Vik Mudge and Skye Rogers Creatives in Residence 2024
Composing Community Dance Showcase & Workshops
About the Program
Vik Mudge and Skye Rogers’ Composing Community presents an opportunity for community-building and curious creation in the City of St. Catharines. Over the course of the festival, the artists will engage in the wild act of generating an entire movement-piece in just three weeks, as they dig into and enliven the idea of a Community Garden. Community members are wholeheartedly invited to participate at every stage of the process.
Vik Mudge (he/they) is a trans non-binary dance artist, choreographer and instructor living on Treaty 3 territory, in the city colonially known as St. Catharines. Vik uses techniques like improvisation and instant composition to tell raw and authentic stories that encourage critical dialogue. He believes that the core of art-making is collaboration. His continuing mentorship with Sid Ryan Eilers (Aeris Körper) and collaborative partnership with Skye Rogers (retrograde: dance in motion) allow Vik to pursue the professional development of his skills and connect with folks across cities, further enhancing the web of creativity, community and connectivity that he strives to spin.
Skye Rogers (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist and leader based in Hamilton. With roots in dance, theatre, and music, her artistic practice is dearly devoted to cultivating creative communities who move together. She is a graduate of the Randolph College for the Performing Arts in 2019 and Brock University in 2022. Skye’s current and previous work is a patchwork of passions. Some of her favourites include choreographing SAMCA (Spindle Collective, 2024), producing a series of community-engaged movement workshops (Dance & Movement Days, 2023/24), and debuting two original contemporary dance pieces (The Body and The Brain, 2023; what is woman?, 2022).
St. Catharines offers a vibrant arts and culture scene centered around its downtown core, which hosts a variety of events including live music, theatre, and multi-arts festivals.
Since opening in 2015, the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (FOPAC) stands as a cultural cornerstone with its four state-of-the-art venues. For a nostalgic experience, Lakeside Park Carousel offers rides on a historic Charles I.D. Looff carousel from 1898. Downtown St. Catharines also features Ontario’s oldest farmers market, with over 120 shops, boutiques, and numerous dining options that are complemented by historic sites and walking tours.
Explore the engineering marvel of the Welland Canal by visiting the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre, where you learn about the canal’s rich history.
Whether you’re a lifelong resident or just visiting, there is so much to see and do!
The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre aims to engage people in exceptional live arts experiences, and to enrich the lives of citizens of St. Catharines and the Niagara region, while providing a world class venue for local, national and international artists and community arts organizations to flourish. The PAC is comprised of four venues and one outdoor space that host diverse performances and events, including theatre, dance, music and film. In addition to hosting world-class performances, the PAC also supports local talent and educational programs.
