past
works
A selection of past creations by
Rock Bottom Movement's Artistic Director Alyssa Martin
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MANIA
A play on Ira Glass' pep-talk video for emerging artists.
The first iteration of MANIA was created for The Garage Collective, set on 14 dancers from the Toronto community for a showing at 509 DANCE.
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A second, 6-minute excerpted version was performed at the Ray D-Ance Gala in Toronto, curated by Samantha Raymond.
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The final version of MANIA, a 12-minute trio, was presented at the Women in Dance Leadership Conference at the Manship Theatre (Shaw Center for the Arts) in Louisiana, October 2015.
MANIA
Premiere: 2014
Choreography: Alyssa Martin
Performers: Mary-Dora Bloch-Hansen, Josh Doig, Samantha Grist
Costume Design: Alyssa Martin
Music & Text: Simon & Garfunkel, Lucky Dragons, Alexandre Desplat, Ira Glass, Wayne Newton
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Previous Performers: Sierra Chin-Sawdy, Caryn Chappel, Marlowe Porter, Tara Pillon, Corrado Cerruto, Kim Chin, Amanda Pye, Cassandra Wiesner, Steven Smith, Katrina Grogan-Kalnuk, Jessica Ford, Justine Comfort
crushed
A dance-punk-rock physical mind map tethered solely to the word "crush", with characterizations inspired by the performing persona of David Byrne.
Created for 18 dance students of X University's School of Performance and presented as part of X Choreographic Lab, October 2015.
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CRUSHED
Premiere: October 2015
Choreography: Alyssa Martin
Performers: Drew Berry, Eva Connelly-Miller, Marina DiPelino, PJ Elisha, Lindsay Fell, Zoe Kenneally, Claudia Marjanovic, Adrienne Metivier, Mary Paterson, Mary Patsiatzis, Carley Stastny, Dezjuan Thomas, Morgan Timberg, JC Vaughan, Preston Wilder, Shaylin Williams, Hayley Wilton, Karly Zizek
Dramaturg: David Bernstein
Music & Text: Talking Heads, David Byrne, The Tom Tom Club, Le Tigre, Antonio Vivaldi, Wikipedia
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TYRANNOUS PROCESSES
(a period piece)
Premiered at SpringWorks Festival at Factory 163 in Stratford, ON, May 2015.​
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Presented as part of Rock Bottom's DO IT YOURSELF (The Musical), a mixed bill of short works performed at the Dancemakers Centre for Creation in Toronto, ON, July 2015.
Tyrannous Processes (a period piece)
Premiere: May 2015
Choreography: Alyssa Martin
Performers: Mary-Dora Bloch-Hansen, Taylor Hunt and Natasha Poon Woo
Costume Design: Alyssa Martin
Lighting Design: Brianne Gwartz and Connor Delaney
Stage Management: Christopher Brackett, Brianne Gwartz and Connor Delaney
Music: Stevie Nicks, Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie, Spandau Ballet, New Order, Helen Reddy, Michael Sambello, Queen
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SCHWIMMER'S LITTLE WITCH
An ode to ominous spells + the magick-obsessed days of our youth.
Presented as part of Rock Bottom's DO IT YOURSELF (The Musical), a mixed bill of short works performed at the Dancemakers Centre for Creation in Toronto, ON, July 2015.
Schwimmer's Little Witch
Premiere: July 2015
Choreography: Alyssa Martin
Performer: Samantha Grist
Costume Design: Alyssa Martin
Lighting Design: Alyssa Martin & Christopher Brackett
Stage Managemer: Christopher Brackett
Music: Third Eye Blind, Christina Aguilera, TNGHT, Mariah Carey, Al Green, Becky G, Massive Attack
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david does a dance.
Presented as part of Rock Bottom's DO IT YOURSELF (The Musical), a mixed bill of short works performed at the Dancemakers Centre for Creation in Toronto, ON, July 2015.
David does a dance.
Premiere: July 2015
Choreography: Alyssa Martin
Performer: David Bernstein
Costume Design: Alyssa Martin
Lighting Design: Alyssa Martin & Christopher Brackett
Stage Management: Christopher Brackett
Music: M.O.P., Wayne McGregor (TED Talk 2012), Janet Jackson
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generation a
Premiered at New Voices Festival 2013 at X Theatre in Toronto, ON.
