Discover Jacob’s Artistry
September 2024
Rebuilding
Rebuilding – Take Form September 2024
Choreography: Jacob Williams
Music: Vaus Flores
Performers: Imani Frazier, Denae Harpham, Kelsey Lewis, Nathan Bear, Sarah Pippin, and Rae Srivastava.
This piece is about rehabilitation and how my body started to respond after coming out of a 97-day coma following a traumatic brain injury and polytrauma from a horrific car accident. Each dancer represents an individual body part (right arm, right leg, left arm, left leg, torso, and head), and the order they appear correlates to the order in which my body responded after the accident. The finale section represents all of the pieces coming together to resemble a whole body dancing a “solo.”
April 2024
Over the Ridge (Highlight Reel)
Over the Ridge
Choreography: Jacob Williams
Music: The Fugitives
Dance Performers: Briana Del Mundo, Pei Lun Lei, Sophia Makarenko, Nathan Coburn
This choreographic opportunity was unique in that the storytelling and music were already established when Jacob was brought into the process. Adding a a kinetic layer of contemporary dance to emphasize and honor the memory of what happened in 1914 was an interesting challenge.
In 2020, The Fugitives premiered “Ridge”, a musical storytelling show that examined the WW1 Canadian soldier’s experience during the Battle of Vimy. It was named a top 10 Globe & Mail Arts Event of the year, and spawned the JUNO nominated album Trench Songs.
In “Over the Ridge”, The Fugitives collaborated with choreographer Jacob Williams to expand this narrative through dance. Developed in partnership with the Massey Theatre Society, “Over the Ridge” added original contemporary dance to delve into our strong connection to the past, and passionately argue against the exploitation of young lives.
April 2024
TBI – Terrible Beautiful Incident (Highlight Reel)
Terrible Beautiful Incident – Take Form 2024
Choreography: Jacob Williams
Music: Vaus Flores
Performers: Orlando Harbutt, Kiana Jung, Ben Peralta, Sarah Pippin, Vivian Ruiz, Rae Srivastava, Kaylin Sturtevant, and Jacalyn Tatro
Terrible Beautiful Incident is about a terrible car accident that happened to three of the dancers and myself. In the accident, I unfortunately three of the performers in this piece in the car with me. The first duet represents sexuality. The second duet represents love. The third duet represents the reality of having your best friend suddenly gone from your life. The fourth duet represents the grief and sadness we all have experienced because of the accident. The full piece finishes with a message of inspiration and hope.
April 2023
Anywhere But Here (Highlight Reel)
Anywhere But Here – Take Form 2023
Choreography: Jacob Williams
Music: “Right Now” written and performed live by Vaus Flores
Performers: Sydney Tormey, Jacob Williams
This work explores thought as an extrinsic force deterring humans from something essential to their nature: change. The way someone thinks about themselves is a source of great conflict when their experiences no longer align with their prescribed identity. Refusing to accept the present, some cling to the way things used to be. Others feign escape, idolizing the future. They are trapped by who they thought they were and who others want them to be. Even as the walls crumble around them, even as it harms them–they refuse change. Embrace discomfort. Be here. Or, keep wishing you could be ‘anywhere but here.’
April 2021
Semble (Highlight Reel)
Semble – Take Form 2021
Choreography: Jacob Williams
Music: Ben Waters
Performed by Kiana Jung, Stefanie Noll, Sarah Pippin, Evan Rapaport, and Rae Srivastava
This piece explores the many facets of a single individual, and how they are intertwined, yet unique in making the whole being. As the dancers enter the light they are discovering and exploring the aspects of personality and physicality. They progress to moving as a whole, and then splitting off to show their interpretation of events, while still mirroring the other selves. As the different sides are shown, we can see how they each bring value to the rest of the body while maintaining what makes them unique.