Fantastic Four

Four is a powerful number. The four cardinal directions. The four elements. Its satisfying symmetry is found in science, math, religion and music. The Hellenic-Canadian Community’s production, 4: Dances of the World, gets its name from the four cultures represented in the production: Chinese, Greek, Indian and Mexican, but it takes its meaning from the symbolism, too. The four central dancers each represent a different local cultural dance group: Ballet Mexico Lindo, Shivamanohari School of Performing Arts, Shang de Tai Chi Praying Mantis and Dionysos Dancers.

The production tells the story of these four women, set against the backdrop of an airport — that universal setting of waiting, connection and departure. Through dance, the audience explores each woman’s memories and reflections that led her to arrive at that airport. “If I can give a little bit of a surprise, there is a part where the four leads are coming together, but you’ll have to attend the performance to see the rest,” says the production’s artistic director, Kostas Koukouzikis, who also sits on the Hellenic- Canadian Community’s board. The performers represent not only different cultures, but different ages – women from 17 to 70. This, says Koukouzikis, was a happy accident. The opportunity to explore not only distinct cultures, but the different ages and phases of women’s lives, offered an exciting window into human experience for Koukouzikis.

“This is why the arts are important, because they offer that fertile ground for us to see beyond the mundane,”

Like many cultural organizations, Edmonton’s Hellenic- Canadian Community was hit hard by COVID-19. Coming out of the pandemic, it wanted to build bridges with other communities and create new connections, after the isolation of lockdowns. Thus, the seed of what became 4 was planted. “In cultural groups, we tend to isolate. We tend to operate within our walls. But not here. This is a very different environment, a very different setting,” explains Koukouzikis.

The performance is an opportunity for cultures to learn from each other and connect through dance. Dance is a potent form of expression and connection, one of the ways many of us connect to our own cultures, as well as others. “It’s also really enhanced by being able to share it with people who aren’t part of the culture, because it’s a new experience for them, and it’s a new experience for our group, seeing the other cultures. And so it’s really kind of creating something new out of things that are already existing and beautiful by putting them all together,” says Charlotte Simmons from the Shang de Tai Chi Praying Mantis group. The performance, set for Dec. 6, marks National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Although the performance focuses on dance, it also features voiceovers, giving voice to women who too often remain in the background. “Sometimes we don’t have the opportunity to highlight and celebrate them,” adds Koukouzikis. Women uphold our communities, he says, but too often, we take them for granted. Here, they are literally centre stage.

The performance is ultimately a call to reflect on what connects us all, across ages and cultures. “No matter the colour of our skin, no matter our background, no matter our culture, we all experience life, death, love, childhood, family,” says Koukouzikis. Receiving a $10,000 grant from Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF) wasn’t only a financial boon to the organization — it served as validation that it was on the right track, says Koukouzikis, that the work the group is doing matters to the Edmonton community. With support from ECF, the Hellenic Canadian Community of Edmonton and Region was able to secure Triffo Theatre and hire technical staff to help mount the production.