From Marina Nemat’s bestselling book, “Prisoner of Tehran”, this performance interprets her spoken memoirs within a landscape of movement with MOTUS O dance theatre. Each show is followed up with a Q & A with the audience members.

It is strange to think how a gymnast, a sheep shearer and a figure skater could have their paths meet and eventually become Co-Artistic Directors of a dance theatre company in Canada. Yet, as it turns out, that diversity has become the essence of MOTUS O. Where backgrounds and talents collide and then reform, creating a dynamic team that explores the dramatic and relishes the physical – and all with a touch of humour.

A Christmas Carol was created by the company’s artistic directors James Croker, Cynthia Croker and Jack Langenhuizen. Lighting designs and video footage by Alan McIntosh creates a multitude of emotional transformations that take place throughout the show. Costume and prop designs were created by company members Cynthia and James Croker completing this magical extravaganza

Imagine a world where you find it challenging to communicate your thoughts, your emotions, your dreams and your needs. A world where your body and mind are saying different things and your voice is being lost in translation. For thousands of individuals who live with post-stroke aphasia and within the autism spectrum that world is a reality. After 3 years of research and workshops, MOTUS O presents several short visual vignettes of real life stories that are engaging, powerful and a testament to the human spirit. Join us as we celebrate and give voice to those who hear us but cannot be heard.

We first meet our three sideshow performers boarding the train to their next show. A case of vanishing tickets, however, thwarts their plans and strands them on the platform. It takes every trick in the book (and their suitcases!) to create an impromptu show to raise money for new tickets. And it works! As the Station Master watches the antics of these 3 enigmatic clowns, he’s drawn into their mayhem and magic, finally agreeing to be their new Ring Master! With the Station Master ’s help, our performers arrive at the theatre just in time to present their magnificent SIDESHOW BALLETS

Four distinct fair / festival shows are 15 – 20 minutes in length and can be performed up to 6x per day. These original works are available for presentation in MOTUS O’s Round Tent or in an appropriate space provided by the presenter. Currently MOTUS O has 4 offerings for fairs and festivals. These include A Fair Tale, Animal Tales, From Hand to Plough and From Fair & Wide, O Canada. All shows are in the medium of physical theatre which combines spoken word, dance, music and song.

Come and soar through the themes of love, lust and life with MOTUS O’s interpretation of Carl Orff's CARMINA BURANA. A band of renegade monks denounce their training and journey through colourful landscapes to drink deeply of the offerings of this world. Along the way, they meet an array of characters, including an angel, a devil, a pair of lovers, a cowboy, a taskmaster – even Fate herself! Each encounter with these and other seemingly whimsical and non-sensical figures, further illuminates the shadow and light found in the human soul. With Orff’s powerful operatic score pumping through MOTUS O’s seamless weaving of live video footage, stunning costumes and their signature innovative choreography, this show erupts on stage as an exhilarating theatrical barrge of the senses.

WHAT the HECK? visually explores the worlds of corporate culture, education, sports, politics, religion. Can this be done? Should it be done? Why the heck not! WHAT the HECK? illuminates and challenges our perceptions on how society moves... Created by Co - Artistic Directors James Croker, Cynthia Croker and Jack Langenhuizen, What the Heck? is quirky, profound, bold and poignant. This show includes an array of powerful dance forms ranging from the poetic to emotionally charged high impact contemporary movement. Video projection blended with diverse lighting designs fills the stage with emotional and atmospheric ambience

East of the Sun, West of the Moon is a mythological story exploring the timeless themes of love, human error and redemption. The story’s setting is the Northern wilderness of Scandinavia, mirroring the geography of Northern Canada . The re - imagining of this folk tale breathes new life, humour and relevance into a very old story. Weaving both movement and spoken word this latest MOTUS O creation inspires and empowers both the young and the young at heart. The story, East of the Sun , was adapted by Eleanor Albanese; choreography by MOTUS O; music by Peter Jarvis and Paul Tedeschini.

