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Just saw an unforgettable show at the Cultch’s York Theatre - Dance Nation. A Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama, this transformative play by Clare Barron was unfiltered, hilarious, and brought tears to my eyes. This powerful dance - theatre piece follows a group of young people on a competitive dance team - portrayed by performers of all ages, including middle-aged women, which made it even more impactful.

It tackled so many real and difficult issues such as: body image, insecurity, shame, male dominance, sexual abuse, and cancer. Further to that, challenges many of us face with being people pleasers and not taking care of ourselves were also raised - again so resonating. While the play explores these deeply challenging themes, which made certain moments feel understandably heavy and intense, the use of humor throughout was intentional - it created breathing room for the audience. By shifting into moments of levity, the play allowed us to process the hard truths without becoming overwhelmed. It didn’t minimize the gravity of the topics, but instead used humor to humanize the experience, connect with the audience, and ultimately, offer a sense of resilience or hope.

The characters were all so heartbreakingly relatable - Maeve, Vanessa/the moms, Sofia, Ashlee, Connie, Amina, Zuzu, Luke, and dance teacher Pat. Each has so much depth and are strongly played by the cast. For example, Zuzu, doubts her talent, crumbles under pressure, and faces extreme depression. And then there is Amina, who seems perfect on the outside but feels isolated and alone. Dance teacher Pat created a toxic environment, using pressure and fear instead of support - leaving dancers stressed, not inspired. Every story within the play felt honest, raw, and rightfully messy. Emotions were high and in my heart throughout the show. The extremely talented cast delivered this play with contagious passion, which was incredibly engaging, and with soul-stirring movement. There was no intermission, but I didn’t even notice - time just disappeared.

What struck me most is how beautifully, and deliciously layered Dance Nation was and how it captured how wonderfully flawed we all are. This is a testament to the amazing talent we had the privilege to witness. The set, music and choreography were so captivating and beautiful. The costumes were very real life and could well have been brought from home.

I walked out feeling more at peace with myself than when I walked in. My sentiment was shared by my fellow audience members one of whom said that this is a must see for all women!

© 2025 Shirley Siega