Anya Saugstad and Artists
Paper Mountains
Photo: Bray Jorstad
Anya Allegra Saugstad is a dancer and choreographer based in Vancouver BC, on the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh', Stó:lō and Səlílwətaʔ/ Selilwitulh, and xwməθkwəyə̓ m Nations. Anya trained at ArtsUmbrella, and holds a BFA in Dance from SFU. Anya and her collaborators create live, digital, and site adaptive performance works that foster space for emerging femme presenting artists to tell their stories through movement. Anya and her collaborators have presented work through The Scotiabank Dance Center, Dancing on the Edge, Simon Fraser University, The San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, The Rotary Center for the Arts, and F-O-R-M film Festival among others.
Paper Mountains
‘Paper Mountains’ is a work that explores how we hold memory through movement. The performance uses choreography created during many months in solitude, and translates that movement on to other bodies, spaces, and paper planes, to describe a fragmented story of loneliness, desire, and rage.
'Paper Mountains' is a story about waiting, about how time unfolds unevenly, about our animal selves, our instinct, the distance that unfolds and folds itself between one another, our rage in desire, and our bodies as vessels that empty and fill with memory of which it chooses to hold on to or let go without warning.
Performance History
'Paper Mountains' is ready to premiere. In September 2022 the work was presented as a soft premiere (for small audiences) in a warehouse space as a test for the opportunity for a bigger production venue. We are looking to bring this work through a technical residency and premiere it with larger audiences.
Past Performances:
- Work in progress showing at The Scotiabank Dance Centre January 2022
- Vista Point Studios, self produced, Vancouver BC (2 performances)
- Filmed version of the work premiered at Dancing on the Edge (2022) and F-O-R-M Festival (2022)
Project Details
Project created by: Choreography and Direction: Anya Saugstad
Key Collaborators:
Performers/Collaborators: Daria Mikhaylyuk, Eowynn Enquist, Nasiv Sall, Sabine Raskin, and Shion Skye Carter.
Sound Composition/Music: Stefan Nazarevich
Audience: General Audience
Length in minutes: Originally 55min however we have a short and long version of this work so we can perform it as a split bill (30min) or full length (55min).
Space required: 'Paper Mountains' can be performed in variety of indoor spaces such as theatres, galleries, warehouses, or studios. The work in any setting requires a white marley floor (at least 4 panels), a performance space size at least 25 x 30 feet, with lighting (does not require an overhead lighting board or top down light if in a warehouse space).
Preparation required:
General technical requirements:
For warehouse style venues without a lighting grid or board 'Paper Mountains' requires a minimum of:
- 5 film or theatre standard lights (can be on c stands, booms, or hung).
- At least 2 orange gels.
- White or grey Marley floor.
- Speakers: minimum 2 audience speakers, one stage monitor.
For theatre spaces 'Paper Mountains' requires a lighting board and grid with a minimum of one top down special, white light, in the shape of a 4’ x 5’ square/rectangle.
Availability: Mixed availability during the spring 2023, available during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons
Number of performers on tour including choreographer: 6
Number of support staff on tour: 1
Community Engagement Activities
Community outreach includes masterclasses/workshops, mentorships with young professionals in the community, and talkbacks after shows. Workshops are for teenagers and young professionals who are interested in dance.
Photo: Bray Jorstad