With Animal Triste, choreographer Mélanie Demers seeks to understand the nature of humanity from its primal beginnings to its search for beauty and human connection, and finally, spirituality.
Canadian choreographer Mélanie Demers and her dance company Mayday will present the U.S. premiere of Animal Triste, her examination of the human condition through dance at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University on Thursday, February 6 and Friday, February 7, 2020 at 8 pm.
A 2019-20 artist-in-residence at the Quick Center, Demers created Animal Triste to explore the biological evolution of humans, the social-cultural revolution, and the emergence of the clan and the family. Partly inspired by Yuval Noah Harai’s Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Demers’ production is divided into four chapters and features four dance performers: Marc Boivin, James Gnam, Brianna Lombardo and Léa Noblet Di Ziranaldi.
Demers’ dance pieces have been described simultaneously as both distress signals and invitations to change; this dichotomy inspired the name of her dance troupe, Mayday – a word in which Demers perceives both hope and despair.
Since its inception, Mayday has served as a place of exchange and reflection, a true artistic think tank. The company features a diverse range of performers, some from its home base in Montreal, and others from around the world. Their pieces feature a mix of explosive energy, sensuality, and dramatic intensity.
Animal Triste is a co-production with Canada Dance Festival. The project is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and the Conseil des arts de Montréal.
The U.S. premiere of Animal Triste is generously sponsored by The Chelsea and Holiday Inn Bridgeport. Tickets are $30 | $25 for Quick Members. For more information or to reserve your seat, visit www.quickcenter.com or call the Box Office at 203-254-4010, or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396.
