reviewvancouver:Dancing on the Edge,being

Dancing on the Edge, DOTE, is Canada’s longest running contemporary dance festival featuring established and emerging dance talent. Donna Spencer, artistic director of the Firehall Arts Centre and artistic producer of DOTE has said “In the turmoil of the world, we look to artists for solace, encouragement and inspiration.”

The world of dance and those who work within it offer works that help us to interpret our world and the emotions and experiences that are part of the journey of life. Noam Gagnon has worked in the field of dance for many years, touring internationally and receiving many awards for his performances.

Gagnon’s being opened the 37th DOTE festival at the Firehall Arts Centre on Thursday, June 12th, 2025. The festival is an opportunity for artists in the world of dance to perform and showcase their work. Bathed in the light of Vancouver lighting designer James Proudfoot, Gagnon performed on a raised white cube platform. Accompanied by the techno music of an electric violin Gagnon bared his tortured being. If the music represented the life the dancer was experiencing the movements of the dancer portrayed a being not a peace. Gagnon has said he got his inspiration for the piece from a still life but the piece is anything but still.

The opening video segment of a kaleidoscope of fractured human body parts sets the tone of the message Gagnon is wanting to tell. A message of impermanence and disconnection. One could not help but think of the artist Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings when looking at the kaleidoscope images. Georgia’s work honed in on the central aspects of living things and Gagnon’s piece was exploring that same aspect. A need to connect with the beauty in life while trying to come to terms with its struggles.

There is a beautiful aspect to being when Proudfoot’s cone of light shines on Gagnon enticing the dancer to move toward the sound of the music. The emotional aspect of the dancer and the music embracing is very powerful. It seems to represent hope for a brighter, peaceful place.