Noam Gagnon / Vision Impure

Renowned Canadian choreographer and performer Noam Gagnon returns to the stage with being, a hauntingly intimate solo performance that meditates on human connection, impermanence, and the emotional texture of urban life. Presented by Vision Impure, being invites audiences into a quiet, contemplative world—one where stillness speaks, and the overlooked becomes vital.

Inspired by the aesthetic and emotional resonance of still life, being moves through the silences and spaces we often ignore. Through a fusion of movement, sound, and raw vulnerability, Gagnon reflects on the isolation and disconnection that define contemporary urban existence—while seeking the moments of human presence that endure.

Accompanied live by acclaimed composer and sonic innovator Stefan Smulovitz, the work is both a visual and auditory meditation. Together, Gagnon and Smulovitz create an immersive experience that is both minimalist and deeply emotional—asking what it means to live fully in a fragile, fleeting world.

being is a  personal reflection on modern life, mortality, and the necessity of pause. It offers no easy answers, but instead asks its audience to sit with stillness and rediscover the power of presence.

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Choreographer and Performer: Noam Gagnon
www.visionimpure.org

Noam Gagnon is an award-winning choreographer and performer whose work is celebrated for its emotional honesty and physical intensity. Through Vision Impure, he continues to explore the complexities of the human condition, drawing from lived experience to create movement that resonates on both personal and universal levels.

Lighting Design and Concept: James Proudfoot

James Proudfoot is a lighting designer based in Vancouver, Canada. He is originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, where he received his initial theatre training. Self-taught in the realm of dance lighting, he has contributed designs to many artists and companies over the past 25 years. James is grateful to live and work on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəyə̓ ə̓ m (Musqueam),Sḵwxw̱ w̱ ú7mesh(Squamish)and Selí̓ í̓ lw̓ w̓ itulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Video Concept and Editing: Kenneth Sherman

Kenneth Sherman has developed an international reputation as a dance filmmaker and media artist, with several award-winning works. Beyond just capturing movement on camera, his work grows out of longstanding critical artistic concerns and thematic interests, exploring the intersections of art and science, and the connections between identity and perspective, desire and mortality.

In addition to his work in dance film, Kenneth has a long history and demonstrated interest in scripted narrative, new technologies, and animation.

Makeup: Tracy Clark

Music:

Paint the Land ~Faye Mallett's (House of Rain)
Faye Mallett - vibraphone, drums, keyboards, vocals
Lindsay Cuff - trumpet, violin, guitar, harmony vocals
Braden Jones - bass, drums, harmony vocals
Jesse Griffith - guitar, pedal steel, dobro
Stefan Smulovitz: Viola and Violin

Stefan Smulovitz is a true innovator known for his creative use of technology and mastery of sound manipulation. He skillfully uses violin, viola, theremin, electronics, and his game-changing software Kenaxis, to create vast sonic worlds. Stefan’s craft has been honed creating nearly 100 live film scores, innumerable dance and theatre scores, and hundreds of live performances with top improvisers from around the world. Always open to exploring new ideas he has collaborated with film, dance, theatre, poets, writers, visual artists, and theoretical particle physicists. His latest album Bow & Brush can be heard on all major streaming services.

www.stefansmulovitz.ca

Special Thanks: KW Studios