Emmalena Fredriksson
Ecdysis
Photo credits: Luciana Freire D'Anunciação
Emmalena Fredriksson
Emmalena Fredriksson is a contemporary dance artist living and working in Vancouver, Canada, as a guest on the ancestral unceded lands of the Coast Salish peoples. Her practice is defined by choreography as a relational practice in the expanded fields of dance, often collaborating with artists of other disciplines, creating choreographic experiences and dance for social events, film, galleries and performance. Born in Sweden, she received her training at Balettakademien in Umeå and at SEAD in Austria. Emmalena has presented choreographic work, performed and taught internationally with Daghdha Dance Company (IE), Canaldanse (FR), Malta University (MT), Pact Zollverein (DE), and Falmouth University (UK) among others. Based in Vancouver since 2013 her work has been presented locally at Dancing on the Edge, The Dance Centre, Edam, New Works at Night, Push Off and at the Audain and Access Galleries. Commissioned by the National Film Board she co-created Tidal Traces (2017) together with Nancy Lee. Emmalena holds an MFA degree from SFU and regularly teaches at Modus Operandi, Training Society of Vancouver, Harbour Dance Centre and SFU and UBC in Vancouver.
Ecdysis
The interdisciplinary performance work Ecdysis depicts the transformational journey of a female cyborg. Awakening in a dystopian world, the cyborg questions and reflects on her identity and past memories, a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. The title Ecdysis refers to the reptilian process of shedding skin. Ecdysis explore themes of gender, abuse, and power. Artificial Intelligence, cyborgs and interactive technology are part of our everyday lives, to the point that we may not recognize their influences. When we engage with AI through submissive ‘virtual assistants’ such as Siri and Alexa we may not consider the gender biases that we perpetuate through our choices of voices and accents, or the search and selection biases that we are exposed to through their returns to our queries. As a genre sci-fi allows for the questioning of established biases, imagining of new social codes, and reflecting on our current situations: as such, it is an appropriate positioning for Ecdysis.
Photo credits: Luciana Freire D'Anunciação
Performance History of Ecdysis
Ecdysis Going Solo Together Festival in Sweden Dec 2020 last minute changed to online presentation Synapses Collaboration with Bob Pritchard, David Owen and Turning Point Ensemble Nov 2020 online presentation.
New Commission by Temple Contemporary scheduled for Oct 2020 postponed until 2022, Philadelphia, USA Oh Well scheduled for April 2020 postponed tbc at Left of Main, Vancouver UNTITLEdISTANCEs group piece premiere originally scheduled for Dec 2020 postponed until fall 2022 tbc at The Dance Centre. January 2022 performance tbc Wind Eye Commission for SFU’s Interleaving Repertory Dancers go digital Nov 2020 UNTITLEdISTANCEs Artists in Residence at The Dance Centre 2019/2020. Performed at Accelerate 3.0 Vancouver Jan 2020 and at Infringing Dance Festival in Nanaimo in July 2020 Telepresence Choreographic consultant for a VR 360 immersive music performance by Nancy Lee and Kiran Bhumber, performed at the Western Front, Vancouver, CA T(w)o Nearly Touch: You in collaboration with Ziyian Kwan commissioned by Dr. Bob Pritchard for the TASTE project, performed at NIME, Virginia Tech, US UNTITLEdISTANCE in collaboration with Arash Khakpour, performed at Infringing Dance Festival Nanaimo 2020, Dancing on The Edge, Vancouver, CA, Dance Days Victoria, Push Off, New Works at night and Nya Teatern, Orebro, SWE in 2017. Tidal Traces VR 360 Dance film in collaboration with Nancy Lee commissioned by the NFB, CA
Project Details
Project created by: Emmalena Fredriksson
Key Collaborators:
Music: Filip Górecki
Spine Costume Design /Programming: Bob Pritchard, Daniel Tsui and Alaia Hamer
Lighting Design: Kyla Gardiner
Audience: General Audience
Length in minutes: 20 - 30 minutes - This is a work for a mixed program and or could be a mixed program with Soft Palate. Both Ecdysis and Soft Palate share elaborate costumes (by the same costume designer) and new world imaginings.
Space required: This work is built for theatre. Ecdysis could be presented in smaller and larger theatre spaces. It requires theatre lights and full black out.
Preparation required: One day
General technical requirements: We will bring the technical equipment needed for the spine costume. A general lighting hang and smoke machine in the theatre would be great.
Availabilities: Anytime 2022 onwards
Number of performers on tour: 1
Number of support staff on tour: 3
Community Engagement Activities
I have an extensive teaching practice and would be more than happy to share that through community workshops and master classes. Ranging in level of experience and age. Alaia, Bob and I could also do a lecture-demonstration about the costumes. I can provide fees and propose schedule and formats based on each community/ place/ performance context.
Contact: Emmalena Fredriksson, emmalenafredriksson@gmail.com
Website: emmalenafredriksson.com
Instagram: emmalenafredriksson