The award-winning dance company PointeTango, a Canadian fringe festival circuit favourite, is coming back to Victoria with its newest show, TANGO, to the Pointe, as part of the World Accordion and Tango Festival.
PointeTango founders Erin Scott-Kafadar and Alexander Richardson shared their thoughts about this performance.
This will be your first performance in Victoria since 2019. How does it feel to get the show on the road again, after COVID hiatus?
“It feels amazing to be back on stage again, experiencing the electric energy of performing in front of a live audience. We really missed the spontaneity of performing live and sharing those special moments of connection with the audience, feeling their excitement and inspiring as many people as possible.”
Your new show is called “TANGO, to the Pointe.” Will it be significantly different from your previous shows?
“TANGO, to the Pointe is one of our most technically challenging and thrilling dance shows. It is full of explosive energy, passion and pushing our physicality and artistry to their limits!
In contrast with our other full-length shows, TANGO, to the Pointe is danced almost completely on classical ballet pointe shoes. We are the only dance company in the world to improvise Argentine tango on pointe. Dancing on pointe for an hour was a challenge that we were happy to experience, even if it does ‘kill’ Erin’s pointe shoes, which we have to replace after every performance.”
Is it really possible to dance tango wearing one pointe shoe and one stiletto?
“The combination was awkward at first since the pointe shoe is higher than the stiletto, but we decided to embrace the awkwardness and play with the movement possibilities. You will have to come see it for yourself at the World Accordion and Tango Festival to experience our unique fusion of Argentine tango and classical ballet!”
TANGO, to the Pointe plays at the Canadian College of Performing Arts (1701 Elgin Road) on November 20 at 6 pm. Tickets are $25. Visit watf.ca for more information.