I believe that dance is a deeply human form that is alive, always shifting and escalating in possibility. My work is robust, unbound, and discernibly rough around the edges, with a physical language that is vulnerable and ever-changing, reflective of the way we see the world around us. I play with power and empathy, with embodiment and re-imagination. I am interested in bold work that that makes it possible to reflect on what is happening in the everyday, while at the same time, altering time and reality. Inspired by collaboration with reactive, passionate, and intelligent artists, I strive to create performance that has the ability to feed artistic impulse and generate change.
Wild Rabbit is an umbrella that supports the creation and performance of collaborative works under the artistic direction of Jane-Alison McKinney, and has been presented nationally at platforms such as Jamii, Luminato (Creative Current), Chinook Series, The Saint John Contemporary Dance Festival, Artery, Summerworks Performance Festival, Guelph Dance Festival, and Citadel + Compagnie; and showcased at Fall for Dance North’s International Presenters Program curated by Dancemakers. Work has also been developed through residencies at Toronto Dance Theatre, Peggy Baker Dance Projects/ Canada’s National Ballet, Artscape, Series 8:08, Connection Dance Works, and the National Ballet of Canada at the Walter Carsen Centre. Most recently, her solo work There she was was been presented through Tangente in Montreal. Jane-Alison is currently developing a collaborative group work called Switch, as well as a co-creation with Emma Kerson entitled hard wire, developed at Shawbrook Residency in Ireland in June, 2019.
Originally from New Brunswick, Jane-Alison McKinney is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and producer. A graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, she has performed the works of a variety of contemporary dance artists in Canada and Internationally. In 2016, she was awarded a Metcalf Foundation Internship Grant in Artistic Direction with adelheid under the mentorship of Heidi Strauss, whose close mentorship has played a profound impact on Jane-Alison’s artistic development. She has also worked with adelheid as a dancer, emerging choreographer, and producer. Jane Alison’s choreography has been supported nationally by a variety of festivals and residencies. She is also co-director of the performance collective Bare Nerve (with Emma Kerson).
My work is deeply connected to the earth and land that we live and thrive on, and affected by the generous lessons I continue to learn from it and its history. For thousands of years my home has been the traditional land of the Wendat and Petun First Nations, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. My work also travels from ocean to ocean, and I acknowledge the many traditional lands I have had the great fortune of sharing on. Today, these gathering places are still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and I am very grateful to have the opportunity to work, live, and create here, as well as recognize our responsibility in working towards truth and reconciliation.
photos: Francesca Chudnoff (1) Courtney Gallery (2)
wildrabbitdance.com 