MAINSTAGE 2025-2026
only child
Calder White
Photo: Kaylee McCullough
only child
How far will we go to avoid being alone? A solo that's at times a duet and occasionally a trio, 'only child' places courtship, reproduction, and romance on a pedestal and under a microscope. Fantasy becomes reality in a series of vignettes that draw from queer intimacy practices and horror films, conjuring the simultaneous danger and care that exists in marginal spaces.
‘only child’ was conceived with an interdisciplinary framework that blends puppetry, physical theatre, filmic influences, and elements of busking with exciting contemporary dance and evocative scenography. The effect is a haunting and relatable work that resonates with an array of audiences with diverse interests.
Calder White
Calder White (he/him) is a freelance dance artist based on the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations. He is an alumnus of Tkaronto's Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre and holds a BFA in Dance from the Ohio State University. He has originated roles in work by Shay Kuebler, Joshua Beamish, Wen Wei Wang, Ziyian Kwan, and Rachel Meyer, amongst others. His own choreography has been presented by institutions across North America, including Ohio Dance Festival, Dancing on the Edge Festival, Danceworks Toronto, and Odd Meridian Arts. Calder is also a floorwork teacher, regularly sharing his workshops in cities and towns 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 PERFORMANCES:
"BABY", March 16-23 2026, presented by BC Movement Arts Society, various venues in Sointula and Port Alice BC
"I become an Island", November 21-22 2025, presented by Kinetic Open Studio Series, DANSpace, Halifax NS
"only child", November 7-8 2025, co-presented by ChromaQueer Film + Arts Festival and Ottawa Dance Directive, Arts Court, Ottawa ON
PAST PERFORMANCES:
"only child", July 9-13 2025, presented by Odd Meridian Arts, Morrow Studios, Vancouver BC
"3/4 echo", July 9-13 2025, presented by Odd Meridian Arts, Morrow Studios, Vancouver BC
"only child", June 24-26 2025, presented by Danceworks Toronto, Young People's Theatre, Toronto ON
"BABY", May 10th 2025, Prince George Community Arts Council, Prince George Performing Arts Centre, Prince George BC
"BABY", March 30th 2025, ArtSpring Theatre Rough Cuts Residency, ArtSpring Theatre, Salt Spring Island BC
"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
"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
"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 Created by: Calder White
Key Artistic Collaborators: choreography and performance - Calder White
scenography - Steph Cyr
outside eyes - Mateusz West, Marisa Christogeorge, Clarke Blair, Elle Derkitt
lighting design and creative assistance - Zaya Sawchyn
props - Chris White
costume design - Maria Kofman
music - Jeremy O'Neill and Stefan Nazarevich
Performance type: THIS WORK IS ADAPTABLE TO THEATRE OR OUTDOORS OR ALTERNATE VENUES /SPACES
How do you define this work: Interdisciplinary dance theatre, physical theatre
Length of performance: 38 minutes
Audience type: General Audience
General Technical Requirements: LIGHTING: Basic lighting plot with LEDs or traditional lighting equipment with access to coloured gels. If adapted to alternative venues without a basic plot, Bluetooth-controlled Astera lights (preferably pixel bricks) can be used to light the show.
STAGE: The work is designed to be light on tech and highly adaptable, and can be shown in galleries, studio flex spaces, theatres, and any other contained performance space. With that said, a performance space of at least 30ft x 24ft with no obstructions, sprung floor, with either wood or Marley flooring is preferred. No upstage or side stage coverings/soft goods are needed.
SOUND: Professional stereo sound system
PROPS: To make touring efficient, we ask that the venue provides the following props - one rolling costume rack, one stool, one chair, and one pair of scissors.
Required amount of time for tech set up: Minimum 8 hours of tech time/set-up, depending on the type of venue, the lighting capabilities, and the amount of adaptation necessary.
Alternative Venues: 'only child' can be adapted to fit in a multitude of spaces. Any venue that is contained (ie indoors), with a flat, clean floor and a basic lighting set-up/lighting capabilities could work for this piece, especially spaces that allow for proximity to the audience.
Number of Performers on tour (including choreographer): 1
Number of Support Staff on Tour: 1
Availabilities: 2025/26 Season, 2026/27 Season
Project Details
Community Engagement
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 'only child'.
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 'only child'.
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.
Outreach Activities
'only child' is my most recent addition to a personal repertory of shorter works that I've choreographed to be perfectly suited for a split bill or festival format. I'm both interested in exploring ways that numerous works of my own can be curated together to form a full evening of dance for your audiences, and/or how one shorter work from my catalogue can be paired with local acts from your region to better situate and integrate my work into your community.
Having now performed 'only child' in two very different spaces, I'm very interested in exploring more alternative venues for the work. I'm particularly interested in gallery settings, atria, and other intimate/immersive venues that allow the audience to get in really close to the world of 'only child' and make them complicit in the action of the piece.