Montreal-based contemporary skating troupe Le Patin Libre had a heck of a time booking a rink on which to introduce Toronto to its innovative new approach, more like contemporary dance or performance art on skates than traditional figure skating routines.
As group leader Alexandre Hamel told me via email this week: “The City of Toronto has many ice rinks that would be perfect for us and the City also has excellent cultural programs allowing diverse art forms from all over the world to be available to its citizens. However, ice rinks are managed as sport venues, not as cultural venues. They have various policies that make it impossible for a non-lucrative organization from outside Toronto to rent a rink and organize an artistic event.”
To side-step this little conundrum Le Patin Libre appealed to Harbourfront Centre, which consented to turn the Natrel Rink over to them for short performances at 12:30 and 3 pm Sunday and Monday (Feburary 19 and 20). The skaters are also branching out with talks and video presentations at Cineforum (463 Bathurst Street) February 19 – 21 at 8 pm. The indoor presentation, which Hamel promises will be “intimate and humouristic” is followed by a short trek to a local rink where Le Patin Libre members will lace up and cut loose (tickets are $15 at the door). Dress warm for an evening outing.
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