Mocean Dance is a non-profit society founded in 2001 by Carolle Crooks Fernando, Sara Harrigan, Alicia Orr MacDonald, Lisa Phinney Langley, and Sarah Rozee. These five Halifax dancers and co-artistic directors trained and performed across North America before returning home to Halifax, Nova Scotia to create a contemporary dance company that would provide dancers, choreographers, artistic and production personnel, and audiences with an ongoing framework for the creation and exploration of modern dance.
Mocean Dance began artistic and operational planning in 2001, and was incorporated in March 2002. The co-founders worked as both dancers and administrators. Initially, the company created and performed in workshops, showcases and charitable events. By 2003/2004 the company was more established, with both provincial and federal project funding, and was able to commission work and produce its first mainstage production, Quintecentric, to sold-out audiences. Mocean began to tour to local schools. The company transferred more responsibility for governance to the Board of Directors and launched several fundraising campaigns.
In 2004/2005, Mocean made the transition to four full-time members, Carolle Crooks Fernando, Sarah Rozee, Sara Harrigan and Alicia Orr MacDonald, who divided their time between dancing, artistic direction, and company management. Lisa Phinney Langley continued her artistic consulting role as one of the company founders, and as an associate.
In 2004/2005 the company:
- created and presented new work with choreographers Roger Sinha and Howard Richard
- was contracted to provide the dancer/collaborators for Gwen Noah’s full length work, Vestige
- began work with Mary Ellen MacLean on Velocipede
- toured to 14 schools, taught workshops, and performed in other events
- received its first management development grant from the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program (CAHSP)
The 2005/2006 season was rich in performance and creation. The company:
- appeared in the East Coast Rhythms Festival in Toronto
- toured to schools and developed new educational materials, and residency and touring plans
- was presented in Halifax, Vancouver and Guelph by the CanDance network
- collaborated with physical theatre artist Mary Ellen MacLean on the creation and performance of Velocipede
- began creation of a new full-evening work with Dancemaker’s Artistic Director, Michael Trent
- launched its community development program with a week-long residency in Shelburne, Nova Scotia
- worked with consultant Judy Harquail to develop skills and infrastructure for national touring and marketing
- networked at Contact East, the Canada Dance Assembly Conference, and the Canada Dance Festival
- received grants from all levels of government including: Canada Council funding for creation with Michael Trent, a second CAHSP grant for further organizational development, and an HRM (Halifax Regional Municipality) grant for the development of new educational materials
- launched a new fundraising gala event: Out of the Blue
Mocean’s 2006/2007 season marked a milestone in the company’s growth. Mocean:
- hired Melanie Ferro as a full-time dance intern with assistance from the Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC)
- hired a full-time administrator, Kathryn Crooks
- received its first operating funding from the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage (NSDTCH)
- completed creation with Michael Trent and premiered Mappa Mundi
- became eligible to access funding through the Canada Council Creation and Production program
- showcased at CAPACOA, the Canadian Arts Presenting Association’s contact conference
- held its second fundraising gala, Gala Rouge
- began consultations with Nancy Bell in fundraising, and Kathy Casey, Artistic Director of Montreal Danse, in artistic leadership and development
- toured to schools and communities regionally to perform and do residency work
- began The Reaction Project with choreography by founders Sara Harrigan and Carolle Crooks Fernando, and New Brunswick choreographer, Lesandra Dodson, to be completed and showcased during a creation-based residency in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
- was awarded a third CAHSP grant for the development of a new website.
In 2007/2008, Mocean:
- conducted creation-based residencies in Annapolis Royal and Shelburne, Nova Scotia
- showcased at Contact East in Liverpool, Nova Scotia and was recognized with an award for Innovation in Marketing
- hosted its third annual fundraising gala, Orange Krush
- launched their brand new website, funded by Canadian Heritage
- toured to Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick and Wolfville, Nova Scotia
- was commissioned by Kinetic Studio to perform a new creation by choreographer, Susie Burpee in the Kinetic Studio mainstage
- presented their Home Season Mainstage Production, Given the Circumstances
In 2008/2009, Mocean:
- hired new dance apprentice, Tania Jean
- completed a new creation with Montreal-based choreographer, Estelle Clareton
- participated in Halifax’s first ever Nocturne Festival
- hosted its fourth annual fundraising gala, Limelight
- toured to theatres in Sackville and Moncton, New Brunswick; Charlottetown, PEI and St. John’s, New Foundland
- was presented by Live Art Dance Productions in their Home Season Mainstage Production, which featured the world premiere of Sorrows, choreographed by Estelle Clareton
- attended Pacific Contact in Burnaby, British Columbia
In 2009/2010, Mocean:
- created works with Toronto’s Sharon Moore, Vancouver’s Susan Elliot and Halifax’s, Cory Bowles for Live in 3, in Halifax
- toured performances and residencies to Antigonish, Nova Scotia; Summerside, PEI; Saint John, New Brunswick; and Oakville and St. Catharines’s, Ontario
- completed its most extensive annual school tour to date (10 schools with 10 performances and 35 workshops in the Annapolis Valley Region, Nova Scotia)
- hired the 08/09 apprentice,Tania Jean, as a full company member
- was awarded operating funding from the Canada Council Arts Creation/Production in Dance program for the upcoming season – the first dance company east of Quebec to ever achieve this status
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