Thursday, January 12, 2012

Lainie Towell, left, and Dr. Lee know a thing or two about African beats. Photo by Jonathan Lorange.



After almost four years away from dance, Lainie Towell (aka, the Artist Formerly Known as Sufi Girl) returns to the studio with a 10-week African dance course based on a new vision she calls “dance where you are.”

“Dance when you are broken open, dance when you tear the bandage off, dance when you are perfectly free,” explains Towell, borrowing the words of Persian poet Rumi.

Four years ago Towell stepped away from her artistic passion after life-changing events gave her first-hand experience in the issue of immigration marriage fraud. Then she became unemployed when the board of directors for Le Groupe Dance Lab shut down the legendary Ottawa company.

“The most difficult period of my life was so intertwined with my passion—dance,” explained Towell. “I felt I had no choice but to step away from it all.”

Why return now? “I realized that my work as an artist is and always has been to give people the opportunity to engage fully with what it means to be human through our bodies, our thoughts, our feelings, and our spirits,” Towell said.

“I am interested in creating participatory experiences for audiences. As a performer I love transforming the street into a stage because it is intimate and direct.”

“I feel alive when I dance,” Towell continues. “I am an artist and it is my job to promote dance. Additionally, my role is to encourage and lead people to experience their creativity through life-embracing activity.”

Encore: Dance Where You Are

10 weeks of African Dance for the Body and Soul

Live Drumming with Dr Lee Percussion

Sundays: January 22 to March 25 (6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

Fee: $175

Studio Mouvement, 69 rue Eddy, Vieux Hull

819.205.0979 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / www.studiomouvement.com