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 We'd like to see Darha Phillpot try this again, only at 4 a.m. Phillpot and Karen Johnson of Crazy Legs Contemporary Dance Company are one of the performing arts groups participating in a 24-hour creation festival next weekend. - NNSL file photo |
NACC is sponsoring the 24-hour New Works Creation Festival. Starting at 7 p.m., playwrights, musicians and dancers will begin creating.
Playwrights and actors will work at the Yellowknife Actors' Studio, musicians at the Church of Christ and dancers at NACC. The new plays, songs and dances all have to be finished by 7 p.m. Saturday.
"It's to get artists out and creating and commiserating with other artists," said Ben Nind, NACC's executive and artistic director.
"And it's also to raise awareness of the public about the creation of art."
A third aim for the festival is to cast NACC not only as a performing centre but as a centre serving the needs of performing artists.
All three venues will be open to the public for the full 24-hour period, allowing visitors to drop in and take a peek at the works in progress.
It's the first time Darha Phillpot of Crazy Legs Contemporary Dance Company has tried anything like it, but she and co-founder Karen Johnson will spend the 24 hours at NACC coming up with a new dance.
"We've had some pretty long rehearsals but this is ridiculous," she said.
Caffeine and inspiration will fuel their creative juices. If nothing else, the marathon session will be a lot of fun.
"It takes the pressure off," said Phillpot.
After everyone gets some sleep, they'll present five-minute samples of the finished product at a cabaret Sunday night at NACC.
Nind has participated in 24-hour creation festivals in the past as a playwright.
"It's incredible," he said. "It's intense and a lot of fun. When you hit that dry spell, you can take a break and end up in conversation with another playwright, or wander over and listen to the musicians and you'll find inspiration."
The artists aren't confined to their working space for the time allotted. They can go home, go for a walk, or even drop in on the other artists' venues.
Interested artists are invited to register with NACC by next Wednesday, so organizers will have an idea of how much food and drink to provide for the festival.
It will also be possible for artists to walk in off the street Friday night and participate.
