Member Feature

Tamar Zehava Tabori is an emerging dance and video artist. She received a BFA in Contemporary Dance from Montreal’s Concordia University, has created and performed work across Canada and Internationally (on stage and on screen), and has received commissions for both production and instruction roles. Tamar has had the honour to interpret for and learn from Jeanette Kotowich, Company 605, Petrikor Danse, Stéphanie Cyr, Julie Chapple (Future Leisure), The Falling Company, and other artists she admires. She collaborates with artists across disciplines including new media artist Kivanç Tatar, and writer Hannah Karpinski. She maintains an active engagement with the dance community, locally, nationally, and internationally, using digital platforms as sites of creative exchange and connectivity.

Justin Calvadores is a freelance contemporary dance artist based on the un-ceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. They grew up on Treaty No. 1 territory; at the age of they 16 were introduced to dance through a Filipino led hip hop dance community. Justin completed two years of training with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and is a graduate of the Arts Umbrella dance program. Justin has danced with Ballet BC as an emerging artist under the direction of Emily Molnar and continued their contemporary dance career with Ballet Edmonton.

As freelance performer Justin has worked with companies such as Nicole Von Arx and Guests, Mile Zero, Wen Wei Dance, Inverso Productions, and FakeKnot. They are continuing to create and perform work with creators such as Isak Enquist, Dumb Instrument Dance, Lesley Telford, Heather Myers, Alyssa Favero, Kelly McInnes, Daria Mikhaylyuk, Mascall Dance and The Falling Company.

Shana Wolfe is a dance artist currently based in so-called Vancouver, Canada on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She completed the Arts Umbrella Graduate Program in 2017 where she toured internationally to the Netherlands, performing in the ITS Festival and Netherlands Dans Theater’s Shortcuts XL’17. She then joined Ballet BC as an apprentice for their 2017/2018 season performing “BILL” by Sharon Eyal throughout England and in Germany for the Movimentos - Autostadt festival and performed on stages such as The Laguna Playhouse in California USA and Sadler Wells in London England. Shana attended Springboard Danse Montreal in 2018 where she performed works by Margie Gillis (The Legacy Project), and Michael Getman. As a freelance performer she has been working locally with OURO Collective, The Falling Company and artists such as Cindy Mochizuki, Lisa Gelley and Justin Calvadores. She was recently a dancer for the Edmonton Operas performance of Orphée+ with choreographer Nicole Von Arx.

What has been your experience working with The Falling Company?

Tamar Tabori

This project aligns with my desire to build and explore new (and exciting) avenues that reconfigure my understanding of dance performance. Exploring different practices is something I actively seek in my own artistic work. It allows me to continue reaching beyond my technical limitations. These creative unions generate conversations between art forms, and this principle of ongoing exchange is a prominent through-line in projects I take on. Working with Marissa and The Falling Company continually offers a space where I get to learn new tools and skills. It anchors me in a practice where I can dive into our innate humanity as a way to better understand our daily, inner choreographies. Every time we gather to grow this work my approach to dance creation expands and swirls. It allows me to connect to, learn from, and grow alongside other artists that I admire and look up to. I am deeply passionate about the outcomes this work can generate, and look forward to seeing the impact Family Room will have.

Justin Calvadores

I chose to take on this project, as I am interested in utilizing my unique experience to create and embody a character within a contemporary dance work. Currently, I am keen to participate in projects that allow me to bring forth my authenticity as a queer second generation Filipinx artist. The Falling Company operates within a set of values that prioritize inclusivity and growth. Entering the project I knew Marissa would be attentive in supporting me and the knowledge that I bring to the space. We share a common understanding of movement languages and values. During our research periods we practice taking risk, moving with and through un-comfortability, and being curious about authentic embodiment. Marissa encourages us to acknowledge and express the range of sensations that come along with being a performer. We explore courage, joy, pleasure, fear, shame, anger.. the list goes on. The work that I do with TFC, is done in an environment that prioritizes transparency, communication and play. As a whole, I feel that we are all keen to discover new ways of creating contemporary dance. I admire Marissa for leading a company built on respect, care, and one that is geared toward innovation. I look forward to continuing our creative endeavours and seeing how our work in the studio unravels

Shana Wolfe

I chose to participate in this project because I felt drawn to this collective of artists as well as Marissa's own practice. Having been observing Marissa and her work over the past few years she has demonstrated that investigating oneself thoroughly in a sustainable way before creating on and with others is a powerful way of leading. I chose to work with The Falling Company because I felt as though I trusted the previous work that Marissa had done with herself. As a contemporary dancer who has been working with street dancers for the past two years I know that the ability to be willing to share, communicate and be curious is key in developing a particular dialogue. As I carry with me my own individual practice of curiosity towards intuitive movement, practising new explicit genres and techniques of others can draw focus on process and collaboration rather than a final product of performance - something that is very inline with Marissa's way of creating. 

Fall into the excitement

Catch these three artists dancing in Family Room in collaboration with Marissa next week!

April 26th | 6pm | @ The Dance Centre

Update:

Photos by Sewari Campillo