For Roberto Campanella, ProArteDanza’s 20th anniversary isn’t just a marker of time. It’s a celebration of creativity, resilience, and the artistic risks that have defined the company’s legacy. From its early days, Campanella has spanned genres to carve new spaces, fusing ballet’s precision with contemporary dance’s emotive power. The company’s dedication has led to multiple sold-out shows, critical acclaim, and a Dora Award for Outstanding Choreography, establishing ProArteDanza as a powerhouse in Canadian dance. As ProArteDanza unveils Echoes of In Between and embarks on a multi-city tour of The 9th! in the new year, Campanella reflects on the journey that brought the company to this milestone moment and the vision guiding it forward.
Reflecting on the evolution of In Between, Campanella shares how both the Dora Award-winning work and its creators have matured over time. Originally choreographed in collaboration with Robert Glumbek in 2010, In Between delved into themes of transition…ideas that have long held Campanella’s imagination. “Revisiting this piece has given us the chance to tighten the concept in ways that resonate more deeply today,” he says, noting that this reimagining has been “refreshed” and “refurbished” to align with their artistic growth. For Campanella, this renewed version, titled Echoes of In Between, is an opportunity to celebrate evolution while staying faithful to the original. “We’ve woven our current perspectives as creators into the piece, while keeping its core vision, look, and feel true to its original form,” he explains. This full evening of dance also includes a brand new duet work by Métis artist Jera Wolfe, whose choreography offers a unique perspective on the theme of transition.
Campanella’s vision for ProArteDanza extends beyond the stage. In 2007, the company established the Summer Intensive Program (SIP) to foster the development of contemporary dancers, many of whom have gone on to become company members. “The Summer Intensive Program provides dancers with high-calibre training that not only refines their technical skills but also develops the versatility and resilience needed to thrive in today’s dance world,” he explains. For many young artists, SIP is their first step into the professional world and an entryway to ProArteDanza itself. Furthering this commitment, the company created ChoreoLab in 2020, a space for emerging and established choreographers to experiment and develop new work. “These programs feed the company with a community of dancers and choreographers who bring their best, enabling us to continually evolve while fostering a vibrant ecosystem of dance in Canada,” Campanella notes with pride.
At the heart of ProArteDanza is a commitment to collaboration, which Campanella sees as essential to the company’s identity and his own artistic journey. Reflecting on partnerships with artists like Rex Harrington and Evelyn Hart, he notes, “Working with iconic figures like Rex and Evelyn helped establish the company’s foundation.” Their artistry, he says, “set a high standard, inspiring a rigorous yet innovative approach that continues to define our work.” This ethos of collaboration has carried through ProArteDanza’s history, from the early days of Campanella & Friends in 2004 to the 2013 launch of the Spring Choreographic Workshop. For Campanella, working with emerging voices, like Wolfe, is equally enriching. “Jera’s work captures a depth and immediacy that not only resonates with audiences but also expands our vision.” These relationships, whether with established legends or newer talents, have enriched ProArteDanza’s identity, ensuring its voice remains dynamic and responsive to Canada’s evolving dance landscape.
The upcoming Ontario tour of The 9th! is another step in ProArteDanza’s commitment to reaching communities across the province. Originally presented in 2019, The 9th! marked ProArteDanza’s largest undertaking to date, part of “The Beethoven’s 9th Project,” a decade-long artistic vision that began in 2009 to explore themes of resilience, freedom, and unity. The production also attracted acclaim and a dedicated following during tours to Vancouver and Victoria, and it inspired a dance film, No. 9!, directed by Moze Mossanen in 2023. From January 30 to February 7, 2025, the company will tour The 9th! to St Catharines, Chatham-Kent, Kingston, Oakville, and Markham. Campanella is forthright about feeling “incredibly excited to bring The 9th! to audiences across Ontario and to share the powerful energy and spirit of this production”. He hopes audiences will experience a “sense of connection—both to each other and to the themes of endurance and collective strength that are at the heart of this production.” He wants viewers to leave with a renewed belief in unity and the transformative power of dance.
As ProArteDanza reaches this milestone, Campanella’s reflections on legacy are both heartfelt and forward-looking. The pandemic saw the company adapt quickly, commissioning six choreographers to create new dance films for the Virtual TO project, keeping Canadian dance vibrant even during challenging times. ProArteDanza’s impact and resilience were also documented in a dedicated film, which highlighted its influence in the arts. “We’ve strived to create dance that speaks to people, bridging the technical precision of ballet with the raw, expressive freedom of contemporary dance,” he reflects. His vision for ProArteDanza has always been to make dance accessible and emotionally resonant, ensuring that audiences feel “connected, moved, and inspired”. He hopes the company will be remembered as one that “dared to push boundaries” and celebrated resilience and creativity, leaving a lasting impact on Canada’s cultural landscape.
Ultimately, Campanella wants people to “remember us as a company that dared to push boundaries, that celebrated resilience and creativity, and that, above all, made contemporary dance accessible, engaging, and transformative for everyone who experienced it”. With Echoes of In Between and the Ontario tour of The 9th!, ProArteDanza is ready to remind audiences of the power of dance to uplift, to connect, and to inspire. For Campanella, this 20-year celebration is just the beginning of the stories yet to be told.
Echoes of In Between will run from November 8-10, 2024 at the Fleck Dance Theatre at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. For tickets, please visit harbourfrontcentre.com.
© Arpita Ghosal, Sesaya Arts Magazine, 2024
