By Meghan Power
“We were a physical theatre company with a focus on live performance, but we also experimented with, and produced many small dance films over the years. Despite our busy careers creating and touring live performances, the poetics of film have always had a strong place in our artistic work.”
It was their shared love of film and of screendance that led them to pilot a new course in screendance creation, while teaching at University of Calgary. Melissa and Wojciech began to dream of creating a space that could offer students developing a passion for the form, as well as emerging local and international screendance artists, a space to showcase their work, be recognized, and engage with audiences.
And so, WildDogs International Screendance Festival was born. A hybrid festival of international screendance works, presented virtually and live. “The title WildDogs,” Melissa explains, “really came to us because we felt it so represented us! Undernourished, determined, unexpected, unstoppable, survivors! Ha! Also, love the word ‘wild’ attached to anything we do!”
This year’s operating grant made it possible for W&M to offer small screening fees to artists selected for WildDogs and to sustain the festival’s associate artist program. “We’ve been able to hire young artists as associates and give them an immersive experience in screendance, and in all aspects of how to organize and operate a festival; from building criteria, to jury selection, to day-to-day operations. A truly unique program that offers professional and artistic development for emerging artists.”
Funding from CADA has also given W&M an opportunity to partner with East Side Dance Festival Society (ESDF). ESDF brings together students from traditionally under-represented groups in the arts, and professional artists through free after school programs and mentorship programs. As part of their partnership with ESDF, W&M offered a special afternoon screening of five films from the WildDogs archive, specially selected for an audience of youth dancers. Partnering with EDSF’s youth programming has helped to introduce young students to a world of career and post-secondary opportunities that they might not otherwise learn about.
“It’s not just about CADA’s financial support,” says Melissa. “It’s about having their acknowledgement and support for the ideas and initiatives we are presenting. And the feeling that they have our back. We are always trying to strive forward with and for the arts community; it’s so great to feel we have a strong partner who is with us in that!