a project-to-project experimental dance group run by independent dance artist Kathleen Ochoa (KO). The KO Dance Project is a fluid collaborative collective that focuses experimental research combining the ancient energy cultivation system of Qi Gong, contemporary dance improvisation and interdisciplinary collaborations. The observation of energy in the body and how it begins to resemble patterns in nature is what inspired KO Dance Projects to begin collaborations with scientists, cosmologists, biologists, and gardeners. KO Dance Projects has also developed collaborative relationships with local visual artists, film artists, photographers, writers, sound artists, non-profit organizations such as HIV Edmonton and Montreal’s transdisciplinary, philosophy forum, The SenseLab.

Black Rainbow:  electricity, alchemy and the history of our whole unruly selves:

new kinetic sculptures by local experimental dance artist: KO, with live music by

Will Scott Band

krauty/progressive/experimental/ improvisational 4-piece band from Edmonton, AB

Will Scott/Bass and Drones, Grant Callaghan/Drums, Philippe McLean/Guitar, Ethan Tonack/Guitar

 https://willscott.bandcamp.com 

Black Rainbow:  runs for 3 shows:  Thursday, June 29/ with reception after/ Friday, June 30, Saturday, July 1st

At 8PM     

Tickets https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-rainbow-tickets-652452201097                                         

$25 GENERAL/ $20 ARTISTS/STUDENTS/SENIORS

Scoring/ dance moves/ visual design: Kathleen Ochoa (KO)

Dramaturge: Linda Rubin

Outside eye/ Light Installation: Tony Olivares

2022 Workshop lab: Kristine Nutting

Dance Collaborators:  Amber Borotsik, Theresa Dextrase, Janita Frantsi, Kathy Metzger, Jeannie Vandekerkhove, Jodie Vandekerkhove

Live music by:   The Will Scott Band – a krauty/progressive/experimental/ improvisational 4-piece band from Edmonton, AB

Will Scott/Bass and Drones/He/Him, Grant Callaghan/Drums/He/Him, Philippe McLean/Guitar/He/Him, Ethan Tonack/Guitar/He/Him

Location: Edmonton’s newest warehouse dance gallery:  The Code YEG/ 11602- 119 St.

  Thank you: to Dance Code, Mile Zero Dance, Edmonton Arts Council and The Canada Council for the Arts

KO Dance Projects

FEATS FESTIVAL AND THE CITYTV SHOW: Open Rehearsal/performance in the Alberta Dance Alliance’s Annual FEATS Festival, the first of its kind ever at the festival. - Special feature which aired on The City TV Show, June 26, 06.

EXPERIMENTS IN ETHER: Sept. 2006: Co-produced with Mile Zero Dance, “Experiments in Ether,” was produced and presented as a two night performance at the U of A’s movement studio.

YOU/HAPPENING: June 2, 2007: “YOU/happening,” an interactive performance experience held at the Red Strap Market, Edmonton

MY HEART IS A PIONEER: Expanse Festival’s first ever commission of new work; 2008/ sold out three nights and whose video footage has been made into a video work by director, David S. Buchanan and sound design by Travis Boa.

DANCE INNERCITY: part of Edmonton as Cultural Capital Exploration Grants: Edmonton’s first outdoor dance festival featuring the KOdance Project, and 4 inner city cultural dance groups.

WINTERLIGHT FESTIVAL: The KO Dance Project was the first dance group to be commissioned for the inaugural Edmonton winter arts festival, 2009. During the festival the KO Dance Project performed at 8 different festival locations and culminated in a performance for the Mayor’s Evening for the Arts, April, 2009.

COLLISION- The KODance Project’s ambitious project, “Collision- where contemporary dance, Qi Gong and Science Collide,” for Expanse Festival, 2009. This work was not only a success for Expanse Festival, 2009, but, was also the first project of its kind in Edmonton where diverse fields of dance, science, Qi gong and electronic music met in creative collaboration.

“HUMAN GARDENS AND UNTAMED MINDS” -- 5 show series of “gardening” live dance installations performed in “lost” urban spaces throughout Edmonton’s downtown core; presented by The Works Festival & ADA’s annual “feats” Festival of Dance, 2011; then performed in NYC’s Site Specific DUMBO Wave festival, 2011.

“ORGANIC DANCES AT THE FOREST SPECTRO-CHROME”  - 3 night performances, Alberta Avenue Community Hall. First envisioned as an awareness fundraiser for HIV Edmonton which then turned into a donation event that supported the landscape renovation of the Alberta Avenue Community League.

“An Ex-Cabaret Dancer’s Ovarian Sculptures and a Ritual of Mathematical Healing”- a series of outdoor performances and video creation, filmed at Edmonton’s old Glenora Provincial Museum grounds, and broadcasted, June 2021. Sponsored by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Edmonton Arts Council.

“Black Rainbow- electricity, alchemy and the history of our whole unruly selves”- 6-day research lab and performance commissioned by Mile Zero Dance for Magpie Dance Festvial, 2022/  Full Production: The Code YEG, Edmonton, funded by The Canada Council for the Arts, 2023,