TESSEL
An Esie Mensah Film
An Affirmation of Unity Between 14 Black dancemakers from Across Canada
A national initiative conceptualized by Dora-nominated choreographer and creator Esie Mensah (Shades, A Revolution of Love), TESSEL explores the complexities of movement and voice as a form of resilience – and to achieve truth and honesty in sharing its participants' lived experience as Black dance artists.
Premiering across the country on the one-year anniversary of Blackout Tuesday (June 1) - a day when organizations worldwide publicly expressed their commitment towards institutional change to support the Black community - the film aims to amplify Black voices by providing a platform for the artists to share their truths. Canadian Stage is honoured to be supporting and co-presenting TESSEL along with a network of 21 Canadian performing arts organizations.
TESSEL will be available for streaming FREE in Canada only by visiting: tessel.film
Featuring:
Eugene "GeNie" Baffoe (Winnipeg), Livona Ellis (Vancouver), Kevin Fraser, (Vancouver), Alexandra "Spicey" Landé (Montréal), Gabrielle Martin (Vancouver), Esie Mensah, (Toronto), Raoul Pillay (Toronto), Natasha Powell (Toronto), Liliona Quarmyne (Halifax), Lua Shayenne (Toronto), Crazy Smooth (Ottawa), Ronald A. Taylor (Toronto), Lisa La Touche (Calgary), Ravyn Wngz (Toronto)
Join TESSEL's director Esie Mensah in a Bantaba artist talk and community gathering, hosted by
Toronto's dance Immersion and moderated (in English) by Nicole Inica Hamilton. Thursday, June 10,
2021 from 7:30 – 9:00 PM over Zoom. Participation is free. Learn more and register here.
