Featured Artists
Kaja Irwin ·
Kaja Irwin is a dancer, artist and educator who loves to explore movement and collaborations across art forms, including mask, puppetry, clown and character work, as well as designing/sewing costumes and props. After deciding to pursue a career in dance after completing her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Manitoba, Kaja studied in the Professional Training Program offered at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks (DJD) developing her love of both jazz and the Calgary arts community. Kaja is now a longstanding company member with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks in her eleventh season and continues to study jazz and its influences. With DJD Kaja has toured nationally and internationally, with their last tour culminating at Jacob’s Pillow as well as performing at the esteemed Newport Jazz Festival. In her independent pieces, she has developed a close collaborative relationship with Calgary jazz drummer, Nate Chiang, and tries to work with live musicians as much as possible. She has also been very fortunate to become a part of Calgary’s vibrant puppet, mask, and clown community, beginning by making short pieces for the experimental and wonderful Dolly Wiggler Cabaret, hosted by the Festival of Animated Objects and the Calgary Animated Objects Society. Kaja also has enjoyed creating and performing in Springboard Performance Fluid Fest Cabaret over the years. Kaja recently premiered her first interdisciplinary solo show, Fearsssome, in March of 2025 for the Festival of Animated Objects. Kaja enjoys finding new ways to express her creativity and play within her work.
Fearsssome
Fearsssome is a piece about challenging fears. Taking a fear and transforming it into something that allows for a shift of perspective. This interdisciplinary solo-work was created with the intent of encouraging people to be brave and confront their fears even if in small ways at first. We can change, transform, heal and grow. Fearsssome travels through the life cycle of a snake working in themes of discovery, digestion, shedding, transformation among others all the while uncovering fears and our journey through them. Using dance, puppetry, physical theatre, animating objects, mask, shadow and vocal work, this piece is deeply curious and playful. Many props and animated objects on and off the body are both used and transformed. Alongside the experimental theatre components, this piece is set to a live band with an original score co-created by Joanna Borromeo, Nate Chiang, Adam Pettigrew and Kaja Irwin. The live instrumentation and performances by the band members allow for an active participation in the story telling. The band responds in real time within the performance as well as moving on stage in different capacities. Fearsssome connects with audiences in a way that is thought provoking, a little curious, a little funny, engaging and hopefully supports people in challenging their own fears. This piece reflects the joy and sometimes uncomfortableness of change.