Contemporary Dance Company "Le Patin Libre" to Perform at Peterborough Memorial Centre

Public Energy Performing Arts is bringing the internationally-renowned contemporary dance company Le Patin Libre and their performance ‘Murmuration’ to the Peterborough Memorial Centre on April 8, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

Public energy performing arts supplied photo

Le Patin Libre of Montreal has assembled a company of 15 virtuoso skaters from 7 countries to perform the original dance on ice, ‘Murmuration’, based on the aerial ballets of swarms of birds.

According to a media release, the dancers move at high speeds around the rink, nearly careening into each other, coming together as one, instantly changing directions and splitting up into separate flocks.

Tickets for the event are available from the Peterborough Memorial Centre Box Office.

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Waawaate Fobister Brings 'Omaagomaan' to Market Hall

Experience the artistry of Dora-award winning contemporary dance artist Waawaate Fobister with Omaagomaan at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

photo courtesy of Public Energy.

Omaagomaan, created and performed by Waawaate Fobister, is described as a multi-genre exploration of ways to stitch a fractured landscape back together through the effects of mercury poisoning and clearcutting. The show is presented by Public Energy Performing Arts, and is set to take audiences on a journey of dance, storytelling, spectacle, surprise and a unique blend of original soundscapes and musical composition supported by a seasoned group of artists and designers.

Fobister embodies Omaagomaan, a two-spirit being, and a manifestation of the earth and man-made poisons that have seeped into the earth’s crust. A shape-shifter inspired by Anishinaabe cosmology, Omaagomaan forces audiences to reckon with the ways the maanaadizi (ugly) and the onizhishi (beautiful) collide.

First performed in 2019, Omaagomaan has now been remounted following the pandemic shutdown, beginning with performances in Munich, Germany, in Nov. and coming to Peterborough in Feb.

photo courtesy of Public Energy.

Waawaate Fobister is a proud Anishnaaben artist from Grassy Narrows First Nation. Waawaate trained and studied Theatre Arts Performance at Humber College, Indigenous Dance at Banff Centre for the Arts, Summer School Intensives at Toronto Dance Theatre, Intensives at Centre for Indigenous Theatre and Kahawi Dance Theatre.

The dancer currently resides in Shoal Lake, and most recently organized the establishment of Canada’s first ever 2SLGBTQ+ Council for an Indigenous governing body at Grand Council Treaty #3.

Tickets for Waawaate’s performance of Omaagomaan are pay-what-you-can between $5 and $30. For more information visit the Public Energy Performing Arts website.

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Fall for Dance North Sparks Magic with Return of Stunning Outdoor Performance Series: Heirloom

Fall for Dance North is back at the end of September to the Peterborough Square Courtyard with their performance series Heirloom.

Photo by Bruce Zinger.

In partnership with Public Energy Performing Arts, Fall for Dance North (FFDN) brings Toronto’s premier international dance festival to Peterborough.

Featuring performances from Montreal artists Zack Martel and Santiago Rivera, the show is set to include dance, juggling and musical performances from The Royal Conservatory musicians.

“What was born out of creative necessity in 2021, due to indoor gathering restrictions dictated by the global pandemic, grew into an inspirational and acclaimed outdoor performance series that we are all incredibly proud to be a part of,” said Fall for Dance North artistic director Ilter Ibrahimof. “We are overjoyed to return with a new highly imaginative, full-length performance that promises to delight the senses in a beautiful new outdoor space in downtown Peterborough.”

Attendees can experience this pay-what-you-can contemporary art experience at the Peterborough Square Courtyard at 340 George St. N. on Sept. 25 at 4 p.m.

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Public Energy Makes A Return To Market Hall With In-Person Shows Beginning February 17

Public Energy Performing Arts is coming back to the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre for in person shows beginning on Feb. 17.

Melika Dez Photography.

After a 23-month period in which Public Energy presented just two events in their busiest venue, they are back with three major presentations over three months.

