Highlighting Manitoba’s vibrant performing arts community


ime. Most often it seems like a rushing river push- ing us endlessly forward with our manic sched- ules in tow. Waking to our alarms, we scramble out of bed, get food into ourselves and our children, then its school drop offs, and into our offices to embark on yet another day of important obligations. We know how to fill time, and because of that it moves very fast. That is, until recently. Now time feels like the endless summers of childhood. Two months of COVID-19 lock down feels like dog years and sheltering at home, a life sentence. But in this slowing down something special is also emerging for us, a concept we were becoming less and less familiar with, and that’s the idea of taking time. Neighborhoods are teeming with families, simply being together, reconnecting in a way we had not imagined. People are baking and gardening and breathing fresh air. When the world hit pause on the economic hustle and bustle, we lost so much, but what we did gain is perspec- tive.


Journeys drawn in our imagination T


Kelly Thornton


become even more sacred, now that we have this new- found perspective. The wonderfully articulated vision of Royal MTC is described as “artists and audiences sharing in the act of imagining.” This profound and powerful idea resonates so deeply. Together, we gather to suspend our disbelief, and go on journeys drawn in our imagination. This collective experience is the culmination of an immense amount of time and energy. Whether it’s the actors who have investigated every detail of their character in re- hearsal, or the scenic painters who have meticulously painted the stage to mimic the grain of a hardwood floor, or the patron who eagerly read the brochure with appetite for a new season of storytelling. All of us with open hearts are drawn to this fundamental experience of imagining, together.


I’ve been thinking about time a lot lately, as this week marks my first anniversary in Winnipeg. I’ve been re- playing my final days in Toronto, the hectic, highly or- chestrated schedule of packing up my house, my family, my dog and embarking on one of the most exciting ad- ventures of my life. Becoming the new Artistic Director at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre was an astonish- ing dream come true. While I was leaving behind family and friends and a theatre community that I was deeply embedded in, I was focused only on my forward mo- mentum, with ideas swirling through my head, carving out a vision for the future of this incredible institution. On my first day I remember standing on the gorgeous stage in the John Hirsch Theatre, looking out over the


Kelly Thornton is the Artistic Director of the Royal Mani- toba Theatre Centre. Photo by Jerry Grajewski.


empty seats and feeling the history in the room. I could feel the laughter, the tears, the awe of our audience, and underfoot I felt the legacy of great actors telling stories, of production teams realizing the beautiful designs of impassioned artists who imagined extraordinary worlds, of the beautiful and ephemeral nature of live theatre. The interchange between audience and actor, the col- lective experience in the darkened theatre, all of it has


One of the most vital things about theatre is that it al- lows you to be in the moment. If we are dwelling on the past or the future, we will get lost in the plot and miss out on the magic of this collective experience. Perhaps this is an important reminder as we grapple with uncer- tainty, unsure what the future holds. Be in the present moment. Listen to the story that’s being told. Cheer for the heroes, loathe the villains and pay attention. This is now, and it’s a profound tale. As an Artistic Director this is a time of great challenge


and immense responsibility, as I steward our beloved theatre through rough waters to ensure its longevity. But as an artist, I believe that every obstacle is an opportu- nity and that creativity blooms in the face of adversity, always seeking resolution. We have been given the gift of time, we have gained huge perspective and the story continues to unfold. All we can do is be in the present with open hearts and listen.


Kelly Thornton is the Artistic Director of the Royal Mani- toba Theatre Centre.


Finding hope in a world without dance


Sophia Lee, Royal Winnipeg Ballet


I


was six years old when I started danc- ing. I didn’t know then that I would become a principal dancer with the


Royal Winnipeg Ballet, but I knew I loved it. At school, when they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always the same: I wanted to be a ballerina. When my parents put me in piano classes and swimming classes, the only thing I wanted to do was dance, and since then so much of my life has been about making that dream my reality. All through my life, I never imagined that one day the privilege of being able to rehearse and perform dance would be taken away from me, but thanks to COV- ID-19 and the social distancing measures imperative to slowing its spread, that’s ex- actly what has happened. I haven’t danced since. Looking back, I had no idea how lucky I was to be able to perform in front of an audience. When I’m on stage, I want the audience to feel the joy that I feel when I dance, and nothing has brought me more happiness than being able to express through musicality, physicality, and the love of ballet on stage before thousands of fans. I can still remember the voices of the people who told me how they were


to be creative with ways to continue to stay in shape and keep our bodies dance ready. Personally, I’ve turned my basement into a home gym, complete with a make- shift ballet barre and jugs of detergent for weights. I have also used this time away from the typical rehearsal schedule inten- sity to rest and heal my body. More than anything, COVID-19 has


Sophia Lee finds comfort among the trees of Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg.


moved by the performance and how much they took away from it. Hearing those kind word from the audience was always so important for me as a dancer, and though there’s a chance I may never get to hear those voices again, I do not despair. In fact, I find myself filled with hope for the future. Dance, in its various shapes and forms,


means so much to many people. The power of dance to express ideas and feel- ings without the need for words has al- ways drawn people in and transcended barriers that otherwise prevent us from being understood. I firmly believe that no matter how we emerge from the CO-


VID-19 pandemic, dance will find a way to continue. For years, I have called the RWB my home away from home and throughout my career, both as a student and a dancer, the RWB has supported me in more ways than I can list. Their staff managed to keep the dancers informed and involved since news of the virus first impacted our livelihood in March, and we still hear reg- ular updates regarding our hopeful return. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet continues working even now, diligently and in the midst of this pandemic, to bring dance to its patrons and to teach its students. In the interim, the other dancers and I have had


Patiently create, practice plentifully, perform brilliantly.


The Arts aren’t just entertainment, we understand, they’re nourishment.


created a time of reflection for me. As dancers we are always aware of our in- evitable retirement, and this has given all of us a chance to consider what our lives will look like after we step back from the stage. I firmly believe that when the world heals and it is safe for us to return, I will have the opportunity to continue sharing my passion with the world, whether it be as a dancer, choreographer, or teacher, and I will be grateful to do it. Finally, I would like to remind everyone


who, like me, has had their life or their dreams interrupted by COVID-19 that this is opportunity. This is your chance to experiment, to try something new, to push yourself a little further out of your com- fort zone than you have ever gone. Time is a gift and if you focus on small, achiev- able goals you won’t feel lost or disheart- ened, and soon you will have achieved something great without even realizing it. Remember that we’re all going through this together and the more we are able to do now, to support ourselves and one an- other, the better our outcomes will be.


June 2020


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