Five must-see acts
With such a wide selection of music, comedy, dance and multimedia choices, there is a good deal to be excited about at this year’s festival. Here are five recommended shows to consider.
Ten Thousand Wolves and Jake Klar
When: Feb. 24, 8 p.m. Where: Fox Cabaret
From her award-winning slam poetry to leading numerous and increasingly adventurous musical acts, Barbara Adler is a force to be reckoned with doing an enormous amount to keep the music scene alive and kicking in this very challenging city. She makes her festival debut with her group Ten Thousand Wolves presenting a large-scale work called Decoy, with an eight-piece band playing folktinged songs with poetic narrative, projection and object theatre. American singer-songwriter and poet Jake Klar opens.
Ezralow Dance: Open
When: Feb. 15 — 17,
various times
Where: Norman Rothstein
Theatre
This is a Canadian premiere for the latest from choreographer Daniel Ezralow, an American artist known for work that is both explosively physical, but never lacking in whimsy and frequent humour.
An Evening with Mary Walsh
When: March 6, 8 p.m. Where: Norman Rothstein
Theatre
Yes, it’s that Mary Walsh. The comic and social activist known for her ability to blast politicians with bolts of wit and keep the country on point and laughing presents an evening of some of her most celebrated moments from Dancing with Rage, CODCO, This Hour Has 22 Minutes and more.
Bolero and The Rite of Spring
When: March 1 — 3, 8 p.m. When: Norman Rothstein
Theatre
MM Contemporary Dance is based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and directed by company dancer and choreographer Michele Merola. This evening will present Merola’s and Maurice Ravel’s Bolero with additional integrated contemporary composition from composer Stefano Corrias and choreographer Enrico Morelli’s version of Stravinski’s The Rite of Spring.
Troker
When: Feb. 17, 8 p.m. Where: Rickshaw Theatre
This 19-plus performance showcases Mexico’s heavy, funky, danceable, jazz, punk, folk, everything group Troker. Its shows are as high energy as its music is unclassifiable.