“Trilogy of Being’’ to be staged April 13-15

By Lincoln DePradine

When Kevin A. Ormsby graduated from Calabar High School in Jamaica in 1992, he likely had little idea that one day he’ll become one of Canada’s top professional dancers.

Ormsby’s presence on the dance circuit and in the arts community has included performances with various companies and projects in Canada, the Caribbean and the United States. He has received awards and fellowships, and has served as a professor of dance performance at Centennial College and an adjunct artist with Dance Exchange in Washington, D.C.

All this has happened over a span of 37 years, which Ormsby is about to commemorate. He is putting on “Trilogy of Being’’, April 13-15, 8 pm., at The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance, 304 Parliament Street, Toronto.

“Trilogy of Being’’ is described as a “creative collaboration between Canadian and American choreographers — all of whom had worked or danced with Ormsby throughout his career. The production is grounded in Black existence and experiences: environmental, social and cultural’’.

Ormsby, a former York University student, will be featured in a different solo performance on each night of the show.

He’ll do “Unmasked: Seaweed King’’ that is choreographed by Christopher Walker; “Dear Brother’’, choreographed by Joel Valentin-Martinez; and Denise Fujiwara’s choreography of “Somebody’’, which is said to have been inspired by Ormsby’s call to action in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, an African-American, who was killed by Minnesota police on May 25, 2020.

Among Ormsby’s current involvement in the arts is serving as program manager for Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario; and as artistic director and choreographer of KasheDance, a contemporary company that works in the artistic and technical traditions of modern dance, dance of the Diaspora and

ballet.

For Tickets to “Trilogy of Being’’, visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/trilogy-of-being-tickets-404767559667  Further information is available at 416-899-9448; www.citadelcie.com; info@kashedance.com