November 16-19th, 2022
Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
Burnaby, BC

The inspiration for this new work grew out of 4 years of research, that started with a choreographic investigation focusing on plastic pollution (through international collaboration with Poland and Japan – “Debris Afloat” / “Debris” 2018-2019). But, so many things have happened since the Tsunami that first inspired the piece. Working under the exceptional circumstances of Covid-19 resulted in a shift in the focus of the work: the notion of pollution broadened to include the toxicity that enters not only our body but also our psyche. From there, under the working title “Elements”, what was under consideration, was how the traumas human beings go through in life inform the climate and social crisis humanity find itself into today.

We cannot respect the others nor the planet if we don’t have respect for ourselves. We are unconsciously projecting our traumas on our environment (people & land). Being entangled in plastic becomes then an analogy for the anguish and sorrow that one can feel when dealing with racism, homophobia, the loss of your home, the loss of your roots… and the long road before us leading onto the path to reconciliation, reckoning and acceptance with yourself and the others.

Researching this work, Terezakis used his own life experiences as a neurodivergent gay man, who immigrated to Canada many years ago, but also asked his dancers to use their own, creating a safe space for dialogue, exchange and co-creation.

This work wants to open a dialogue about toxic environment (climate & social crisis) and its impacts.