Artist Feature
Q & A with Aria Evans
Artistic Director Political Movement
Aria is a Toronto-based award-winning interdisciplinary artist working in dance creation, performance, and film. She draws on her experiences as a woman of mixed race (Mi’kmaq/Black/settler heritage) to capture meaningful social and cultural themes through her interactive art. Collaboration is the departure point to the work that she creates through her company Political Movement. She was co-Artistic Director of hub14 from 2013-2018. Her work has been supported by Volcano Theatre, Nightswimming Theatre, Jumblies Theatre, Native Earth, and b current. Aria has presented her own choreographic work with DanceWorks, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Theatre New Brunswick, The Toronto Concert Orchestra, Ontario Culture Days, Soulpepper, SummerWorks, Nightwood Theatre, University of Toronto, HarbourKIDS, Native Earth, Toronto Fringe, FRESH BLOOD, Gardiner Museum, Harbourfront Centre’s Next Step Series, Series 808 and Dance Ontario, Long Winter, Labspace Studio, and many more. She has presented her work in both North America and Europe. www.ariaevans.com
What are the central points of interest that drive your creative practice?
My creative practice is driven by uncovering the things that link us and bring us together as human beings. I am interested in intersections and how dance can act as a bridge between languages.
What’s the inspiration for Link, the piece you bring to Matriarchs Uprising?
I wanted to create a warrior dance that looked at how we can overcome the things that hold us back in life. I was curious what my generation was fighting for and against and used that question to propel the work forward.
How did you meet your collaborators? Tell us a bit about your process.
I invited folks into rehearsals that had links to me in some way (culturally, movement practise, values) to help develop the material. I wanted to challenge myself as I think traditionally warriors were constantly being challenged. The artists that shared space with me also shared their experiences and ideas around the questions I am asking in this work. The movement was created collectively through guided explorations and improvisations.
What do you want to communicate or offer to audiences through your work?
I always want an audience member to leave with questions. Questions about themselves, about the world, about their place in the world – I think art is a beautiful way to dissect ourselves and probe into what it means to be alive.
Who is an Indigenous role model of yours? How do they inspire you?
I am inspired by our young ones who aren’t standing down, who are eradicating ideas around being victims, who are fighting for the environment and who believe in their freedom. I want to be a part of that collective hope.
Is there a traditional teaching that you most identify with?
Part of the Mi’kmaq creation story tells that we fell from the sky. The idea that we are all made of stardust resonates deeply with me and also feels like a teaching that links us together.
What is coming up next for you?
My company POLITICAL MOVEMENT turns five this year and we are presenting a new work in Toronto called heart2heart that is centred around ‘conversations about the state of the world’. It’s a series of 6 duets woven together into a full evening performance. The show will be at the Theatre Centre in Toronto from April 30 – May 9th 2020 and is a part of Why Not Theatre’s RISER Project.
Don’t miss the chance to see Aria’s work, Link in Matriarchs Uprising: Program 2 on Saturday, February 22nd 730pm at The Cultch.
Also join Aria’s Creation Lab on Friday, February 21st 12pm-3pm at The Dance Centre to learn more and experience some of the tools she uses in her creative practice.