About
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Femmes du Feu is a project operating company founded in 2003. Since 2007, Femmes du Feu have been actively creating and presenting aerial circus works, researching innovative ways to combine their contemporary dance and choreographic backgrounds with their aerial circus skills. This has included exploring apparatuses such as a bungee in Impossibility (2007), silks in Dive (2009) and trapeze in Tiffany (2010). More recently, Femmes du Feu has invented apparatuses specific to their artistic needs such as the anchor, rope or pole as in The Plank (2010). Femmes du Feu have presented their work at various events including At The Wrecking Ball (2007), The Toronto International Circus Festival (2008), and Hysteria Festival (2009), The London/ Toronto/ Winnipeg Fringe Festivals (2009 & 2010).
In 1999 Femmes du Feu created and produced their first full-length contemporary circus show, Head First, for the London, Toronto and Hamilton Fringe Festivals, winning Patron’s Pick and Best of Fringe in Toronto. In 2010, Femmes du Feu created and produced their second full-length production, The Plank to sold out houses at the London, Toronto, and Winnipeg Fringe Festivals.The Plank was extremly well received by both audiences and critics, with 5 star reviews, and again winning The Fringe Festival’s Patron’s Pick in Toronto. Most recently Femmes du Feu produced their newest show, Airship for the Rhubarb Festival (2011), also to all sold out shows.
In 2012 Femmes du Feu presented BoB at the Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival to great success. Airship was remounted and extended to a 60 minute full-length work and presented at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre as part of Queer Pride Toronto and then at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, all to sold out houses. In 2016 Femmes du Feu presented BIND, an aerial and dance work at Rhubabrb Festival. BIND is performed by 5 dancers and was directed by Monica Dottor. Through 2017 Femmes du Feu had many performance opportunities, including the continued relationship with Harbourfront and a 15 minute show at ArtHaus, the funders event in November. We are looking forward to working with them on Circus Sessions 2018. We also look forward to producing a new ful length site-animation performance for Harbourfront summer 2018.
Through 2016 and 2017, Femmes du Feu has been generously spported by Theatre Direct, Ontario Arts Council in the development of TWEET, and new early years circus show to preimier at WEEFestival May 2018.
Femmes du Feu also have several non-performative services. Since 2011 Femmes du Feu have been producing Aer Time, a contemporary circus performance series; as well as Aerial Jams, a structured gathering of professional aerial artists to train and skill share. We often work as outside eye to other artists, work in a mentoring role to other aerialists for rigging concepts, and teach beginner to advanced classes. In 2016 Femmes du Feu was excited to curate for HarbourKids Circus. This was a compioment to Circus Sessions we were able to create cross programing. Femmes du Feu will be currating with this festival again for 2017. Circus Sessions serves to connect and network the Canadian circus community, while focused on strengthening the Ontario sector. With Circus Sessions we are positioning ourselves to be leaders of the english circus community.
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Management
Artistic Director: Holly Treddenick
