Calgary movement artist Kaja Irwin invites audiences into a world of imagination and transformation as she blends dance and puppetry while she faces her snake phobia in Fearsssome.
“I love the freedom that puppetry allows me in my creativity because it opens up my mind in different ways to consider new possibilities,” Irwin says.
The Decidedly Jazz Danceworks company dancers’ artistic practice is mainly rooted in jazz. She’s recently been interested in playing with movement and how her body can animate objects in different ways.
“I love creating and choreographing dance, but for this particular project, it felt like my fear of snakes could be expressed so much better by incorporating more influences like puppetry and a clown because they capture even more of who I am.”
Irwin is backed by a live band: Joanna Borromeo on keys, Nate Chiang on drums, and Adam Pettigrew on upright bass.
“Music is integral to how I feel movement and how I connect to myself. Music can set a tone immediately and transport you to a whole different time and space,” she says, adding that this live music component has given this performance some “texture and soul.”
Fearsssome by Kaja Irwin plays at various times at cSpace Marda Loop on March 11, 12 and 13.
