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Dancers studied horses for years to embody them in musical about Canadian thoroughbred
The musical uses a 25-person cast and horse-inspired movement to tell the underdog story of Northern Dancer, who won 14 of 18 races.
- On Tuesday, "Dancer " begins a nearly month-long run at Toronto's Terminal Theatre, telling the story of the legendary Canadian-bred racehorse Northern Dancer.
- Writer Jim Betts and composer Marek Norman began plotting the musical in 2010 to honor Northern Dancer, an undersized thoroughbred from Oshawa, Ont., who became Canada's first non-human inductee into the Sports Hall of Fame.
- Director Stacey Tookey collaborated with Keanu Uchida, who plays the title character; Uchida said, "I'm just in the stable being a horse," describing the physical challenge of portraying an animal through movement.
- Winning the Adams Prize for Musical Theatre helped the show earn a spot in the 2023 Toronto Fringe Festival, where Betts and producer Kate Barris raised $100,000 to fund the hit production that sold out its 12-day run.
- Audiences may feel empowered by the show's underdog message, which Betts said proves, "Canadians have something real to offer." The production aims to spotlight Canadian heritage through high-level local talent.
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Winnipeg Free Press+11 Reposted by 11 other sources
Dancers studied horses for years to embody them in musical about Canadian thoroughbred
TORONTO - It's been more than 60 years, but Jim Betts still remembers standing in front of his television set as a teenager, beaming with pride after Northern Dancer won the prestigious Kentucky Derby in 1964, a first for a Canadian-bred racehorse.
·Winnipeg, Canada
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Total News Sources12
Leaning Left5Leaning Right0Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Center
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources are Center
55% Center
L 45%
C 55%
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