How Crystal Pite builds her striking choreographic phrases
The legendary choreographer shows In the Making host Sean O'Neill how she approaches building phrases
At 47, Olivier Award-winning choreographer Crystal Pite is already a legend in the world of dance. Her work brings together the magic of theatre and the rigour of dance in pieces that are formally inventive but also moving on an emotional level.
In this clip from our new series In the Making, Pite explains some of the process that goes into building a choreographic phrase and shows host Sean O'Neill — who says he "can never be a dancer" — a few moves.
Stream our full In the Making episode with Crystal Pite and all eight episodes now!
Watch the clip from In the Making:
For her most recent production, Betroffenheit, she joined forces with innovative playwright/performer Jonathon Young. Internationally heralded, The Globe and Mail claimed it is, "...a harrowing representation of trauma and suffering — but it's also a stunning testament to what can be made when life undergoes a pretty strange and irreducible process – when it's turned into art...Betroffenheit is rare and staggering." The work catapulted Pite's career into another level of awareness and critical acclaim.
In the Making is an immersive journey inside the creative process. The documentary series follows host Sean O'Neill across the country and around the world alongside some of Canada's leading artists as they bring new work to life and face pivotal moments of risk and reward. All eight episodes are available to stream online now, with individual episodes broadcasting weekly each Friday at 8:30pm (9pm NT) on CBC.
Watch the trailer:
Each episode follows an artist from across the creative spectrum — visual art, film, music, dance, theatre — with a unique approach to art-making and something to say about the world. Sean visits artists at home, in studio, backstage, and in the field, giving viewers rare access to intimate creative spaces and inspiring moments of realization.
Stream every episode of In the Making now, or watch them weekly Fridays at 8:30pm (9pm NT) on CBC TV.