With public venues closed for seven weeks now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the collective voice of Peterborough’s performance arts community has been reduced to a whisper.
Public Energy Performing Arts is aiming to turn up the volume with The Rewind Room, a weekly livestream showcase featuring performances from Public Energy’s archives of local dance, theatre, and circus artists.
Launched in April, The Rewind Room also serves as a fundraiser for the featured artists, whose income has been severely curtailed by the pandemic.
Artists featured in The Rewind Room receive a screening fee, and viewers can also donate directly to the artists through Public Energy’s website.
Every week, Public Energy is premiering a livestream followed by a live talkback session on Zoom with Public Energy, where viewers can find out more about the artists and their work and discuss the experience with other viewers.
Each performance is livestreamed on Public Energy’s website at publicenergy.ca, as well as on Public Energy’s YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. Closed captioning is available on Public Energy’s website and on the YouTube channel.
Each screening is around 10 minutes in length, comprising either the artist’s full work or excerpts of longer works. The screenings remain online indefinitely for viewers who are unable to attend the weekly premiere.
The Rewind Room – Served: Counter Culture by Naomi Duvall and Anne White – April 9, 2020
Here’s The Rewind Room schedule for May:
Nimkii Osawamick and Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie – Thursday, May 7th at 2 p.m.
Nimkii Osawamick (Odawa, Wikwemikong Unceeded Reserve, Wolf Clan), a Peterborough-based singer, hoop dancer, and champion pow wow dancer, performs his powerful, high energy dance accompanied by Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie, a pow wow singer/song maker.
Bryden was nominated for a Juno Award in 2017 for his debut album Round Dance & Beats, which fuses traditional pow wow songs with modern hip hop production.
Nimkii was the recipient of the 2019 Peterborough Arts Award for Emerging Artist.
Kate Story and Ryan Kerr – Wednesday, May 13th at 3 p.m.
Ryan Kerr and Kate Story perform Snow Day, their hit dance work from the Emergency #11 festival in 2003.
Kate and Ryan are probably the most prolific artists working in Peterborough’s independent theatre/dance scene, with so many original works to their credit it is hard to keep score.
In Snow Day, two tobogganers have an adventure on the slopes followed by relaxation in front of a warm fire.
Old Men Dancing – Wednesday, May 20th at 4 p.m.
Long-time Peterborough favourites Old Men Dancing perform Hydra, a dance made specially for Public Energy’s 25th anniversary event on May 25, 2019.
This talented group of gentlemen of a certain age got its start through Public Energy in 2002.
Since then they have had some of Canada’s best choreographers create dances specially for them, and continue to make their own unique brand of dance theatre.
Nicole Malbeuf – Wednesday, May 27th at 12 p.m.
Nicole Malbeuf, a Peterborough-based aerial artist, performs Aurora.
A mainstay of Peterborough’s busy circus scene, Nicole runs her own company, Trellis Arts & Entertainment.
She has performed her imaginative aerial and circus work in Peterborough, Toronto, and numerous communities throughout Ontario.
