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Interview with the Fear Snuggler

by Miryam Coppersmith

Bitten, ass-slapped, manhandled into lifts; many Contact Improvisation (CI) dancers can relate to my experiences of boundary violations at contact jams. The CI world has begun a conversation about consent with some drafting jam guidelines*, others incorporating consent in college courses and other initiatives. 

What We Talk About When We Talk About Death

A discussion of Andrew Henderson and Eroca Nichols’ Taking it to the GraveBy Jillian Groening

On Sunday, October 23, I attended Taking it to the Grave, a performance work that aimed to break the pattern of repressing grief, dress death up in all its glory and laugh in the face of it.

What makes a performance feel truthful? Is there a difference between acting and revealing? What process does lived experience need to undergo to become art? These are questions that gave me pause this weekend as I took in a dozen shows at the Summerworks Performance Festival in Toronto and marvelled at some of the truthfulness I saw on stage – and at how frequently art seemed to have a spillover effect onto real life.

Laughing Our Way to Vulnerability...

By Hannah Rittner / Toronto

Eroca Nicols is a woman soaked in charisma and energy. She is deliberate and playful – the perfect combination for an artist that disarms and changes her audience.

Eroca loves boldly, she honours her impulses, and is audacious with her words, thoughts, and feelings. She has a gift for making the strange become familiar, through humour and cutting insights. This way of being is the driving force behind her festival Badass Dance Fun, which was showcased at Habourfront centre last week. 

I saw Natural choreographed by Meg Foley and Karaoke Dance Project choreographed by Eroca Nicols. Consequently, our interview was shaped by the playful, provocative, and community inspired vibe that permeated both these pieces.

In this interview you will discover Eroca’s gifts in laughter, conversation, and building communities. Look out for this artist that sticks to her choices – is inspired by failure – and is armed for success.

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