In this magical world there lives the Wizard and his three marionettes the handsome but cruel Strongman, the beautiful Ballerina and the unlikely hero Petrouchka. Petrouchka is in love with the Ballerina but his clumsy attempts to impress her takes him on an outrageous adventure that unfolds with no end of calamity. Join Petrouchka as he outwits the Strongman, tames a bear, dances with a feather, juggles bowling balls, goes fishing and avoids the anger of the Wizard and then in a spectacular finale saves the Ballerina’s life. Petrouchka may be small and awkward but his enthusiasm for life enchants us all. Performed to the original score by Igor Stravinsky, Petrouchka is the story of a little clown with a big heart

Integrating dance and text, THE SHUNNING is a story of one man’s struggle to express his personal views within a society that demands conformity. This story penetrates to the very heart of the human soul. THE SHUNNING is a play that will continue to have a life, because it concerns a fundamental human struggle between being oneself and being a part of something, a culture, an order, and what happens when a balance cannot be struck.” P.K. Brask,The University of Winnipeg

Blending dance, theatre, music, video projection and brilliant costumes, MOTUS O re - tells the fable of a small prince on a tiny planet who owns three volcanoes and a proud flower. His interplanetary travels bring him to Earth where he learns, from a fox, what is really important in life. Audience members of all ages will be charmed and intrigued by this unique and delightful performance. Our story begins with a Pilot who remembers when he had once crashed landed in a desert. It was there that he encountered a most extraordinary person...The Little Prince. This Little Prince lived on a tiny planet, far far away in a corner of the universe with his most treasured companion...the Rose. MOTUS O’s imaginative story telling skillfully portrays this adaptation of the book . With ‘pizzazz plus’ and boundless energy they jump, twist, crawl and dance their way into your hearts. They lead us all, young and old, into the wonder of discovery, the magic of imagination and the joy of friendhship.

Rich in athleticism and innovative dance and theatre, ALICE is an exhilarating adventure that spins you off into another land. ALICE is an adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s whimsical stories, “Alice In Wonderland” and “Through The Looking Glass”. In her search for home, Alice must maneuver herself through this topsy - turvy world. ALICE is a one hour show that brings to life all your favourite characters with such energy and excitement that the audience is left breathless. Part Dance Part Theatre Part Triathlon

HUMAN KNOTS combines spoken text with contact improvisation, tongue-in-cheek jazz under ultra violet, dance wrestling and ballroom dance pushed to its limits. The production consists of several works, delving into the male and female psyches: from competition to manipulation, to suppression and identity. Irrepressible in spirit and energy and committed to communicating ideas relevant to our times, HUMAN KNOTS links dance and theatre by means of pathos and comedy.

We all experience life from our own unique point of view! MOTUS O will once again barrage your senses with a collage of short works that explore intellectual, visual and cultural perspectives. Created by Co-Artistic Directors James Croker, Cynthia Croker and Jack Langenhuizen, Perspectives is quirky, profound, bold and poignant. This show includes an array of powerful dance forms ranging from the poetic to emotionally charged high impact contemporary movement. Video projection blended with diverse lighting designs fills the stage with emotional and atmospheric ambience.

Can there be love without lunacy? Four star - crossed lovers escape into the woods when mortal law thwarts their passions. There a hidden society of imps, elves and goblins, all ruled by the fairy queen and king, turns human longing on its ear! An alchemy of text, movement and original music merge seamlessly in MOTUS O’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s well - loved family classic. “A thoroughly entertaining mini - extravaganza” Paula Citron (Globe and Mail)

Ever wondered what happened to those performances that MOTUS O created for a single special occasion, and only performed once…? Well, wonder no longer for the array of these master pieces can now be seen in the company’s latest show ONE HIT WONDERS! Created by Co-Artistic Directors James Croker, Cynthia Croker and Jack Langenhuizen along with special guest Canadian choreographers, One Hit Wonders is quirky, profound, bold and poignant. This show includes an array of powerful dance forms ranging from the poetic to emotionally charged high impact contemporary movement.

Set within a totalitarian society, a pair of street performers, a father and a daughter, prepare to present their puppet version of The Little Match Girl. Two guards however forbid them to present anything with anti-government themes. A conflict ensues and the father is taken away. The puppet stage, the family’s livelihood, is destroyed. The daughter is left destitute and in despair. Hungry and cold, she retreats into the only world where she finds comfort...her dreams. In this state the world around her comes to life. Dancing snowflakes, food and puppets all become her friends. In the end she imagines herself reunited with her father.

VARIATIONS IN LOVE Nothing has intrigued, inspired or frustrated humans more through history than the elusive emotion love. MOTUS O continues this trend with a series of cogitative, succinctly energetic and profoundly humourous short works. Variations in Love is comprised of several dance and physical theatre pieces that were choreographed by company members James Croker, Cynthia Croker and Jack Langenhuizen. These works include a collage of dance forms, from pointe to high impact contact improvisational movement. Music in Variations is both contemporary yet eclectic including original scores by Canadian composer/musician Peter Jarvis. Video projection blended with lighting designs by Bonnie Armstrong extends the expression and emotion of each choreographer’s work creating absolute magic on stage.