From Feb. 17 to April. 20 audiences will be able to enjoy cutting edge artists from across Canada with works of dance, theatre and interdisciplinary performance.

Being aware that this is a time of particular financial difficulty for many, and with a goal of eliminating cost as a barrier to attending the performing arts, Public Energy is instituting a pick-your-own-price policy for these three events.

Audiences can pick a price according to their ability to pay, starting at $5 and going up to $30. Tickets available through the Market Hall website: markethall.org or by email to admin@publicenergy.ca or phone 705-745-1788.

On February 17 and 18 is the urban dance company Ebnflōh from Montreal, the hotbed of Canadian dance.

The second show in Public Energy’s Market Hall season is the hard-hitting OUFF from Montreal transdisciplinary artist Alexis O'Hara on March 24. Tackling themes of white privilege, late capitalism and perimenopause with humour and a disconcerting honesty.

The final show in Public Energy’s Market Hall season is Deafy by Edmonton actor and playwright Chris Dodd, being presented April 19 and 20. Deafy is a poignant and humorous storytelling piece blending ASL, the spoken word and surtitles which reflects on the experience of what it is like to be a Deaf person in a hearing world.

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Public Energy is Pivoting to Indoor Shows

After being sidelined for 19 months, Public Energy Performing Arts Pivot 2.0 series will welcome audiences back to indoor live theatre announced on Thursday.

Cheri Maracle performing Paddle Song. See Paddle Song on Oct. 8, 5:00 p.m., at Inverlea Park. Photo courtesy of Pubic Energy.

With the conclusion of the Pivot 2.0 outdoor series, Public Energy is marking a safe return to in-theatre programming with two shows at The Market Hall Performing Arts Centre and The Theatre On King.

Both venues can only be accessed by fully vaccinated audiences and are following all industry-approved protocols.

‘Sound of Mind and Body’, a collaboration between dancer/choreographer Bill Coleman and musician/sound artist Gordon Monahan on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.

Sound of Mind and Body is an experiment in body sensing technology, in which the dancer’s brain waves are harnessed to control the lights and sound on stage.

It is being co-presented with the Electric Eclectics, a festival of experimental music and sound art based in Meaford, Ont., and will be live-streamed at a later date with Chicago’s Experimental Sound Studio.

Bill Coleman and Gord Monahan performing Sound of Mind and Body. Photo courtesy of Public Energy.

‘Kitten!’ by Victoria Ward is being presented on October 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. at the Theatre On King. ‘Kitten!’ is a collaborative re-imagining of Ward’s 1993 indie theatre hit. Themes of Ward’s show include indoctrination, sexuality during the AIDS pandemic, youth and Catholicism.

The work is being developed through a two-week artist residency for the Precarious3 Festival during which social media will be used as a tool to integrate audiences into an ever-evolving performance text.

Bill Coleman performing Sound of Mind and Body. Photo courtesy of Public Energy.

All Public Energy in-theatre programming is being captured with a multiple camera system to create high-quality recordings that will be live-streamed in the days following each presentation.

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Public Energy Brings Circus Sundae to Peterborough

Public Energy Performing Arts is kicking off a seven-part outdoor event on Sunday at two separate locations.

Spumoni the Clown. Photo Courtesy of Public Energy.

The seven-part series will showcase a 25-minute program called Circus Sundae: Sweet & Salty by Flying Solo, a Toronto-based circus company that uses their own originally designed and fabricated apparatuses to create unique choreography, performed on the one-of-a-kind City Circus Truck.

Aerialists Nicole Malbeuf and Laura Lawless and contortionist Flexy-T will perform on the City Circus Truck, a flatbed trailer that will be parked on site.

Ice cream treats will be served to the audience while Spumoni the Clown attempts to create the ultimate mouth-watering ice cream sundae.

Circus Sundae will be at two parking lot locations on Sunday. Performances can be seen at the Peterborough Memorial Centre at noon and at Peterborough Collegiate (PCVS) at 3:00 p.m.

Both shows are free or pay-what-you-wish. Book your spot on the Public Energy website here.