Presented as part of Rock Bottom's DO IT YOURSELF (The Musical), a mixed bill of short works performed at the Dancemakers Centre for Creation in Toronto, ON, July 2015.
Generation A
Premiere: 2013
Choreography: Alyssa Martin
Performers: Mary-Dora Bloch-Hansen, Julia Cosentino, Samantha Grist, Taylor Hunt, Peter Kelly, Natasha Poon Woo
Costume Design: Alyssa Martin
Props: Vanessa Kwok
Lighting Design: Sally Roberts
Stage Management: Christopher Brackett and Caitlyn Albanese
Music & Text: ​The Wombats, Missy Elliott, Talking Heads, Nine Inch Nails, Lucky Dragons, CocoRosie, The Beach Boys, Douglas Coupland & Jonathan Burrows
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Original Cast Dancers: Corrado Cerruto, Francesca Chudnoff, Justin De Bernardi, Samantha Grist, Liv Herman, and Adrienne Lispon
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burst
Premiered at the 2014 GMD Fundraiser at 509 DANCE in Toronto, ON.
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Presented as part of Rock Bottom's MOCKTALES, a mixed bill showing of 4 short works performed at Yogathletix in Toronto, ON.
Burst
Premiere: 2014
Choreography: Alyssa Martin
Performers: Mary-Dora Bloch-Hansen, Samantha Grist, Taylor Hunt and Alyssa Martin
Costume Design: Alyssa Martin
Stage Management: Andrea Baggs
Music: Barbara Streisand
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art
Premiered at DanceMatters Risky Business & Rebel Yells at the Scotiabank Studio Theatre, Toronto, ON.
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Presented as part of Rock Bottom's MOCKTALES, a mixed bill showing of 4 short works performed at Yogathletix in Toronto, ON.
art
Premiere: 2014
Created by Alyssa Martin with Alanna Bale
Performers: Alanna Bale, Mary-Dora Bloch-Hansen, Julia Cosentino, Samantha Grist, Taylor Hunt
Costume Design: Alyssa Martin
Stage Management: Andrea Baggs
Music: Senking
Text: Alyssa Martin and Alanna Bale
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Epic scenario
Presented as part of Rock Bottom's MOCKTALES, a mixed bill showing of 4 short works performed at Yogathletix in Toronto, ON.
Epic Scenario
Premiere: 2014
Choreography: Alyssa Martin
Performers: Mary-Dora Bloch-Hansen, Taylor Hunt and Alyssa Martin
Costume Design: Alyssa Martin
Stage Management: Andrea Baggs
Music: Queen
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the mouse hunting diaries
Premiered at SpringWorks Festival at Factory 163 in Stratford, ON.​
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Presented as part of Rock Bottom's MOCKTALES, a mixed bill showing of 4 short works performed at Yogathletix in Toronto, ON.
The Mouse Hunting Diaries
Premiere: 2014
Choreography: Alyssa Martin
Performers: Cassandra Bowerman, Julia Cosentino, Samantha Grist and Alyssa Martin
Costume Design: Alyssa Martin
Stage Management: Andrea Baggs
Music: Vampire Weekend, Duke Ellington, Francois Hardy, Les Baxter, Ysaye Quartet, Marc Ribot, Disney Big Band, Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick, Irene Cara, Sergei Rachmaninoff, The Spice Girls, Alexandre Desplat
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meet the andersons
A one-hour Wes Anderson-inspired under-the-sea-love-story.
Workshopped and presented at Yogathletix in Toronto, ON, February 2014.
Meet The Andersons
Premiere: 2014
Choreography: Alyssa Martin
Dramaturgy: Noah Spitzer
Performers: Mary-Dora Bloch-Hansen, Corrado Cerruto, Justin De Bernardi, Josh Doig, Samantha Grist and Taylor Hunt
Costume Design: Alyssa Martin
Music: Dan the Automator, Mark Mothersbaug, Don Air, John Mayer, Miles Davis, Bob Marley, David Bowie, Seu Jorge, Bruce Springsteen, La Bouche, Johann Pachelbel, Nico, Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey, Aphex Twin, Erik Satie, Simon & Garfunkel
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