Coexisdance is a curated evening of short (10-15 minute) improvised duets and small ensembles comprised of sound and movement artists.
We come together in the spirit of collaborative exploration, investigation and adventure.
We come together in the spirit of collaborative exploration, investigation and adventure.
Show Program
Wonderful Artists
Brigita Gedgaudas
Brigita Gedgaudas is an emerging, interdisciplinary, trans*, and diasporic-Lithuanian artist working in so-called Toronto. Coalescing from a life-long practice of Lithuanian folk dance, involvement in the Punking/Whacking/Waacking community, and training in new media art and vertical dance techniques — Brigita amalgamates these histories into one human shell. Finding home in a glitch’s persistent ability to reconfigure and reframe a person’s approach to digital systems, Brigita extends this into explorations of the queer body in heteronormative reality.Existing between disciplines and artistic communities, Brigita has collaborated and worked with Hercinia Arts Collective, PriXm, Chimerik 似不像, and others in myriad capacities ranging from collaborator, designer, artistic associate, and performer. Their work has screened/exhibited/performed at The Bentway, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, and more.
Olivia Shortt
(Nipissing First Nation) Olivia Shortt is an improviser, video artist, and composer described as a “glittering, rising star in the exploratory music firmament” (Musicworks Magazine) and named one of “6 Indigenous composers you need to know in 2024” (CBC). Performance Highlights: The Whitney Biennial (NYC), The Holland Festival (Amsterdam) and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (Washington). Iconic moments include appearing and playing saxophone on CBC Kids’ ‘Gary the Unicorn’ and lending their voice off-screen for Season 3 of ‘Chucky’. Shortt is a graduate of Dartmouth College (USA) and the University of Toronto.
Nyda Kwasowsky
Nyda Kwasowsky a freelance multidisciplinary dance artist, interpreter, performer and emerging choreographer based out of Tsi Tkaronto.‘This body has the role of remembering, dance as the action that collects us.’ Her work centers around grief, hybridity and belonging in racialized diasporic experience. Studied in trauma informed practices and somatics, she scores multidisciplinary improvisational and experimental explorations. Her most recent explorations look at the intersections of movement and cultural materiality.
Libydo
explores movements ignited by the spark of imagination, fueled and embodied from aspects of Hip Hop culture to personal mystical experiences;)
%%30%30
%%30%30 is the collaborative pseudonym of Colin Cudmore, a Toronto-based experimental percussionist, also known as _53d8ZxP in solo settings.
Gregory Harrison
Gregory Harrison is a dynamic and multifaceted musician, composer and producer based in Toronto. He is an East Coast Music Award-winning and Dora Award nominated composer whose works have been commissioned by Soft Rains Games, Toronto Dance Theatre, Kaeja d'Dance, ProArte Danza, Architek Percussion, Fifth Wind Quintet, Popular Demand Pictures, and Hemmings House Productions. Praised as a 'percussion and electronics wizard' (Bob Boilen of NPR Music), Gregory thrives on pushing boundaries and exploring the intersection of organic and electronic mediums through his mastery of music technology and performance. His audio recording work and compositions have been featured on programs such as Steven King’s Popsy (Popular Demand Pictures), CBC Gem’s Kim’s Convenience, Pixelmatic’s Infinite Fleet and France’s Got Talent. You can see Gregory perform regularly with his groups: Grej, Taktus marimba duo, Mear, Disaster Pony, and The Cybertronic Spree.
Larissa Christoff
Larissa Christoff is a dancer born and raised in Toronto. Larissa began their dance journey at Swansea School of Dance studying tap, jazz, and ballet. Today they find the most joy studying tap and modern dance. They currently train and perform with the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre. Larissa is also a student at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, where they merge their interest in creating with their studies in math and science.
Eyeduh (modular synth)
Viktor Kei (violin)
Brigita Gedgaudas
Brigita Gedgaudas is an emerging, interdisciplinary, trans*, and diasporic-Lithuanian artist working in so-called Toronto. Coalescing from a life-long practice of Lithuanian folk dance, involvement in the Punking/Whacking/Waacking community, and training in new media art and vertical dance techniques — Brigita amalgamates these histories into one human shell. Finding home in a glitch’s persistent ability to reconfigure and reframe a person’s approach to digital systems, Brigita extends this into explorations of the queer body in heteronormative reality.Existing between disciplines and artistic communities, Brigita has collaborated and worked with Hercinia Arts Collective, PriXm, Chimerik 似不像, and others in myriad capacities ranging from collaborator, designer, artistic associate, and performer. Their work has screened/exhibited/performed at The Bentway, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, and more.
