Broken Rhythms is ONE week out from moving into the theatre to prepare for our Double Feature presentation of 1,000 Pieces of π and 52 Stories.
As we get closer to opening night, we took some time to connect with the cast and ask them a few important questions about the upcoming show, the creative process, and what this work means to them.
After reading, make sure to swing over to Zeffy and grab your tickets for an evening of art, memory, storytelling, and pie you won’t soon forget.
Allison Rhodes (Ally) Broken Rhythms Company dancer for ∏ and original cast member
Q) How many digits of Pi could you recite?
This is tough to answer! In theory, I could probably make it decently far in the 1000-digit task since I already know the code and the choreography. However, I would never be able to do it with any degree of automaticity. While I know that the choreography exists as a form of codified movement, I don’t directly interact with it in this way. Instead, I focus more on the storyline and characterization, exploring how different sections of movement represent my character’s journey through this memory task. In real life, translating movements into numbers feels similar to translating my primary language into an unfamiliar one. Luckily, my character is given moments of success and fluidity rather than the constant slog of effortful processing that I experience while trying to remember the digits in real life.
Q) If you had to pick, which dances in this show are your favorite?
Two of my favourite pieces in this show are “Dance 6 – Chest Around” and “Dance 0 – Connect to Another Dancer.” Both of these pieces give space for calm moments of connection before building towards joyous conclusions. I also love the quiet, inward reflection of “Dance 4 – Turns” and the relentless frenzy of “Dance 7 – Kick.” I suppose I cheated a bit by refusing to limit my answer to a single dance, but I genuinely love the whole show.
Q) You’ve been with this project since its conception, in what ways has the show evolved?
By design, this show’s choreography is connected to pre-existing code and therefore cannot really be altered. However, with each remount, we find ways to experiment with the meaning of each movement, which can significantly impact the story being told. For example, the digit 0 represents a physical connection between dancers. During this most recent remount, a previously one-sided connection (signifying guarded emotions) was replaced with a mutual connection, completely altering the meaning of the gesture. I think it’s absolutely fascinating how significantly choreographic meaning can shift without substantially changing the base choreography itself.
Q) Most importantly, what is your Favourite type of pie?
Strawberry Rhubarb
Candace Bruce Broken Rhythms Company dancer for ∏
Q) How many digits of Pi could you recite?
I think I know the whole show quite well, but my relationship to the choreography is deeply rooted in how it feels, not in the numeric formula. It would require painstaking effort to reassociate each movement with the numbers they correlate to. I fear it would take a tragically long time.
Q) If you had to pick, which dances in this show are your favorite?
The piece we colloquially call “Tin Soldier”… Truth be told, I don’t know what it’s technically named. I just love the spirit of the piece and how it feels to dance it with the others in the cast.
How have you found the show has evolved?
Unlike some of Broken Rhythm’s other works, this show’s choreography has not really changed since it was developed in 2020. The biggest evolution comes from our cast members and Dyana, who continue to explore innovative movement qualities and interpretations within the work.
Q) Most importantly, what is your Favourite type of pie?
Blackberry, specifically my mom’s!
Caleigh Hunter (Cael) Broken Rhythms Company dancer for ∏ and original cast member
Q) How many digits of Pi could you recite?
I could definitely do more with my body than writing, as I memorize dances in patterns of sequencing. For example, based on the show’s code, a jump jump kick run run run run would be (2 2 7 8) but in the way I’ve always patterned choreography, it runs in my head as (2 1 4). This would be a really hard task for me.
Q) If you had to pick, which dances in this show are your favorite?
I love them all for different reasons. I love watching Candace in the finale. I love watching Sara in the sad stools piece. I love watching Mack in the Tin Soldier. I love watching Ally in her solo, and even after 5 years, could watch her do it for 5 more.
Q) You’ve been with this project since its conception, in what ways has the show evolved?
Over time from covid to now it has shifted tremendously. The choreo or framework has stayed the same but the approach has shifted depending on where we are performing (whether it venue or city), and who we are performing to (our home audience, fringe, arts festival etc). The character is the thing that continues to evolve.
Q) Most importantly, what is your Favourite type of pie?
I love them all!!!
Catch these dancers on stage May 22&23
Broken Rhythms 