"Bad-girl choreographer/dancer is one of
the most exciting choreogarphers in Canada" -- The Globe and Mail

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    • Updated: 03/26/2007




    Founded in 1999, The Chimera Project has established its voice in the contemporary dance world.

    Nowacka is a rapidly emerging choreographic force. Her very first choreographic endeavors caught the eye of the public and the critics alike, her works described as "pieces that demanded to be noticed", with "21-century savvy" (The Globe and Mail). Her subsequent creations in 2001 "I can almost" and "In one short breath" led her to be the recipient of the Paula Citron fFIDA award in recognition of her choreographic promise and continued growth as a dancesmith. Soon after, "I can almost" was adapted to a "Bravo!FACT" film directed by Gregory Nixon and produced by Kathleen Smith. "I can almost", the film, has since been seen at film festivals around the world.

    In 2002, "Touch", inspired directly by the solitude of the cyber world again elicited strong response from the critics and the audience alike: "Nowacka's choreography is bold, like her performances" (The Toronto Star); "Nowacka continues to be one of the most exciting young choreographers around". (The Globe and Mail).

    In the four years of The Chimera Project's existence it's been listed twice as one of the Top 10 national/international performances in Toronto. (The Globe and Mail, 2001 and 2003). In 2003 Nowacka received the Toronto Emerging Artist Award and created "Light Explorations of a Darker Nature", which premiered at the prestigious DanceWorks Mainstage series at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre. "Light Explorations of a Darker Nature" was a further breakthrough in establishing The Chimera Project as a unique presence. "Nowacka is one of the most original choreographers currently working in Toronto, possibly in the country". (The Globe and Mail). In December 2003 Nowacka was a featured choreographer in Philip Szporer's "Moments in Motion", a documentary about the creative process of select choreographers across Canada.

    The Chimera Project is a dance company that is essentially about the present. The seduction of technology, mortality, gender definitions, and the beauty of individuality, are among the central ideas that pulsate beneath the quicksilver movement. The seven powerful individuals that embody The Chimera Project creations are Johanna Bergfeldt, Amy Hampton, Louis Laberge-Côté, Irek Muchalski, Tim Spronk, the choreographer and apprentice Brendan Wyatt. They share exceptional technical facility, powerful physicality and a hunger to explore the limits of artistic possibilities.

    In the realm of production, The Chimera Project's endeavors continue to make an impact on the Toronto dance scene. Part of The Chimera Project's mandate is to provide Canadian independent contemporary choreographers opportunities to present their work. The Chimera Project has produced/co-produced multiple evenings of dance, notably two seasons of a festival of duets Before During After. The Chimera Project has had the pleasure of presenting works of outstanding contemporary choreographers such as Roberto Campanella, Karen Kaeja, Claudia Moore, Tedd Robinson, Julia Sasso, Rebecca Todd, Eryn Dace Trudell and William Yong amongst many others.

    The Chimera Project has a strong appeal to youth, and is actively involved in education. Its activities include school performances, creation of new work with students and leading partnering and repertoire workshops at performing arts high schools and post secondary educational facilities.

    The name of the company drew on the idea of a chimera, which is defined as an imaginary monster comprised of incongruous parts.