So it's been a fair bit since last I've posted... truth is, information overload has been the word of the day. As far as dance/art goes, there is so much inspiration on this side of the Atlantic! The truth of the matter is, comparisons between European dance communities and Canadian ones are difficult to make. The differences apply as equally to aesthetic concerns and work practices as they do to funding/presenting structures and geopolitical relationships.
When I tell people that little ol' Halifax is 1500km from Montreal and that in between there's li'l 'ol Quebec, and the even littler Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton (the last three of which one would be hard-pressed to identify as having thriving dance communities) the information is greeted with an almost awe. Canada is big (that's not news to Canadians), and all this space impacts on our ability to rub shoulders with our brothers and sisters in neighbouring communities. Art tends to happen more in places where people bump into each other more frequently, where ideas/convictions/beliefs collide. Of course art also happens in smaller places (O Espaco do Tempo in Montemor-o-Novo is living proof of that), but here it more often than not requires more cultivation.
One thing is clear: Any leading arts centre in Halifax will need to cultivate it's local scene while connecting it with the broader community.
A final thought before leaving Portugal: walking most anywhere in this country means walking on stones laid by someone's bare hands. Beautiful little black and white stone cubes, millions of them, laid in intricate patterns on the plazas, sidewalks, roads... Usually held in place by friction and sand (not cement), these stones undulate beneath your feet and are incredibly smooth. Now here's the rub - together they form a strong, cohesive whole, but pry a few loose and it'll not be long before their firmament of sand and friction collapses and they heave apart.
I'm sure there's a moral in there somewhere...
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