Re:Imagingings (Time, Place an' Movement)

Re:Imaginings (Time, Place An’ Movement) is an innovative new interactive dance “docu-formance” celebrating KasheDance’s 13th anniversary. “So what if you hoot, holla, buss laugh, clap yuh han / stamp yuh foot an’ have a good time?” Re:Imaginings is a creative collaboration between artists which has been five years in the making, and boasts two prior sold out showcases in 2018. KasheDance’s Artistic Director and show choreographer, Kevin A. Ormsby, aims for Re:Imaginings to serve as a testament to the resilience of Caribbean culture in Canada, which is particularly powerful in these unprecedented times. In person audience members and viewers of the virtual edition of the performances are invited to celebrate the rich cultural expression of the Caribbean.

Informed by Caribbean impact on Canada, which dates back to 1796, Re:Imaginings questions the connections of time, place and movement to BPM (beats per minute) used to recognize sounds, resonance and syncopation in music. Instigated by Canada’s 150th celebration, Re:Imaginings is a deep inquiry into the nuanced histories of Caribbean Canadians through Caribbean rhythms, celebrations and cultural practices. As part of the pre-show exhibition, attendees are invited to peruse a selection of research materials, along with a series of cultural artifacts and physical objects. The performances begin with a physical land acknowledgement, which highlight Indigeneity to the lands of the Western Hemisphere, of which the Caribbean archipelago is part.

Re:Imaginings is formed by abstracts from the French, Spanish, and English influences of the Caribbean, and uses this history to shape experiences through music. Re:Imaginings also features research footage from the Caribbean, along with photographs depicting Caribbean life and demonstrations of various Caribbean cultural ritual and ceremonial practices.