Explore my portfolio of work and click on underlined titles to view more.
Current Projects:
PERELANDRA
With the gracious support of the Scotia Dance Centre 12 Minutes Max Fall residency 2023 and an ongoing Dance West Network Re-Centering Margins Residency, this long-term project is starting its first iteration as an interdisciplinary solo work deeply inspired by the C.S. Lewis interplanetary, theological, fantasy trilogy for which the artist is named Perelandra. This novel follows an author insert main character. A wealthy, white, Christian, Cambridge Professor named Dr. Elwin Ransom is asked by “Maledil” (A direct allegory for Christ) to travel to Venus and prevent the fall of Eden actively being facilitated by his former fellow academic Weston whose body becomes puppeted by a satanic demon. Utilizing the amazing tool that science fiction can be to represent a possible utopia as well as its ability of an inverted “alien invasion” to mirror the very real existential horror and lasting trauma of settler colonialism to a non-Indigenous audience. PERELANDRA the dance project seeks, in turn, to challenge its audience with uncomfortable questions and aesthetics regarding religion, race, and gender and choreographer Perelandra Waddle has hopes of building this informal solo work into a full-length theatrical artistic adaptation.
Recent Projects
“Soft Currents”
Performed at The Scotia Dance Centre in celebration of International Dance Day. Perelandra performed in and helped create this piece directed by Vanessa Goodman with Action at a Distance. This work was created and developed over the course of a week, where performers wrote, choreographed, and reacted to choreographic scores in a unique dance creation process.
The 10th annual Louis Riel Day celebration with Michif dance company Compagnie V’ni Dansi and her second time performing as one of the Louis Riel Métis dancers.
Perelandra participated in the traditional set including La Danse du Crochet, the Sash Dance, Reel of 8 and The Red River Jig as well as the contemporary Red River Special.
🪻Flowers🪻
Berlin 2023 Haus Der Statistics:
Performed in Germany, with multidisciplinary art show Reflections, this piece focuses on revealing the hidden history of Lesbian art in Weimar Germany and in doing so hopes both to reveal how the erasure of this subculture incorrectly shapes our view of history in the modern LGBTQ+ community and pay homage to the important work of our sisters before us.
Inspired by the architecture of Karl Marx Allee in former East Berlin and how the aesthetics of these neighbourhoods have changed gradually by the re-growth of trees, as well as the vast quantity of stolen regalia and sacred items in German museums; we utilized this slow but significant reclaiming of land as a metaphor for de-colonialism from an Indigenous Canadian perspective. Film by Kimberly Cleroux, sound by Graysen Braun, hanging sculpture by Ayesha Beg. The choreography, structure creation and performance in film by me.
Performed at the 2023 SFU Live Acts Festival Senior Dance Show Propositions at the Goldcorp Center for the Arts.
Inspired by the masterful horror mangaka Junki Ito, this choreographic movement piece draws from the Lovecraftian evil force present in his 1989 serial seinen manga series ‘‘Uzumaki’’ by having three performers etch unusual swirling pathways with the body in space. Meaning “spiral” in Japanese UZUMAKI draws from many sources of aesthetic inspiration such as cult brainwashing, worker alienation, and female objectification.
This art piece features Perelandras multidisciplinarity with contemporary dance choreography, a curated soundscape, gif projection, and lighting design.
“Should You $ell Out?”
Written and directed by Zack Faulks this satirical comedy plays out a game show where dreams go to die. I play final contestant Maxine Terrance Scott as she tries to convince the host that she can pursue her dreams of building the next breakthrough independent video game even if it means financial insecurity and disrespect from her family and peers.
New Years Eve Waltz
-Viper Central
I performed as a background actor and dancer in this phenomenal music video by Vancouver-based bluegrass band Viper Central, which follows a queer 1920s New Year’s Eve dance party turned bar fight.
Louis Riel Day 2022
The 9th annual Louis Riel Day celebration with Michif dance company Compagnie V’ni Dansi. Perelandra participated in the event organization and danced in both the Traditional and Contemporary Métis dances.
Proud To Oppose
This was a progressive work that began with simple choreography to the song BITE by Troye Sivan and evolved into a comedic work including audio taken from my brother Diggory Waddle an exceptional intercollegiate debater.
Archive:
2022:
This is a piece about the nature of institutional racism towards the African Diaspora. It draws inspiration from the Jamaican dance forms of Kamina, Brukins, Rock Steady, Reggae, and Dance Hall. This choreography was produced under the tutelage of Professor Webster Mac Donald of SFU, with music from Stephen Marley.2021
Untitled Choreographic Duet
An experimental collaborative contemporary dance piece choreographed in partnership by Perelandra and Tiffany Au using a score under the guidance of professor Robert Kitsos at SFU School for Contemporary Arts. Lighting by Theatre and Production Design student June Hsu.
2020:
Into the spotlight
Collaborative Hip-hop duet piece with Aaron Yau. This piece was inspired by the American 90’s hip-hop music video culture as an element of a larger piece of choreographies focusing on the eras of American hip-hop dance and music. Choreography, music and videography were all composed by him. (Find him on Instagram @aaron.yauzz)
A site-specific improvisational work created on the Ladner Marshlands Trail inspired by the song In the Woods Somewhere by Hozier.
2019:
‘‘I’m a Fantastic Wreck’’
This emotional tap piece was choreographed by Perelandra’s friend and collaborator Alexandra Clancy. This solo follows the story of a teenage girl on her way to deliver taboo news to her disapproving parents. Music by Montaigne. Footage taken from Star Talent Dance Competition.
Swan Lake Peasant Variation
This is choreography was originally by Marius Petipa in the world-renowned Ballet: Swan Lake, and Music by Tchaikovsky. Instruction by Kara Robinson. Footage from Star Talent Dance Competition.
‘‘Stupid With Love’’
Choreography by the incredibly talented Celina Booth and music from the Broadway musical cast recording Mean Girls this song follows a quirky and awkward teenage girl as she explored romantic feelings for a boy and is not sure of what to do.
2018:
‘‘U Can’t Touch This’’
A Rhythmic tap piece to a Jazz variation of MC Hammer’s U Can’t Touch This sung by Audry Logan, a dance choreographed by Alexandra Clancy. Footage from 2018 Arts Conservatory competition dance showcase.
‘‘I’m not crying’’
Another comedic musical theatre, stage piece utilizing clown technique. Music by Flight of the Conchords, Choreography by Celina Booth. Footage from 2018 Arts Conservatory competition dance showcase.