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Public Energy Holding Arts Festival At The Mount Community Centre

Public Energy has announced the final event of its 20th anniversary season. Called "Erring on the Mount",  it is a major new multidisciplinary arts festival taking place May 30th to June 1st at the Mount Community Centre (1555 Monaghan Road) that features more than 60 artists in 50 works of art and performance. There will be art installations, performance pieces, choral groups and interactive works.

Public Energy Artistic Producer Bill Kimball helping Artist Robert Edmonson install his kinetic sculpture in the Chapel. Photo: Paul Oldham

Public Energy Artistic Producer Bill Kimball helping Artist Robert Edmonson install his kinetic sculpture in the Chapel. Photo: Paul Oldham

Tickets go on sale May 2nd through the Market Hall box office, or by calling 705-749-1146.

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Watch This "The Beauty Of A Woman" Dance Filmed In Peterborough Square

As part of Emergency #20 Dance festival sponsored by Public Energy and Market Hall Performing Art Theatre, local artists performed "The Beauty of a Woman"—a piece combining numerous styles of world dance traditions that shows off the diverse local talent Peterborough has. Choreographed by Debora Harrison, the performers are Debora Harrison (Irish Dance), Anna Simone Tennent-Riddell (West African Style), Camina Harrison Chery (Hip Hop), Gaya Jayasinghe (Sri Lankan Classical Dance), Jasmine June (Belly Dancing) and Mayelin Lovet (Afro-Cuban Dance).

[YouTube]

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Ode'min Giizis Festival (Strawberry Moon Festival) June 16 to 21 in Peterborough

 

Public Energy and O'Kaadenigan Wiingashk bring the third annual Ode'min Giizis (The Strawberry Moon Festival)—see promo video above—to Peterborough's downtown and Del Crary Park from June 16 to 21, with more than 200 Indigenous artists participating.

The city of Peterborough lies on the traditionally lands of the Anishinaabe. These lands have been long known as a meeting place among the rapids where ideas and knowledge were exchanged. Hence, it’s the perfect home base for a cultural festival like Ode'min Giizis.

The festival takes its name from the sweet and generous strawberry, which is harvested at this time of year. It is said to also represent the human heart. As well, the festival falls on the longest day of the year: the summer solstice.

Ode'min Giizis is a diverse six-day festival of indigenous art which marks the beginning of summer. The festival takes its shape via a selection of multi-disciplinary arts spread out across multiple venues (Historic Red Dog, Artspace, The Art Gallery of Peterborough, Gordon Best Theatre, Kubo Lounge and Confederation Park, to name a few) in the downtown area. Featured is a cross section of disciplines, including visual art, dance, film, storytelling, music and theatre.

Opening ceremonies on Wednesday, June 16th, kick off with a traditional gathering and Powwow at Del Crary Park. One of the featured performers there will be Mihirangi, otherwise known as the “Queen of Loops”. Singing in both Maori and English, Mihirangi blends sultry jazz, ska and rap with her incredible vocal range. Mihirangi’s music has taken her around the world, and that experience, and energy, will be ours to witness during this festival.

Among the other artists taking part include the likes of musician Lester Alfonso, artist Jason Baerg, musician Samantha Crain and local musical personality Sean Conway.

On the Saturday night (June 19th), the stars come out to Del Crary for a night of music and dance. Featured performers include local musician Missy Knott and world renowned throat singer Tanya Tagaq.

The event comes to an end with a wonderful Powwow on June 21^st at Del Crary Park. This gathering takes the form of a procession which makes its way from City Hall down George Street to Del Crary Park for more music and festivities. The parade will feature many dancers, large puppets and music.

—Jeffrey Macklin, PtboCanada contributor

[If you are interested in volunteering for the festival, call 705.740.9189 or email volunteer@okw-arts.ca. The festival headquarters are located at 400 Hunter St.]

[Ode'min Giizis 2010; Ode'min Giizis - Strawberry Moon Festival] 

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