With "Take it Back", Solid State asks the question, "Why don't we dance in couples anymore?" The popularization among urban youth of dancing in mass groups (rave culture) or the soloing format of street forms such as Breakdancing, has created an environment where individuals can dance however and whenever they want to.

In an attempt to create a social partner dance that speaks to a generation of individuals, Solid State has paired the high physicality of B-boying (Breakdance) with the partnering structures of LindyHop (Swing) which like B-boying is a street dance based on free-styling or improvisation. This cooperation of styles breathes with freedom, and spontaneity as the dancers wrestle with the awkwardness of asking each other to dance, dancing close together, and shifting between leading and following roles.

Upcoming Shows
Festival Generation Danses Urbaines
Theatre L'Olympia
Montreal, Quebec
May 17th

Winnipeg Fringe Festival
Location TBA
Winnipeg, MB
July 13th-26th



Solid State’s mashup is so organic and fun-loving that it manages to invent a dazzling new vocabulary, make statements on gender roles, and get the audience members whooping like they’re at a full-blown battle.


Janet Smith
Straight.com
Artistic Directors: Helen Simard, JoDee Allen
Choreography: Helen Simard, JoDee Allen
Dancers: Christian Garmatter, Jo Danny Aurelien (Understudy Milan Panet-Gigon), JoDee Allen, Helen Simard
Lighting: Robin Dutt
Dramaturge: Jo Leslie and Mathieu Leroux
Showdown
It's not you it's me
Take It Back: Past Shows
2009

Jan 31st Festival Au-Déla des Préjugés, Salle Paderewski, Lausanne, Switzerland (1 performances) *SOLID STATE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS PROJECT*

Jan 8-18th Next Stage Theatre Festival, Factory Theatre, Toronto, ON (9 performances)

2008

Jul 18-25th Winnipeg Fringe Festival: MTC Warehouse, Winnipeg, MA (7 performances)

Jul 5-11th Toronto Fringe Festival: George Ignatieff Theatre, Toronto, ON (6 performances)

Jul 3-4th Dancing on the Edge Festival: Firehall Arts Centre, Vancouver, BC (2 performances)

Jun 22nd Festival of New Dance: Masonic Temple, St-John's, NL (1 performance)

2007
Oct 16th Theatre Outremont, Montreal, QC (1 performance)

Sep 8-9th Dancemaker's Centre for Creation, Toronto, ON (3 performances)

Apr 18th Laurenhill Academy, Montreal, QC (1 performance)

Mar 7th Salle Curé Labelle, Laval, QC (1 performance)

Mar 7th Vanier College, Montreal, QC (1 performance)

2006
Nov 16-17th CINARS Showcase, Mainline Theatre, Montreal, QC (2 performances)

Oct 19-29th Espace Tangente, Montreal, QC (10 performances)