Armour/
Amour

Armour/Amour premiered during Kaeja d’Dance’s twentieth anniversary production, 20/20 Vision, presented as a part of Harbourfront Centre’s NextSteps Series at Enwave Theatre in April 2011. With over a decade of award-winning dance film under his belt, Allen draws upon the clear, liquid eyes of the camera -- as though we are observing the live making of a film -- to lay bare the multifaceted, beautifully raw armour and architecture of the self.

Twisting the idioms of media and performance into a new world of discovery, Dora nominated performer Karen Kaeja and dancer Mairéad Filgate weave a dynamic, intimate tapestry as video media artist Elysha Poirier transforms live and pre-recorded camera footage shot by Allen into vibrant, pulsating imagery alongside an evocative sound design created by Kaeja d’Dance’s long-time resident composer Edgardo Moreno.

Credits, Media, & Tech

If you’d like to receive the credits, media, and tech information in a Word document, please email urban@kaeja.org

"The heart of the work is one of multiple images that collectively make statements about the complexity of life. The outer shell is stripped away to reveal a loving but ruthless examination of a mature woman…technology helps reveal gut-wrenching truth."

Paula Citron, Globe and Mail
"Illusion and reality merge and part and merge again as the camera explores anatomical fact – and metaphorical musings… complex and nuanced, emotionally and visually."

Michael Crabb, Toronto Star
"Armour/Amour emphasizes the limitless possibilities technology can bring to dance performance. Allen alters the constraints of time and space, skews the definition of a live performance, and plays with the audience’s viewing experience."

Catherine Romano, Canada Arts Connect Magazine
"An original, powerful and artful masterpiece. They offer to their audience a freedom of expression where boundaries cease to exist."

Adelina Fabiano, Mooney on Theatre

Two dancers reach upwards, one holds a video camera.

Karen Kaeja stands in front of a large screen.

A dancer rolls on the stage in a sliver of light.

One dancer carries another over their shoulder.

Two dancers film themselves with a video camera; their images are projected on a screen behind them.

A dancer strikes a pose; their shadow and a larger shadow striking a different pose are on a scrim.

A close up of a dancer being lifted over the shoulder of another dancer.

Photos by Andréa de Keijzer

Armour/Amour

"The heart of the work is one of multiple images that collectively make statements about the complexity of life. The outer shell is stripped away to reveal a loving but ruthless examination of a mature woman…technology helps reveal gut-wrenching truth."

"Illusion and reality merge and part and merge again as the camera explores anatomical fact – and metaphorical musings… complex and nuanced, emotionally and visually."

"Armour/Amour emphasizes the limitless possibilities technology can bring to dance performance. Allen alters the constraints of time and space, skews the definition of a live performance, and plays with the audience’s viewing experience."

"An original, powerful and artful masterpiece. They offer to their audience a freedom of expression where boundaries cease to exist."

XTOD/Solo Dance Exchange

Taxi

Armour/
Amour