The performance Dandy Gangs: a working-class love story looks at possible repetitions founded in dandy, hip hop, punk, rock n’ roll and gang aesthetics. Consistent with my interest in melding popular histories and autobiographical moments I have borrowed locations from hangouts I had as a youth growing up in Mississauga, including Mississauga's Civic Centre and Kariya Park. At scheduled times knowing and unknowing audiences will watch as two groups of dancers and tenors interact through operatic song and dance choreography based on early Fluxus happenings, scenes from West Side Story and operatic interpretations of early 90’s hip hop music. Viewers will watch as opposing dandy-gangs entangle in scenarios of territorial misunderstanding, conflict, tension and resolution expressed through a Fluxus-dance-rock-opera. Gang members will be presented as caricatures melding fashions and attitudes borrowed from the flâneur, dandy and punk; likening the performers to the cultural phenomenon of flash-mobs.

Made possible through the generous financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.

Collaborators:
Cara Spooner - Choreographer
Kristin Mueller-Heaslip - Composer
Cat Essiambre / Kelly Henderson - Costumes
Jesse Lee Bellon - Guitar
Andrew Loeb - Literary Consultant

Musicians:
Kristin Mueller-Heaslip
Suzanne Kilgore
Jesse Lee Bellon

Actors:
Chris Ramelan

Dancers:
Cara Spooner, Sky Fairchild-Waller, Jesse Dell, Shawn D’Souza, Kirstie Keenan, Eric Solu, Simon Rabyniuk, Andrea de Keijzer, Marcin Kedzoir, Robert Kingsbury, Adri Disman, Sarah Fregeau