Senescence Trailer / March 2022

Senescence at the Vancouver International Dance Festival
March 24 - 26 / 2022 @ 6:30pm
By donation/free tickets : www.vidf.ca/performance/olivia-shaffer/
at KW Atrium Studio (351 Abbott St #110, Vancouver, BC)

Senescence asks the question: what is a good life if one loses the ability to determine that life for themself? Emerging from the experience of caregiving for my father, who had dementia and Parkinson’s disease, the work reflects the metamorphosis that occurs as essential features of one’s selfhood are stripped away.

A duet between Olivia Shaffer and Alex Mah, in which dance, spoken word, live and electronic music are woven together to contemplate liminal spaces that surround the final stages of life.

Senescence (/sɪˈnɛsəns/): the gradual process of deterioration that occurs in the aging mind and body.

Choreographer/performer: Olivia Shaffer
Composer/performer: Alex Mah
Trailer footage filmed by Sophia Wolfe. Edited by Brandon Schwinn

*Previous phases of development of Senescence were supported creatively by Chick Snipper (Dramaturge/Mentor), Raïna von Waldenburg (Voice and Theatre Coach), Jessica Han (Lighting Design), Sasha Schepe (Costume Design), and Kayla De Vos; and made possible with support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the BC Arts Council, New Works, Small Stage, EDAM Dance, SFU’s Alumni Residency, the Moberly Arts Centre, Shooting Gallery, and the Dance Centre’s 12 Minutes Max.