Photo: Zaya Sawchyn

Nowing

Nowing is a piece about the embodied effort that underlies history-making and our attempts to reconcile a marred past with our present reality. The work finds two dancers -- two sisters, two sides of the same coin, two people in shared struggle on separate timelines -- in the midst of continuous tries to work together for a different (and possibly better) outcome in the future.

Photo: Zaya Sawchyn

Project Created by: Calder White

Key Artistic Collaborators:

Choreography by Calder White
Performance by Brianne Chan and Nicole Pavia
Music by Nosaj Thing and Four Tet
Costume Assistance by Abby Hunter

Performance type: This work is built for theatre

How do you define this work: Dance

Length of performance: 20 minutes - Mixed program

Audience type: General Audience

General Technical Requirements: LIGHTING: Basic lighting plot with both LEDS and gobos, no specials needed
STAGE: Wood or Marley performance space with sprung floor is preferred. Performance space of at least 30ft x 26ft with no obstructions (can be adapted for alternative venues with adequate rehearsal time). Basic soft goods including legs or other side-stage coverings preferred.
SOUND: Professional stereo sound system

Required amount of time for tech set up: 2-3 hours

Number of Performers on tour (including choreographer): 3

Number of Support Staff on Tour: 1 production support

Availabilities: 2025/26 Season, and 2026/27 Season

Calder White

Calder White is a freelance dance artist based on the unceded and stolen lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations (so-called “Vancouver, British Columbia”). He is an alumnus of Tkaronto’s Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre and holds a BFA in Dance from the Ohio State University (2018). He has originated roles in work by Shay Kuebler (Radical System Art), Joshua Beamish (MOVEthecompany), Wen Wei Wang (Wen Wei Dance), Rachel Meyer, Ziyian Kwan (Odd Meridian Arts) and Santee Smith (Kaha:wi Dance Theatre). His choreographic work has been shared with audiences across Canada and the US, receiving commissions from Ohio Dance Festival, The School of Dance Ottawa, and Dancing on the Edge (Vancouver), and Boombox Vancouver. Calder is also a floorwork teacher, sharing his workshops with institutions across North America. He is the proud recipient of the 2022 Hnatyshyn Foundation’s Ukraine – Heritage, Spirit, and Future award for Exceptional Talent in Contemporary Dance.

Performance History & Upcoming Performances

UPCOMING

"BABY (SOLO)", June 21st + 22nd 2025, Danceworks, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto ON

"BABY", May 10th 2025, Prince George Community Arts Council, Prince George Performing Arts Centre, Prince George BC

PAST

"I become an island", July 17th - 19th 2024, Boombox Performance (with partnering sponsor Company 605), 44 W 4th Ave, Vancouver BC

"Nowing", June 16th + 17th 2024, Dancing on the Edge Festival (AD. Donna Spencer), Firehall Arts Centre, Vancouver BC

"ENGINE", December 15th + 16th 2023, in collaboration with The School of Dance, ODD/Arts Court, Ottawa ON

"BABY", July 14th + 15th 2022, Dancing on the Edge Festival (AD. Donna Spencer w/ guest curation by Amber Funk Barton), Firehall Arts Centre, Vancouver BC

"Okay return", April 8th 2021, The School of Dance CDP Program, ODD/Arts Court, Ottawa ON

"that ending feeling", December 18th + 19th 2020, The School of Dance CDP Program, ODD/Arts Court, Ottawa ON

"the trouble with stacking bones", Sept 21st 2019, self-produced with space and staff support from Le Marché St George & La Fabrique St George, La Fabrique St George (7 East 7th Ave), Vancouver BC

Project Details

Outreach Activities

Workshops from open-level to advanced/professional level can be offered as part of the performance engagement, as I already have a regular practice of teaching floorwork and improvisation to students at a variety of ages and with various skill levels. My pedagogy focuses on prioritizing comfort through the learning process to do away with fear and replace it with excitement. Teaching movers to use the knowledge they already have to meet new challenges is at the core of my classes. Additionally, choreographic/compositional workshops can be provided to the community, inviting participants into the creative process and themes of Nowing. These workshops could happen during show week, earlier in the day on show days or in the days leading up to the performance to better promote the work. Company rehearsals can also be opened to the public to give young artists and curious community members a peek inside the preparation process for Nowing.

The workshops/masterclasses I offer can be adapted for various communities, from ages 6 to 70. The skill-level necessary for the workshops can also be adapted with advanced notice provided, as I have experience teaching professional dancers and first-timers alike. These workshops can be included in the performance fees, offering low barrier to entry for people curious about contemporary dance, improvisation, choreography, and/or floorwork.

Contact information

Calder White, calder_white@live.ca

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