Thursday, August 30, 2012

After 17 years, Ottawa’s home for alternative movement practices has closed. Movement Arts Ottawa and before that Dance Network called this beautiful, sun-filled studio in a downtown heritage building home. Contact improv, authentic movement, capoeira, BodyMind Centering and other forms were practiced there on a daily basis. Many artists created and performed wild and beautiful works there. There are many people who need to be remembered for their incredible work in holding this special space over these many years: Julie Houle Cezer, Elizabeth MacKinnon, Alexis Andrew, Nikki Manzie, Kee Hong, Caroline Barrière, Kristine Karpinski, Wendy Philpott and so many others... We are not just closing down a studio but saying goodbye to an era. We are working to see this as a moment of creative destruction and look forward optimistically to the new adventures awaiting Ottawa’s dance and movement community. Good luck to all current and past MAO members.