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Client Repertoire
Autobiography: chapters one through five
a ground-breaking melding of dance, theatre, state-of-the-art video design and original music by choreographer Gerry Trentham and an international cast of exceptional collaborative performers and artists.
Gerry Trentham weaves together five “chapters” drawing from personal memories evoked by Canada’s coasts, prairies, cities and lakes. Stories and memories intertwine with surprising and revealing moments when we the audience get a rare glimpse into a creator’s journey in creation.
World Premiere: Toronto, December 2003
Cathedral
The delicate and imposing structure of the High Gothic Cathedral plays host to a choral ensemble of ten powerful performers sounding a new music commission by Peter Chin. The work ecplores the beauty and the struggle of the lives lived in the shadow of the Cathedral's form. Dramatic textual and physical realtionships propel unique characters through a humourous and desperate search for a return to innocence in life's last breath.
World Premiere: Toronto, 1998
Duration: 70 minutes
Sisters
This dance/theatre work, originally performed by Hope Terry and Julia Aplin, explores the bond between two rival siblings. As we follow them through their lifetime of sisterhood, humour and passion are strong notes in the range of emotion experienced by these two very different individuals whose relationship has defined much of how they perceive the world.
Premiere: Toronto, 1997
Duration: 25 minutes
Orkney Hill
This is a humourous duet that takes place on top of visual artist Brian E. Scott's 5-foot diameter bowl shaped sculpture. Singing and dancing to Richard Link's/ Laurie Hood's original score, it portrays the moments in which we find ourselves powerfully alone. It is in these moments we can discover the uniqueness we posses. Can this powerful aloneness, singing, dancing, yelling without fear of judgment or rejection alone on the top of a hill, alone yet naive, of loneliness be found in a human partnership; love with true independence?
World Premiere: Toronto, November 1995
Duration: 23 minutes
Drinking From the Cactus
This is contemplative duet. The ornate gestural quality of the movement examines the nature of exploration, where the need to discover and learn overcomes the fear of uncertainty. Drinking From the Cactus is danced to original music composed and performed by John Jowett and is set within Brian E. Scott's beautiful and austere sculptural environment.
World Premiere: Toronto, November 1995
Duration: 17 Minutes
Rogue
This moving, introspective work consists of two solos; one performer moves within the confines of Brian E. Scott's 14-foot hung semi-circular sculpture, the other performer transports a gown with an expansive train that is drawn out across the entire stage. Both solos explore the search for peace of mind.
The first solo reaches out from the perspective of great loss. It is performed by Susanna Hood. The accompaniment of her own voice was composed especially for the work.
The second solo is a metaphorical descent into the pit of one's own thoughts from where it seems impossible to escape.
Premiere: Edmonton, 1994
Duration: 10 minutes
On Beauty
A large group work, On Beauty explores the human need to realize one's own life through others. This work, originnally performed by 25 dancers, employs movement woven with poignant personal text written and directed by Gerry Trentham. Pamela Anthony of the Edmonton Journal said "...Trentham gave some of the best dancers a chance to shine... celebrating beauty for beauty's sake, detached from ego and fear".
Premiere: Edmonton, 1994
Duration: 25 minutes
Falling in Love
A bright, playful, theatrical look at this mysterious moment no one understands. Originally presented with 25 dancers. Movement, songs, fairy tales, larger than life videos and personal experience provide the emotional context for our grand expectation of falling in love.
Premiere: Edmonton, 1994
Duration: 14 minutes
Tuesday
A look inside the home of four very interesting youths. The four siblings, two sisters and two brothers seem an odd family to say the least. As we get to know them we realize they are simply misunderstood, mostly by each other, and are just trying to survive in a very complex world. This short one act play takes place in their kitchen where almost anythind can happen, and it does. The work was created on and performed by students at Edmonton's Victoria Composite School for the Arts. It is ideal for student audiences and is performed by actors of their own age.
Premiere: Edmonton, 1994
Duration: 20 minutes
Laugh or Cry
This is a poignant solo dance originally performed by Toronto dance artist Sarah Chase. When the world is nasty, brutish and lonely she retreats inside herself to find strength. She speaks to the audience about the power she has within her and moves to a powerful Vivaldi Concerto.
Premiere: Toronto, 1993
Duration: 7 minutes
Musical Chairs
Video Capture of Musical Chairs performed by the Canadian Children's Dance Theatre in 1994 A fun-loving, playful work that has been performed throughout Canada by The Canadian Children's Dance Theatre. It has become one the the company's signature pieces. It is a clownish, thatrical and humourous look into the not so humourous aspects of human nature that will go to any lengths to win.
Premiere: Toronto, 1993
Duration: 10 minutes
For more information, please contact Dance Umbrella of Ontario (416) 504-6429 ext. 22 or duo@danceumbrella.net
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Photo Credits: Gerry Trentham / Photo by Jamoe O'Neil / Card Design by John Mark Sherlock
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