Anxiety delves into the history, personal stories, and current realities of Indigenous and racialized communities. Led by Simik Komaksiutiksak, artists Cheyenne LeGrande, Courtney Taticek, Chrystal Tam, and Katie Couchie use dance to draw attention to the transformative power of collaboration— its capacity for healing through trust and creativity. In doing so, this performance becomes a safe space for reflection and dialogue, ultimately employing improvisational movement as a vehicle to explore intergenerational trauma. Because the body holds onto memory, anxiety can manifest as unique mannerisms. To address it is to forge new paths, offering an opportunity to question, reflect, and engage with important sociological issues.
Talkback following the January 31st performance moderated by Camille Larivée
Content warning
Colonial violence + High volume
PUBLIC+
→ Audiodescription for visually impaired and semi-vision-impaired spectators
Friday, January 31st — 7:30 p.m.
Audiodescription involves orally and live describing of the visual and sensory elements of a choreographic work, so that it can be transmitted, shared and experienced.
→ Pre-show get-togethers in ASL and LSQ
Friday, January 31st — 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Pre-show get-togethers are offered in ASL and LSQ with MAI’s Deaf cultural mediators, Dominique Ireland and Caroline Hould. The meeting provides an opportunity to discuss the show’s themes, the artists’ backgrounds and the performance’s soundtrack.
→ Anxiety After Party
Saturday, February 1st — Following the 7:30 p.m. performance
Anxiety’s team warmly invites spectators, friends, family and other members of their communities to join in this evening of celebration with DJ Pøptrt!
→ Mumiq:Indigenous Artisans’ Market
Friday, January 31st + Saturday, February 1st — 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
MAI gallery
Come and meet Indigenous artisans before attending Anxiety’s performances on Friday and Saturday!
*Free admission, artwork for sale on site.
ABOUT+
Simik Komaksiutiksak is an artist from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut and now resides in Tio’Tia;ke, also known as Montreal. Their passion for dance emerged at an early age, later gravitating towards dance and circus arts. Simik learned most of their dance training in Ottawa, and began performing arts during their teen years. Simik is a contemporary dancer, circus artist, and a choreographer. Simik has appeared on the APTN documentary-series “Pulse”, modelled at the Indigenous Fashion Arts festival, and tours with Anowara Dance Theatre in the show Sky Dancers. Simik has worked and built relations with established Indigenous and non-Indigenous dancers and artists. Simik is the artistic director of “Anxiety”, their first upcoming dance production, under the mentorship of Lara Kramer through Montreal Arts Intercultural. Simik now works for The Arctic Rose Foundation as the Guest Artist Lead, where they teach dance, creative movement and expressive arts to youth all over Inuit Nunangat as a part of the Messy Book Program. Simik is also a part of the Arctic Rose Foundation’s training team, where they help train other Indigenous dancers and artists to go into the north, to continue a legacy of art and healing within our communities. Simik’s practice has an emphasis on developing a grounded and safe working space mentally, physically and spiritually. Simik’s desire is to explore how we release and free tensions through the expressive body, while connecting generational knowledge and bridging this into dance form and expression.
Credits+
Performers : Cheyenne LeGrande, Courtney Taticek, Chrystal Tam, Katie Couchie, Simik Komaksiutiksak
Video designer : Alexis Vigneault
Lighting designer : Aurora Torok
Residencies and Artist Support : Tangente, CCOV, La Serre, MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels), Danse-cité, Respirations (FTA)
Residency Partner: La Danse sur Les routes du QuébecWith the support of the Inuit Art Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec