their time, creativity and financial support towards another successful year of propelling the art of integrated dance forward.

14 our supporters

15 Don't miss Propeller's next great performance at GCTC Studio Theatre June 21-22, Join the movement! Creative dance classes for children, youth and adults A Works-in-Progress featuring emerging choreographer Rob Chartier's new work based on his Wendat ancestry and a creative collaboration created by people with lived experience of psychiatric disability and their allies, directed by Shara Weaver. Classes offered Fall, Winter and Spring Find out more: propellerdance.com/classes, info@propellerdance.com P.O. Box Westboro, 421 Richmond Road Ottawa, ON K2A 4E info@propellerdance.com COVER PHOTO: LIVING THE UNDESIRABLE LIFE, DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY RENATA SOUTTER, PRESENTED BY GCTC IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NAC CANADA SCENE. DANCERS BELLA BOWES, LIZ WINKELAAR, AMELIA GRIFFIN, NATHALIE JOANISSE, SYLVAIN BOUCHARD, SIÔNED WATKINS PHOTO: ANDREW BALFOUR