Photo Credit: Mat Simpson
The month-long dance residency with Janita Frantsi and Kathleen Hughes at the University of Alberta Hospital wraps up with a vibrant performance that brings dance, joy, and connection into unexpected hospital spaces.
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Movement Beyond the Frame continues the exploration of how dance and painting meet inside and beyond the gallery. From a blank canvas, dance activates the frame and pushes the painting outward, transforming it into a living, three-dimensional moving sculpture. With dance, live painting, and live music, this immersive multidisciplinary work experiments with artmaking in both gallery and hospital settings, inviting people nearby to co-create.
This performance is informed by the work the artists undertook during the residency, the connections they formed with patients and staff, and the hospital's spaces.
Dancers: Janita Frantsi and Kathleen Hughes
Visual art/painting: Ania Telfer
Music: Sebastien Bolessa
Technical direction: Ryan Telfer
Costumes: Tamara Bliss (unitards), Linda Martinez (fabrics and biketard adjustments)
Poster photos: Mat Simpson
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Dancers: Janita Frantsi
Janita Frantsi is a contemporary dance artist from Finland and now based in Amiskwacîwâskahikan. During her time in Edmonton, Janita has worked as a dancer with several companies, such as Mile Zero Dance, KO Dance Projects, and Edmonton Opera, and created works for SkirtsAFire, MZD’s Magpie Collection and Cabarets, Nextfest, Alberta Culture Days (Calgary, AB), International Dance Week (Saskatoon, SK), and most recently International Dancing Week at the Palacký University, Czech Republic. Some of Janita’s latest work has been with dance and film, with her most recent film, One With, receiving the Best Edmonton Film Award at the International Festival of Winter Cinema 2023. Janita has a Master of Arts in Dance from the University of Alberta that continues to inspire her to find new spaces and ways for dance to exist in our world.
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Kathleen Hughes, originally from Edmonton, Alberta, began her love of dance with ballet training at an early age. She was later introduced to Modern dance while attending a dance program at Grant McEwan College. Her love of creating dances has brought her to produce and co-produce, choreograph and perform in many dance productions for Niagara Dance Company, KHDA and several independent projects.Description text goes here
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Ania Telfer, a Baha’i, intuitive, multidisciplinary artist, third-culture kid, second-generation Canadian, of Polish descent, was born in Tkaronto (Toronto) and currently resides in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). She studied painting in Italy, holds a graduate certificate in expressive arts and a minor in photography. Recipient of an individual 2019 grant and a 2023 collective grant from the Edmonton Arts Council, Ania's work is a testament to her dedication to expanding creative horizons while fostering interdisciplinary collaborations. With a background in expressive arts therapy, counseling, and photography, Ania's work transcends traditional boundaries, encompassing paintings, mentorship, dance collaborations, multi-media, installations, eco-art, and interactive experiences. Ania's work as an arts-based Certified Canadian Counsellor informs her belief in the transformative power of creativity, intertwining healing, spirituality, and artistic expression. Through her practice, she aims to invite viewers into realms of wonder and self-discovery, evoking profound moments of joyful possibility and perception. Ania’s dedication to pushing artistic boundaries and nurturing collaborative networks reflects her vision of art as a catalyst for personal and societal transformation.
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Sebastien Bolessa is a therapy-minded musician, Yoga instructor, avid explorer of body movement and former martial artist based in Edmonton, Alberta/ Amiskwaciwâskahikan (treaty 6). Accompanying dancers, workshop participants, Yoga practitioners, hospital patients, and more, he seeks to nonverbally narrate our lives. Influenced by the purpose of film soundtracks, he loves the magic of live-looping and creating entire soundscapes on the spot. Sebastien draws from the sounds of the Violin, his voice, electronic drum, Djembe drum, and more.
You can find Sebastien's recent EP release, in collaboration with Little Symphony, on all streaming platforms and his social media by searching, “Sebastien Bolessa Music, Movement, and Yoga” on Instagram or Facebook.
Sebastien's headshot credit: Manpreet Singh
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Ryan began his journey in the arts as a Theatre Production student at Grant Macewan College (now University), and quickly transitioned into the professional realm and hasn’t stopped since. Over the past 2 and a half decades he has helped a variety of organisations and companies bring their artistic visions to life including Freewill Players, Northern Light Theatre, St Albert Children's Festival, Nextfest, Edmonton Fringe Festival, Vinok Worldance, Arts on the Ave (Kaliedo & Deep Freeze festivals), Edmonton International Street Performers Festival, Silver Skate Festival and DARK. He is a familiar face at performing arts centres, theatres, venues, festivals and corporate events across the Edmonton region. Recent highlights include being Technical Director for DARK at Fort Edmonton Park, Site Coordinator for the Silver Skate Festival, and monitor tech for the Rainmaker Rodeo. Ryan is a current Board Member and Treasurer of the Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta. As a dedicated professional, Ryan is committed to advancing the arts and culture landscape by continuing to be involved in creating exceptional experiences for performers and audiences alike.