Mocean Dance

Huge thanks to our season sponsor Boone Contracting for supplying some heavy duty fans to test things out in the theatre! We love you! Pictured: Mocean company member Gillian Seaward-Boone showing off the fans, featuring a thumbs up from Co-Artistic Director Sara Coffin who stopped by for a theatre visit! :D

We are bursting with gratitude for the generous donations made this holiday season to support our community of dancers. This year has been challenging, but people like you remind us what a privilege it is to be a part of such a caring community. Wishing every single one of you the best that 2021 has to offer! Susanne, Julie, Deanna and Larry

Happy New Year! We are thrilled to be able to get back into the studio this week. Join us for the first classes of 2021 - Contemporary Tuesdays January 5 + 12 from 10-11:30am at Halifax Dance with Mocean company member Lydia Zimmer. See Lydia’s class description below: It is a basic improv class, but I want us to stay moving for long periods of time to get our brains and bodies linked again after being dormant for so long.... This class is built on improvisational modes that... focus on leading with specific body parts. The class is built for professional dance artists, but open to all movers. There will be no set phrases to learn, instead we will have tasks to remember and let evolve! Find the registration link on the event page! : Cooked Photography

To wrap up the year, we’d like to thank two more Mocean Dance sponsors: The Halliburton & Fox Transport Canada! The Halliburton Hotel has been Mocean’s accommodation sponsor for over 15 years! We are so proud to host artists at this charming, heritage, hotel in the heart of Halifax, and the artists love the intimate experience that only a boutique hotel like the Halliburton can offer. We are so thankful for Halliburton's friendship and generosity over the years. Fox Transp...ort became a Mocean sponsor in 2018 giving us the gift of much needed storage for our props and costumes. Fox Transport are experts in moving and storage, so next time you need a job done give them a call - their friendly, professional service is top notch! There is still time to donate to our holiday campaign and help us reach our $5000 goal! Click the link below to support artists this year and get a tax receipt: https://moceandance.com/supporters/support-mocean

2020 has been full of ups, downs and unexpected turns, but as we look back we are reminded what a privilege it is to do what we do. Here is a little compilation of our 2020-21 season so far with our exceptional community of dancers and dance lovers - Enjoy! Generosity of people like you has brought us so close to reaching our goal of $5000 by December 31st! If you haven't had a chance yet to donate to support local artists and local creation, click the link in bio and you'll receive a 2020 tax receipt. We are so close to reaching our goal!

Our very own Co-Artistic Director Susanne Chui is featured in the Nov/Dec issue of The Dance Current! Susanne, along with Canadian dance artists Letabby Lexington, Julio Montero, Natasha Powell and Liz Winkelaar, share what they think 2021 has in store. Make sure to grab a copy!

We've been having a blast helping facilitate audition sessions for a new creation project: The Understory, directed and choreographed by Rebecca Lazier (NY/NS), in collaboration with Princeton University (NJ), Breaking Circus (Halifax), and Live Art Dance (Halifax)! Many thanks to Breaking Circus for hosting the audition sessions and providing their lovely space!

Sending you warmth, love and health for this unusual holiday season. We are so grateful for a community as resilient and supportive as you are! We have some exciting projects on the go and we can't wait for when we can share them with you all, whether that is virtually or in-person. If you haven't yet, please consider a donation to support the work of local artists during these unprecedented times by clicking the link below! We are so close to reaching our goal - show your support here: https://moceandance.com/supporters/support-mocean : Dancer Anastasia Wiebe in Wild Within. Photo by Kevin MacCormack.

One year ago today was the premiere of Wild Within, a piece about trusting and discovering our wild bodies and the instincts that guide us. Created & Directed by @saracoffin how the time flies! : @ju.robs @skinner1georgia @anastasiawiebe @zimmerlj ... : @foxandfellowphoto #halifaxdancers #halifaxchoreography #novascotiandancers #canadianchoreography #memories #dancersofcanada #madeincanada See more

*UPCOMING EVENT* The Creative Music Workshop: 2021 Winter Weekend Virtual Session is a 3-day virtual Creative Music Workshop led by Jerry Granelli and his CMW faculty on January 15-17, 2021. This workshop is open to absolutely everyone, whether you are a dancer, musician, or someone who is simply interested in improvisation as a way of learning. The weekend will include meditation instruction, listening exercises, movement and embodiment practice, faculty concerts, and discussions surrounding spontaneous composition techniques. Participants will work with improvisation and creativity as a daily activity - all from the comfort of your home. Click the FB event for registration links and info!

Baby Maya is enjoying her beautiful blanket made by original Mocean supporter and early designer/collaborator Holly Crooks. Over the years (since 2001!) Holly has shown her love and support to the company and all the Mocean Mama’s! Holly was Mocean’s early photographer and costume designer and still a #1 fan! Thank you Holly. #dancefamily #madewithlove #crochet #grateful

Mocean Dance is seeking movement-based artists for The Understory, a new off-ground work directed and choreographed by Rebecca Lazier (NY/NS), in collaboration with Princeton University (NJ), Breaking Circus (Halifax), and Live Art Dance (Halifax). Professional dance artists, circus artists, movement improvisers, aerialists, and other movement-based artists are encouraged to apply. We welcome and encourage people from all communities and intersecting identities to apply. This includes Indigenous people, LGBTQ+ & Two-Spirit people, Black people and people of colour. Find more info at https://moceandance.com/event/call-artists

Mocean is thrilled to host Diana Rutherford who will lead professional morning ballet classes all through November. Join us every Thursday from 10-11:30AM at Halifax Dance (Info on our website moceandance.com). More on Diana below: Based in K’jipuktuk/Halifax, Diana Rutherford is a teacher, choreographer, and continuing dance education advocate. Diana is a graduate of the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School and York University (Honours... BFA in Dance). She holds teaching qualifications at the Licentiate level with Cecchetti Canada and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. Diana also holds Advanced 2 examination certificates from Cecchetti Canada and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). Originally from Owen Sound, Ontario, Diana began her dancing career in both ballet and highland dance. As a highland competitor, she represented Canada across North America and Scotland and was a scholarship recipient and award winner in both highland and ballet. Diana has performed across Canada and the United States. In her former role as Dean of Dance at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, Diana had the opportunity to teach students across Atlantic Canada, collaborate with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, and produce multiple full-length ballets. She is a certified Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) teacher and combines concepts from Stott Pilates Mat with PBT into her classes. She is an active member of the Nova Scotia arts and culture scene and has served on the boards of Votive Dance and the Nova Scotia Talent Trust. Diana is looking forward to working in collaboration with the artists of Mocean Dance. Photo: Timothy Richard Photography