De/Formed Revival

2023/2024

De/Formed Revival is a visually arresting work created by Voirelia Dance Hub, and choreographed by Alina Sotskova. Originally presented at the Shadbolt Centre and later remounted for the Dance Centre’s Discover Dance! series, the piece draws inspiration from Renaissance sculpture, merging classical form with modern emotional expression.

The work explores themes of identity, agency, and personal liberation—inviting audiences to reflect on the metaphor of “breaking the mold” in order to move freely through the present. With a foundation in psychology, philosophy, and feminist humanism, the choreography imagines a revival of form not as a return, but as a transformation: unlearning inherited constraints to reshape the self with intention and empathy.

Hana Rutka performed as one of three featured dancers, embodying the sculptural language of the work with clarity, fluidity, and emotional charge. Set against a rich sonic palette that layered Vivaldi, ambient cello (by Janice Wong), and curated sound design, and costumed in pleated garments by Alaia Hamer, De/Formed Revival created an atmosphere that was both classical and futuristic—where dancers seemed to move through time as much as space.