Dr. Brenda Cantelo’s Religion and Dance course - Faculty of Arts collaborate with Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music - Dr. Gordon Fitzell’s eXperimental Improv Ensemble

Bodies of Water – An Interdisciplinary Approach to Learning

December 9, 2015 —

On Thursday, December 3, 2015, a group of students performed “Bodies of Water” in the St. John’s College Chapel. Students from Dr. Brenda Cantelo’s Religion and Dance course in the Faculty of Arts collaborated with students in Dr. Gordon Fitzell’s eXperimental Improv Ensemble (XIE) from the Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music to create an engaging performance that featured choreography by Stephanie Ballard.

This unique opportunity allowed students to learn across disciplines and to be guided by professionals in fields of music and choreography. Choreographer Stephanie Ballard shared this view: “Being a part of Bodies of Water was a unique experience. The live interdisciplinary dance event provided exciting challenges and a beautiful discovery process.” The interdisciplinary approach taken by this group broadened the parameters of dance and music, offering an innovative approach to learning and teaching.

This creative performance attracted an audience of 75 people to the Chapel of St. John’s College. Audience members included Faculty, staff and students from the University of Manitoba and leaders of the Winnipeg dance and music community, opening new avenues for collaboration within the University and a foundation involving community groups.

The students involved are to be congratulated on their ability to learn across disciplines and for their enthusiasm and creativity in performing the piece. They both learned and shared with the audience Stephanie Ballard’s sense that, “If we are breathing, we are moving. And I suggest that our movement throughout a lifetime is a dance, a very personal dance and spiritual dance that is carefully choreographed by each individual human being.”
This project has been made possible by the generous support of:

The University of Manitoba Creative Works Grants Program
Desautels Faculty of Music, eXperimental Improv Ensemble
Faculty of Arts, Department of Religion
Institute for the Humanities
St. John’s College

Photos: University of Manitoba – Mike Latschislaw

XIE – Musician

Bodies of Water – Dancer

XIE – Musician

Bodies of Water – Dancer

Bodies of Water – Dancer

XIE – Musician

Faculty of Arts

Desautels Faculty of Music, School of Art

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