Help WORN make it to PEI

Hi, my name is Madz DeRose. I’m a contemporary dance interpreter and choreographer based in Montreal, Quebec. After years of creating and performing in the city, I’ve been given my first professional opportunity to present my own choreographic work.

WORN has been invited to the Art in the Open festival in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island this August.

Opportunities like this are incredibly rare not just for me, but for so many independent contemporary dance artists. I know how hard it is to be seen in this field, and I stand in full solidarity with the countless artists who are also pushing to have their voices heard.

WORN is a deeply personal piece I’ve been developing for several years. It reflects on the long-term impact of toxic dynamics both physical and emotional and the process of slowly finding healing and strength through movement. Creating this work has been a way for me to reconnect with myself, and I hope to share that experience with others who may see themselves in it. The festival’s theme this year is “care,” and I truly believe this piece belongs in that space.

I’m asking for support to help cover the most basic cost of getting there: just a car rental and gas to bring myself and the five artists in my team from Montreal to PEI and back. That’s it. Every dollar will go directly to making this opportunity possible not just for me, but for the dancers who’ve committed themselves to this process with care and generosity.

Thank you so much for reading and for supporting independent dance artists. Your help means the world.