Ballet takes centre stage at Atlantic Immigration Summit

Creators of a new ballet hopeto tell the story of immigration in a way an ordinary conference can't through the power of art and dance.

More than 400peoplefrom 23 communities, 30 industry sectors and 20 countries are expected to beMonctonon Wednesday for the Atlantic Immigration Summit, and they'll do more than talk and listen.

In addition to a program of speakers and round tables, the summit offers participantsanAtlantic Balletproduction calledAlien,choreographed by IgorDobrovolskiy, the company's artistic director.

The Moncton-based ballet company is also the sponsor of the immigration conference.

Mixing art and immigration can bring new people to the conversation, said SusanChalmers-Gauvin, theco-founder and CEO of the Atlantic Ballet.

"With immigration, yes, there's been many conferences and gatherings, but it's kind of the same people showing up over and over again," she said.

'You still feel like an alien'

6 years ago

Duration 1:27

Artistic director Igor Dobrovolskiy created a new ballet about the human side of immigration.

"When we work on a piece like this, we end up with a very different mix in the room."

The two-hour ballet will take the audience through what it's like to be an immigrant, she said.

"The audience will feel what it feels like to come to a new place, to not have a language, to struggle to have an identity to look for your home," said Chalmers-Gauvin.

"You'll feel that through the music and through the dance, and that brings an intrinsic impact that you can't get through a conference."

The park bench

Dobrovolskiy, the choreographer,is familiar with the experience of immigration. He was born in Ukrainebut moved to Canada to start his own ballet company.

The main prop in Alien is a park bench that sits centre stage. It represents the homelessness people feel when they leave their own country for a new one.

"You sitting in a park in a bench, and people around you, and people surround you and some people don't understand you," Dobrovolskiysaid.

"They don't understand your language, don't understand your culture, and you're alone in the presence of many people."

Dobrovolskiy named it Alien, because movingto a new country can feel like moving to a different planet.

"Even when you start understanding the language, you still feel like an alien," said Dobrovolskiy.

But in the end, you can end up finding a home, asDobrovolskiy did. And understanding what immigrants go through can help people better welcome them.

Action plan

The conference is expected to produce actions to takefor strengthening the economic system in Atlantic Canada, building inclusive communities and improving the economy

"We're being very intentional to ensure that actions do take place," said Chalmers-Gauvin.

In a year, some participants will reconvene to see if the goals were met.