Compagnie de la Citadelle

In "Anne", choreographer and performer Laurence Lemieux mines her history to explore its effect on her behaviour and sentiment to belong. Referring to ancestor Anne Martin, the work is inspired by Anne’s uncertain origins and is influenced by the meeting of the Indigenous and French at the beginning of colonization. Supported by an original composition by Aidan McConnell, lighting design by Nic Vincent, and the scenic design of Edward Poitras suspending L’île d’Orléans, the home of Lemieux’s ancestors, above Anne’s universe, the work speaks to individual power, memory and what it means to embody one’s lineage.

Choreograper/Performer: Laurence Lemieux

Laurence Lemieux is a dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director of Citadel + Compagnie. Born in Québec City, Laurence studied dance at L’École Supérieure de Danse du Québec, and at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT). She danced for TDT from 1986 to 1998, winning a Dora Mavor Moore award in 1998 for her interpretation of Christopher House’s “Cryptoversa”. Lemieux has choreographed over thirty original works and has danced for some of Canada’s most prominent choreographers, including Margie Gillis, James Kudelka, and Jean-Pierre Perreault. Lemieux is a passionate advocate for the arts and is Chair of the board of Dance Arts Institute. In 2012, Lemieux created The Citadel Dance Program, bringing high quality, free dance classes to children and youth living in Regent Park.

Performer: Edward Poitras

Edward Poitras was born in 1953 in Regina, Saskatchewan and is a member of the Gordon First Nation. He studied with Sarain Stump at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural College in Saskatoon (1974) and then with Mexican Aboriginal artist Domingo Cisneros at Manitou College in La Macaza, Québec (1975-1976). Poitras then became an instructor himself, teaching at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College in Saskatoon (1976-1978), the University of Manitoba (1978) and the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College at the University of Regina (1981-1984, 1989-1990, now First Nations University of Canada). Poitras has also worked as a graphic artist for New Breed magazine (1984-1985).

Poitras's mixed-media sculptures and installations combine a variety of natural and human-made elements. His work explores themes including history, treaties, the effects of colonialism, and life in urban spaces and on the reserve.

Poitras's work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across the country and in the United States and Finland, and has been included in nearly every major contemporary Aboriginal exhibition since 1980. In 1995, Poitras became the first Aboriginal artist to represent Canada at the Venice Biennale. A 2002 exhibition organized by Saskatoon's Mendel Art Gallery, “Qu'Appelle: Tales of Two Valleys,” included many of his recent works.

Poitras's work is part of the collections of the Canadian Museum of Civilization (Hull, Quebec), Mendel Art Gallery (Saskatoon), Saskatchewan Arts Board, MacKenzie Art Gallery (Regina), Thunder Bay Art Gallery, and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, among others. In 2002, Poitras was awarded the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts. In November 2020, Edward joined Robin Poitras C.M. as the Co-Artistic Director of New Dance Horizons.

Composer: Aidan McConnell

Aidan McConnell (he/him) is a composer, drummer, improviser, and concert producer/curator based in Toronto. He sees all of his musical endeavors from the perspective of a facilitator. Whether he is organizing a concert, performing improvised music as a drummer, or composing for a play, dance performance, or musical ensemble, to support the unification of others’ artistic voices is one of his greatest joys. As a composer and improviser, Aidan is interested in exploring experimental forms, playing with audience and performers’ attention/rate of perception, and performing with honesty and vulnerability. Aidan performs frequently in the jazz and improvised music scene in Toronto, as well as with experimental folk-rock band Burs, freak folk band Potions, and Montréal based folk songwriter Bells Larsen.

Lighting Designer: Nic Vincent

Nic is a lighting designer based out of Toronto and New York City. He began his career in Canada’s contemporary dance scene, and is happy to be returning to it with such incredible artists. Now specializing in theatre, dance and opera, he has designed award-winning productions across the U.S. and Canada, including Off-Broadway and regionally.

Recent Off-Broadway, Lincoln Center Theater, Roundabout, The Atlantic, The Apollo, Theater Row, 59E59, Mabou Mines, New Ohio, NY Live Arts, Rattlestick. Regional: Geva Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Yale Repertory Theatre, Indian Repertory Theatre, People’s Light (Barrymore nominated), Portland Opera, Sacramento Opera.

Other work includes “Wéi 成为” (Yvonne Ng), “NIGHTGOWNS” (Sasha Velour / Quibi), and many new-play developments, most recently at the Blyth festival. Member: ADC IATSE 659, M.F.A.: Yale School of Drama, nicvincent.com.