Shay Kuebler and Radical System Art take another look at isolation in M.O.I.—the partitions, at Dancing on the Edge July 8 and 9

It’s the second chapter in a multi-dancer work-in-progress that kicks off the fest’s Firehall Arts Centre live series

SPONSORED POST BY DANCING ON THE EDGE

Kaite Loewen in M.O.I. Photo by David Cooper

Isaac Enquist in M.O.I. Photo by David Cooper

Shay Kuebler’s Radical System Art will kick off the live, limited-audience Firehall Arts Centre Theatre works at this year’s Dancing on the Edge festival, with his new work M.O.I. - the partitions.

The first showing of the work-in-progress debuts at the event’s opening night, July 8 at 7 pm, with another viewing July 9 at 9 pm. Find more info on the show here.

It’s the second chapter of Moments in Isolation, a multi-part work that debuted to acclaim at last year’s fest, exploring isolation and loneliness. Now, more than a year since the world shut down, choreographer and sound composer Kuebler digs into those themes anew.

It features Kuebler himself performing, along with dancers Keiran Bohay, Aiden Cass, Sarah Hutton, Tia Kushniruk, Nicole Pavia, Nicholas Ventura, and Calder White—who all had a hand in the creation of the piece.

The project has roots that date back long before the pandemic. It was initially researched by Radical System Art artistic director Kuebler in 2018, leading to the first full company research period in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, the work had to be completed online and over Zoom. And so it was that a work about isolation and loneliness had its first full-scale research forced into an online and solitary form—a process that has proved invaluable towards the continued development of M.O.I.

The full-length premiere of the project will happen in November 2021 with the Chutzpah! Festival in Vancouver, BC. 

MOI – the partitions has evolved to reflect on loneliness and our modern way of life, our changing values, our use of technology, and the growth of artificial intelligence.

Local audiences know Kuebler from his other full-evening works, including Karoshi, Glory, Telemetry, Feasting on Famine, and Epilogos. In 2010, he received the Holy Body Tattoo emerging artist award and in 2014 received The Mayor’s Arts Award for emerging dance artist from the City of Vancouver. Kuebler draws on a varied background that includes dramatic arts and martial arts in Shito-Ryu Karate, as well as training in hip-hop, jazz, tap, contemporary, and ballet. He has performed for companies including Kidd Pivot, Holy Body Tattoo, and Company 605, and has choreographed for the likes of Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, Moment Factory and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.

Post sponsored by the Dancing on the Edge festival.