Dana Michel specializes in creating situations governed by their own logic. She lives in a world of objects to which she gives new meaning and purposes, away from binary and linear thinking and doing. She breaches social norms from a position of curiosity rather than provocation, gently ushering supposed “marginal figures” to the centre of the conversation. With humour and sensitivity, she questions our very modes of existence.
MIKE asserts the nomadic aesthetic that has become Michel’s calling card over the course of her career. In an open space, during three hours, MIKE invites the audience to spend time inside its universe. It revolves around work culture and self-respect, and puts forward a burning question: is it possible to live public lives that reflect our inner selves? Put your faith in Michel’s hands, one yes at a time. (Enora Rivière)
MIKE is included in our Bear (AKA Full Week) and Otter (Weekend Max) Passes. Click here for more information about our passes.
Credits
Created and performed by: Dana Michel
Artistic activators: Viva Delorme, Ellen Furey, Peter James, Heidi Louis, Tracy Maurice, Roscoe Michel, Karlyn Percil, Yoan Sorin
Scenographic consultant – Technical direction: Romain Guillet
Sound consultant: David Drury
Production: SCORP CORPS – Viva Delorme, Dana Michel
Distribution: neon lobster – Giulia Messia & Katharina Wallisch
Coproduction: ARSENIC – Centre d’art scénique contemporain (Lausanne, Switzerland / Suisse), National Arts Centre (Ottawa, Canada), Festival TransAmériques (Montréal, Canada), Julidans Amsterdam (Netherlands), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels, Belgium), MDT (Stockholm, Sweden), Montpellier Danse (France), Moving in November, (Helsinki, Finland), Wexner Center for the Arts of The Ohio State University in Colombus (United States of America).
Creative residencies / Résidences de création: Alkantara (Lisbon, Portugal), ANTI Festival (Kuopio, Finland), National Arts Centre (Ottawa, Canada), Kinosaki International Arts Center and Kyoto Experiment (Japan), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels, Belgium), Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm (Frankfurt, Germany), Montpellier Danse (France) creation residency at Agora, cité internationale de la danse, with support from BNP Paribas Foundation, RIMI/IMIR SceneKunst (Stavanger, Norway), Shedhalle (Zürich, Switzerland) with the kind support of Tanzhaus Zürich and the Embassy of Canada to Switzerland, The Chocolate Factory (NYC, United States of America)
The creation of this work is being made possible thanks to the financial support of Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec, Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie and Conseil des Arts de Montréal.
Access
This durational performance invites audiences to move around the space, and come and go as they need to. Soft seating and blankets will be available for people to ensure they can sit comfortably. There is one small step or a ramp into the space, and a wheelchair accessible toilet is available.
Fierce Says
Dana-fucking-Michel. We presented the UK premiere of the now iconic Yellow Towel in 2014 and last saw her at the festival in 2019 as part of Andrew Tay and Stephen Thompson’s Make Banana Cry. We’re thrilled to welcome her back to Fierce because, simply put, no one is doing it like Dana. Whether we read it as dance, performance art or live art, it’s inexplicable, singular, magical. (And, please: stay for all three hours.)