1. POLITICAL MOTHER Canadian Stage, October 24 to 28
UK-based Hofesh Shechter’s indictment of political machinery and indoctrination thrilled. It was fast, loud and slick, but it was the humanistic spirit of the movement that got me through the weird draggy bit in the middle.
2. RARE MIX Toronto Dance Theatre, November 6 to 10
Mixing old (Against Sleep by Toronto Dance Theatre co-founder Patricia Beatty) and new (Jean-Sébastien Lourdais’s Etrange) with a revival of seldom-seen beauties Four Towers and Vena Cava by TDT artistic director Christopher House resulted in a triumphantly well-rounded and thoughtful evening of contemporary dance.
3. AWÁA Aszure Barton & Artists/Rose Theatre, November 22
I had to travel to Brampton’s Rose Theatre to catch this, since no Toronto presenter participated in the company’s extensive cross-country tour. A shame, because Aszure Barton is an innovative choreographer in full flight here, and her dancers are powerful and tender.
4. ENTITY Random Dance/World Stage, February 28 to March 3
From UK’s Wayne McGregor and Random Dance came a rigorous amalgamation of mile-a-minute dance and stunning backdrop visuals – cold as ice, white hot.
5. AGUAS/WATERS Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company/NextSteps, April 19 to 22
Esmeralda Enrique’s 30th anniversary show was engaging, committed and ferocious, with amazing artistry from hometown dancers and musicians and guest artist Juan Ogalla from Spain. In all, a fitting celebration of Toronto’s flamenco doyenne – who can still kick it, by the way.
Runners-up
SADEH21 (Ohad Naharin and Batsheva) From The House Of Mirth (Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie, choreographed by James Kudelka) Lucinda Childs’s solos and “field dances” in Einstein On The Beach (Luminato/Pomegranate Arts)
Disappointments
DARK MATTERS by Kidd Pivot/Crystal Pite – The theatrical first half was irritating and pretentious, the dancey second half (with some exceptional moments) boring.
THE NATIONAL BALLET’S HAMLET – Kevin O’Day’s choreography didn’t give the dancers a lot to work with. I wish I’d seen the second cast with Piotr Stanczyk as the brooding Dane, though.
Dubious trends
Dance on TV in train-wreck reality shows like DANCE MOMS. And contemporary dancers performing in socks.