Olivia Shortt
(Nipissing First Nation) Olivia Shortt is an improviser, video artist, and composer described as a “glittering, rising star in the exploratory music firmament” (Musicworks Magazine) and named one of “6 Indigenous composers you need to know in 2024” (CBC). Performance Highlights: The Whitney Biennial (NYC), The Holland Festival (Amsterdam) and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (Washington). Iconic moments include appearing and playing saxophone on CBC Kids’ ‘Gary the Unicorn’ and lending their voice off-screen for Season 3 of ‘Chucky’. Shortt is a graduate of Dartmouth College (USA) and the University of Toronto.
Nyda Kwasowsky
Nyda Kwasowsky a freelance multidisciplinary dance artist, interpreter, performer and emerging choreographer based out of Tsi Tkaronto.‘This body has the role of remembering, dance as the action that collects us.’ Her work centers around grief, hybridity and belonging in racialized diasporic experience. Studied in trauma informed practices and somatics, she scores multidisciplinary improvisational and experimental explorations. Her most recent explorations look at the intersections of movement and cultural materiality.
Libydo
explores movements ignited by the spark of imagination, fueled and embodied from aspects of Hip Hop culture to personal mystical experiences;)
%%30%30
%%30%30 is the collaborative pseudonym of Colin Cudmore, a Toronto-based experimental percussionist, also known as _53d8ZxP in solo settings.
Gregory Harrison
Gregory Harrison is a dynamic and multifaceted musician, composer and producer based in Toronto. He is an East Coast Music Award-winning and Dora Award nominated composer whose works have been commissioned by Soft Rains Games, Toronto Dance Theatre, Kaeja d'Dance, ProArte Danza, Architek Percussion, Fifth Wind Quintet, Popular Demand Pictures, and Hemmings House Productions. Praised as a 'percussion and electronics wizard' (Bob Boilen of NPR Music), Gregory thrives on pushing boundaries and exploring the intersection of organic and electronic mediums through his mastery of music technology and performance. His audio recording work and compositions have been featured on programs such as Steven King’s Popsy (Popular Demand Pictures), CBC Gem’s Kim’s Convenience, Pixelmatic’s Infinite Fleet and France’s Got Talent. You can see Gregory perform regularly with his groups: Grej, Taktus marimba duo, Mear, Disaster Pony, and The Cybertronic Spree.
Larissa Christoff
Larissa Christoff is a dancer born and raised in Toronto. Larissa began their dance journey at Swansea School of Dance studying tap, jazz, and ballet. Today they find the most joy studying tap and modern dance. They currently train and perform with the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre. Larissa is also a student at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, where they merge their interest in creating with their studies in math and science.
Eyeduh (modular synth)
Viktor Kei (violin)
Curatorial and Vision Statement for coexisDance
coexisDance was always envisioned as meeting place for artists of diverse styles and backgrounds. coexisDance founder Colin Anthony was deft at programming a balance of ambitious emerging professionals, established artists and community artists. He always left a profound curatorial mark on the programme with his characteristic simplicity, wisdom and vision.
The organizing team of coexisDance aim to make this commitment to inclusivity stronger than ever, to keep the artistry high and the vibe heartwarming. In this way we curate on the basis of equity, a vision for growing and deepening the community and a desire to showcase the most amazing improvisation. Here are some commitments that are applied when putting together each coexisDance programme:
After artists are selected the curators uses their own artistic judgment to create ensembles that will offer an exciting and balanced show. In general, coexisDance shows will feature small ensembles and will have each artist perform twice in a night in order to allow for a bigger artistic statement. As a result, there is usually only room for 8-11 performers each show.
We hope that this statement is clarifying to all that apply to perform and hope that everyone who applies will be patient and flexible and keep attending the shows!
To many more Coexisdance adventures <3
Raphael Roter & Brenda Joy Lem
The organizing team of coexisDance aim to make this commitment to inclusivity stronger than ever, to keep the artistry high and the vibe heartwarming. In this way we curate on the basis of equity, a vision for growing and deepening the community and a desire to showcase the most amazing improvisation. Here are some commitments that are applied when putting together each coexisDance programme:
- Meaningfully Including at artists of colour and indigenous artists.
- Including emerging and next generation artists.
- Including artists who are new to coexisDance.
After artists are selected the curators uses their own artistic judgment to create ensembles that will offer an exciting and balanced show. In general, coexisDance shows will feature small ensembles and will have each artist perform twice in a night in order to allow for a bigger artistic statement. As a result, there is usually only room for 8-11 performers each show.
We hope that this statement is clarifying to all that apply to perform and hope that everyone who applies will be patient and flexible and keep attending the shows!
To many more Coexisdance adventures <3
Raphael Roter & Brenda Joy Lem
We would like to gratefully acknowledge funding support from the Ontario Arts Council, the Government of Ontario for their support.
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