Remembering Amelia

Remembering Amelia’ Interactive Exhibit and Gathering

The tour of the ‘Remembering Amelia’ project celebrates the life and work of dance elder Amelia Itcush. As a dance artist, teacher, mentor, fitness pioneer, healer and one of the country’s finest somatic movement analysts, Amelia gifted her communities with an astonishing body of work that is relevant to all people looking to release movement potential, heal injury or create work.

Presented by New Dance Horizons (Regina, SK) touring seven locations around Canada and funded by Canada Council for the Arts, Saskatchewan Arts Board and Dance Saskatchewan Inc. this interactive exhibit of drawings, movement toys, and video acts to serve as a public inquiry into the past and future impact of the Itcush Method.

A three day gathering at each location invites the public to take part in dance performances, workshops and conversations exploring a rich reservoir of body teachings inspired by Amelia Itcush. With special interest to artists, health practitioners, and those looking for alternatives to physical rehabilitation.

Exhibition

Curated by Robin Poitras and assisted by Ashley Johnson, the Remembering Amelia exhibit is conceived as a site-specific ‘virtual dance studio’. This space includes a display of Amelia’s drawings depicting her bodywork ideas installed alongside select film and video, including documentary footage that is carefully drawn and presented from Amelia’s life-work: 30 years of dance-inspired body teachings.

Amelia Itcush in ‘Angelic Visitations #1′ David Earle 1962

Itcush into Dance class in Regina, SK

Gathering

Interviews and conversations with artists, practitioners and students in each of the touring cities compliment the screenings. At each site exhibition site, Robin and Ashley conduct public conversations about Amelia’s work, lead workshops, classes and private sessions and perform along with key partners in studio dance performances, influenced by Amelia’s teachings. Visitors will have an opportunity to explore the virtual studio, workshop, performance and public dialogues in order to consider Amelia’s ideas as proposed through her unique practice.

Tour Dates and Locations

1. MacKenzie Art Gallery and New Dance Horizons (Regina, SK)
February and April 2013

Presenters: Robin Poitras, Ashley Johnson, Kana Nemoto, Kathy Morgan, Elaine Hanson, Connie Moker-Wernikowski, Chihiro Tsubota, Davida Monk, Dr. Francine Morin, Jennifer Mascall, Susan McKenzie, Ronnie Yee, Benoit Lachambre.

Presenters Kana, Chihiro, Robin and Ashley

Empty sock exercise display

Dancers Studio West (Calgary) gathering November 2013

2. Chapel Gallery (North Battleford, SK)
May 2013

Presenters: Robin Poitras, Kathy Morgan, Ashley Johnson, Kana Nemoto.

3. Open Space Artist Society (Victoria, BC)
August 2013

Presenters: Robin Poitras, Ashley Johnson.

4. Dance Centre (Vancouver, BC)
September 2013

Presenters: Robin Poitras, Ashley Johnson, Kana Nemoto, Elaine Hanson, Susan MacKenzie, Jennifer Mascall

Itcush Method class with Ashley Johnson

Two Chair prop demonstration by Ashley Johnson

5. Dancers Studio West (Calgary, AB)
November 2013

Presenters: Robin Poitras, Ashley Johnson, Kana Nemoto, Davida Monk.