As part of Black History Month celebrations across Toronto, dance Immersion is showcasing Queens Calling. The show, headlined as a celebration of sisterhood from eight diverse female choreographers, is starting its two-day run today – Feb. 6-7, 2015 – at Harbourfront Center Theatre.
True to dance Immersion’s two-decade-long mandate to showcase dancers and dances of the African Diaspora, the Queens Calling program features eight female performers of colour -- whose style vary from Contemporary African and Lindy Hop to Modern and Caribbean. They will each be contributing a dance choreography dedicated to the 219 girls tragically abducted from a boarding school in Chibok, Nigeria.
The cross-generational performers making up the showcase are: Paulette Brockington (U.S), Ghislaine Doté (Montreal/Ivory Coast), Jasmyn Fyffe (Toronto), Sharon Harvey (Toronto), Charmaine Headley (Toronto/Trinidad), Zab Maboungou (Montreal/Congo), Michèle Moss (Calgary), and Alesandra Seutin (UK/Zimbabwe).
AfroToronto.com recently had the opportunity to speak to Toronto-based dancer Jasmyn Fyffe about her contribution to the show and about her passion for dance in general. Jasmyn started dancing as a 6-year-old – learning African/Caribbean dance and ballet. “I’ve always loved dance,” she tells us. She started ballet training at around the age of 13. But as a teenager she did it more socially and at school. Her devotion for dance however competed with her athletic focus on track and soccer throughout high school.
Despite those other athletic pursuits, dance always kept holding a special place in her heart. It wasn’t until she turned 19 and started attending York University that she realized just how much she missed focusing on dance.
Finding Her Passion
Jasmyn’s philosophy is that we’re all born with some form of passion within us. Our passion isn’t necessarily something we have to look for; “your passion will often find you,” she says. “Whether it manifests itself or not, it’s really kind of up to you -- if you answer that call. But I think that option is always there.”
In her case, there were times in her life when she wasn’t training as much and wasn’t taking dance seriously. “But it ended up coming back into my life; and when it came back in it was like a very strong connection,” as she reveals. “I think it’s important to really embrace your passion and allow it to be a full part of your life – which is what I’ve done.”
She strongly believes that everyone should make it a priority in life to do what they’re passionate about. This doesn’t necessarily mean the journey of their lives will be any easier because every job is hard. Every job has its ups and downs, its ins and outs, and whatever comes along. “But I think it’s better to have ups and downs in something that you love as opposed to with something that is just a job for you,” as Jasmyn advises.
The Hustle of Turning Dance Into a Career
The reason why passion is important is because it’s precisely what will carry someone as they hustle through the many trials and tribulations along the way. As Jasmyn describes: “People sometimes ask me how I do it. I’m a single parent and I work everyday — hustling all these different dance jobs and whatever; but I really do enjoy what I do so that really does help.” Jasmyn’s really in her element when creating a new choreography; so she doesn’t actually feel like it’s work.
She hit the ground hustling quickly after graduating from school in 2007. Her first big production was when she was selected to perform at Toronto’s Canon Theater for the popular South African show, UMOJA. It was the biggest theatre she had ever performed in at that point. “I literally just went on that audition after hearing about it,” as she recalls. The show was looking for local Toronto dancers to perform and join the cast of professional South African performers. “It was just an epic period,” she said. “Being on that stage with that energy, that vibe, the audience yelling and screaming for you, was unforgettable.”
She doesn’t underestimate the impact for people of colour, particularly on the youth, of seeing performers who look like them on major stages. “There’s definitely more people on the forefront that are people of colour doing things in the theatre and in shows and what not than there was before,” as she remarks.
“Seeing Alvin Ailey productions when I was little, seeing Cats and seeing dancers that looked like me got me thinking like “Oh cool.” I think at the time I didn’t know that I wanted to be on stage or anything like that. But I know those are things that are implanted.”
Jasmyn characterizes her dance choreographies as contemporary works. Her shows are attracting wide-ranging groups of people. She doesn’t really create traditional choreography. It’s more fusion-inspired. For the Queens Calling show, she will be presenting a remount of her work ‘Pulse’ which she recently performed at the Next Stage Theatre Festival.
“I want to continue to share that work and it’s the freshest choreography that I have; it’s sort of like a right off the press type of thing,” she said.
See info below about show details and workshop classes to be held at COBA Studios, 585 Dundas Street East, Suite 130:
Friday, February 6 to Saturday, February 7, 2015 Friday at 8PM; Saturday at 1PM & 8PM
Harbourfront Centre Theatre (formerly Enwave Theatre), 231 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8 Tickets: $25-$30 Adult; $15 CultureBreak (Students under 25); Discounts also for Seniors and Groups.
Tickets avaialble through Harbourfront Centre Box Office: 416-973-4000 OR online at http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/
WORKSHOP CLASSES
A Choreographic Lab with Zab Maboungou:
An investigation of space, through sound, in relation to the body.
Sunday, February 8, 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Single Class: $15
Germaine Acogny Technique with Alesandra Seutin.
Monday, February 9, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Single Class: $15
