In what’s been described as “Moulin Rouge meets Simani,” “Champagne meets Carnation Milk,” and “A Gay Foggy Day!” Ruralesque turns the images from Newfoundland tourism marketing upside down. Featuring dance, burlesque performance, stories, and a few songs, join us for an entertaining evening of fishnets and fishing nets!
Created and Performed by:
Hilary Knee, Josh Murphy, Candice Pike
With offstage collaborator Lois Brown, New musical arrangements by Bridget Swift, and some extra-special Guest Stars!
Trailer
Check out some performance highlights captured by Rodrigo Iniguez at Neighbourhood Dance Works’ Festival of New Dance 2022.
Ruralesque is a funny and touching hour-long performance for three dancers and a special guest star (a favourite local performer). With themes that stretch across geographic and generational gaps, it is for Newfoundlanders and “Mainlanders” alike. It can be presented in a traditional, theatrical venue (proscenium, black box, etc), cabaret, or community hall-type setting. It includes an unlikely mix of contemporary dance, theatre games, burlesque performance, and music. It highlights themes of belonging/not-belonging, and how young people who were raised during the time of the cod moratorium in Newfoundland and Labrador are coming to terms with their identities as Newfoundlanders.
Upcoming Performances
TBA
Past Performances
October 6, 2022
Festival of New Dance
St. John’s, NL
October 21, 2022
Arts Atlantic Symposium
Saint John, NB
July 5, 2022
Gros Morne Summer Music
Corner Brook, NL
April 26, 2022
Arts and Culture Centre
Corner Brook
Information For Presenters
What Audience Are Saying
“We just got home from your show...and yes, we stayed for the Q&A. We loved it! To see our culture presented in such a fun contemporary way was a real treat. Thank you so much for your talent!.”
— Karin Galliott O’Keffe, former Arts and Culture Centre Manger, Corner Brook
“I saw the show and loved it! I hope it will be done again and again. More people need to see this!”
— Elaine Huxter, Corner Brook
“Ruralesque is the brilliant intersection of traditional Newfoundland culture, burlesque, and contemporary dance. The performesr use dance-making as a way to re-mix and mash-up these very different genres of dance into an evening of thought provoking laughter and fun.
— Jennifer Lynn Dick,
Independent Dance Artist
“I have been thinking a lot about your show to try and explain how it moved me. I laughed, I cried and I revelled in the beauty of it all. I FELT a lot during the show. Sometimes it was a heart squeeze, sometimes it was a gut punch, or questioning what I was seeing with who I think I am.”
— Cherie Wheeler, Corner Brook
“What a wonderful celebration of local talent in a unique and thought-provoking way! Thanks to all the artists involved...we so need this in our lives in these crazy times!!!”
— KG via Facebook
Ruralesque was created with support from:
ArtsNL, Canada Council for the Arts – Conseil des arts du Canada, Live Art Dance – Diane Moore Creation Award, Gros Morne Summer Music, Neighbourhood Dance Works, Arts and Culture Centre, Corner Brook, and many friends, family members and colleagues