Grow, Deepen, Expand

To accompany the presentation of unmoored, we welcome dance artists Peggy Baker and Sarah Chase for an open-ended conversation that may reflect on issues of memory, the preservation of performance, and the regenerative possibilities of archives, among other stories and themes related to their practices. This conversation will be moderated by Abigail Sebaly, Western Front’s Documentary Heritage Community Program Archivist, and a one-time dance student of both Baker and Chase.

The talk can be attend in-person or online via a livestream here.

About the Artists

Peggy Baker has been a vivid presence in contemporary dance since 1973, performing internationally in the work of esteemed Canadian and American choreographers. She established Peggy Baker Dance Projects in 1990, and for the first 20 years she dedicated herself to solo performance, winning praise for the eloquence and depth of her dancing, and accolades for her collaborative partnerships with musicians and designers. Since 2010 her choreography has focused on works for small ensemble. Over its 32-year history Peggy Baker Dance Projects has been presented at major festivals and dance venues across Canada, the U.S., Europe, South America, and South East Asia. Artist-in-Residence at Canada’s National Ballet School, Peggy’s many honours include the Walter Carsen Prize, the Governor General’s Award, the Premier’s Award, the Order of Canada, six Doras, the George Luscombe Mentorship Award, and honorary doctorates from the University of Calgary and York University.

Sarah Chase is a performer and choreographer whose distinctive signature has garnered her an international reputation. Her work has been presented across Canada and Europe for over twenty-five years, at such venues as the National Arts Centre (Ottawa), Festival TransAmerique (Montreal), DanceHouse (Vancouver), the Holland Dance Festival, Klapstuk Festival (Belgium), Salzburg Szene Festival (Austria), Kaaitheater (Belgium), Tanz Quartier (Vienna), Fondation Cartier (Paris) and Theater der Welt (Germany). She has performed and toured with Benôit Lachambre’s Dance par B. Lieux, and German choreographer Raimund Hoghe, and has created work for many Canadian artists including Toronto Dance Theatre, Peggy Baker Dance Projects, Marc Boivin, Andrea Nann, Heidi Strauss and Darryl Tracy, Theatre Replacement, Jacinte Armstrong, and Montreal Danse. Sarah is the recipient of the 2004 Jacqueline Lemieux Award for Excellence from the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Prize of the Festival at the 2006 Munich Dance Biennale for her piece The Passenger. She is an associate dance artist of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Acknowledgments

Presented in partnership with EDAM (Experimental Dance and Music) and with the support of the Government of Canada.