Gentle Glory
Gentle Glory is a solo work by Rachel Helten (choreography + performance) in collaboration with her brother Benjamin Helten (music + performance) that explores gentleness and empathy as pathways to liberation. Drawing from her personal experience navigating mental health challenges, Rachel examines how a deep connection to self, the earth, and the wisdom of animism fosters healing and strength in an often violent world. The piece advocates for emotional intelligence as vital to awareness, celebrating vulnerability as a courageous force for transformation. It calls us to lean in with care, and to honour the sensitivity, sentience, and humanity of all.
soma anima arts (Kinesis Dance Society)
soma anima arts, formerly known as Kinesis Dance somatheatro, is based in so-called Vancouver on the unceded ancestral territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples. We acknowledge and honour the enduring presence and sovereignty of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities on this land.
Founded in 1986 by Greek-Canadian Paraskevas Terezakis, Kinesis Dance produced over 40 impactful works across BC, Canada, and internationally. In 2024, artistic leadership transitioned to Vancouver-based interdisciplinary artist, dancer, choreographer, and educator Rachel Helten, who rebranded the company as soma anima arts.
Our mission is to create transformative interdisciplinary art that fosters compassion, liberation, and community well-being. Through collaboration across dance, music, theatre, literary arts, and visual media, we engage in deep listening, imaginative storytelling, and cultural exchange. Our work is rooted in accessibility, equity, and care, and often explores themes of vulnerability, transformation, and connection to the earth and unseen worlds.
Through site-responsive creations, deep creative research, educational outreach, and radical empathy, soma anima arts aims to inspire connection, challenge conventions and contribute to a more mindful, inclusive, and interconnected world.
Contact:
Carline Dolmazon for soma anima arts, admin@kinesisdance.org
Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Details:
Year of creation: 2025
Choreographer: Rachel Helten
Key collaborators:
Concept, choreography, performer: Rachel Helten
Composer, musician, performer: Ben Helten
Outside Eye: Alyssa Favero
Audience Type: Elementary (Gr. 1-7), Youth (Gr. 8-12), Families, Young Adults, Adults, Seniors
Length of work: 25-30 minutes
Preparation time required on site: Set up: 1 to 2 hours if possible so we can set up, warm-up and ensure the site is safe ; Strike: 30 minutes or less
Technical requirements required on-site: We will bring our own amp & guitar.
Support with the following would be helpful but not essential: access to a plug for the amp, a chair, access to water, a (portable) sound system, a projector & projector screen if available.
Space required: About 22-25 square feet, but can be flexible. Floor type is flexible as long as terrain is not too uneven
Availability: We are available for touring and presentations in Spring/Summer 2026 and / or Spring/Summer 2027. Our objectives include offering Gentle Glory as a site-specific performance and, when applicable, facilitating workshops that deepen community connection through embodied practices. We aim to engage with presenters and communities who value inclusive access to dance, mental health awareness, and care-centered dialogue. Touring this work across BC allows us to collaborate with diverse environments and audiences, fostering reflection, empathy, and connection through outdoor, site-responsive performance and participatory experiences.
Community Engagement
Alongside the performance, we could offer:
- Outdoor movement workshop for local artists and community members, creating a space for collective exploration of themes such as embodied empathy and resilience. This participatory element aligns with our broader mission at soma anima arts: to cultivate spaces where dance becomes a means of connection, dialogue, and healing.
- Post-show Q&A sessions where audiences can discuss themes, process, and artistic choices with the creative team.
- Informal artist talks sharing insights on site-specific dance, movement research, and interdisciplinary collaboration