Alice in Winterland

Program Notes

Act 1

Not far from here, in a city much like our own, lives a young girl named Alice. Inside her cold, austere living room, she sits deep in thought, dreaming of the winter season—a joyful time of year her strict family approaches with rigid indifference.

Seeking an escape from the bleak atmosphere, Alice turns to the radio and her greatest passion: dance. She moves freely across the room, leaping over the couch and weaving through the furniture, until a sudden knock interrupts her routine. Finding the doorstep empty save for a mysterious box, she hurriedly brings the gift inside. As she lifts the lid, a brilliant light spills out, and she retrieves a wondrous object that instantly bathes the room in a warm, comforting glow.

Enchanted, she dances around her new discovery, completely unaware that her brother is watching. Struggling with his own aggressive tendencies, he is deeply unsettled by Alice’s open expression of joy and immediately runs to alert their parents. Before Alice can hide the glowing gift or explain herself, her parents confiscate it. In an instant, the warmth is swept away, leaving the room just as desolate as before, while her brother lingers only to mock her as he follows their parents out.

Just as the coldness settles back in, a frenetic, highly anxious White Rabbit suddenly appears, sparking a playful game of hide-and-seek. Between his darting movements, he desperately explains his mission: he has traveled from Wonderland in search of a savior. The cruel Queen of Hearts has banned all warmth and joy, plunging the entire realm into an eternal, emotional winter. Sensing Alice's resilient spirit, the rabbit insists she is the only one capable of thawing Wonderland's frozen heart.

Yearning to escape her own isolation, Alice agrees to follow him. When the rabbit darts through a tiny door, Alice drinks a magical shrinking potion left in her gift box, shrinking down to slip through after him. Watching from the shadows, her curious brother swallows the remainder of the potion and follows close behind. The siblings soon find themselves lost in a chaotic labyrinth of mysterious door frames and mirrors. Opening one of the doors, they are suddenly swarmed by a horde of playful, mechanical multiplying bunnies. Just as the creatures corner them, the anxious rabbit returns, guiding Alice and her brother through a secret escape in the glass and pulling them safely into the magical depths of Wonderland.

Pedagogical Discussion Topics & Educational Connections for Act 1

1. Creative Self-Expression and Movement: Examine how Alice uses dance and imagination as a healthy outlet when feeling isolated or bored. Discuss how physical movement and the arts allow us to process emotions safely without needing spoken words.

2. Recognizing and Supporting Anxiety: Look at the anxious bunny character and how his internal stress manifests physically. Discuss the importance of empathy, patience, and gentle breathing techniques when supporting peers who feel overwhelmed or panicked.

3. Navigating Sibling Dynamics and Conflict: Analyze the complex relationship between Alice and her brother. Explore why individuals sometimes resort to bullying or teasing out of insecurity, and discuss peaceful, constructive ways to manage household or school friction.

4. Appreciating Diverse Household Perspectives: Discuss how different families structure their daily lives, values, and routines. Emphasize that every home has unique ways of operating, and learning to understand and respect these differences builds a harmonious community.

5. The Emotional Impact of Environment: Analyze how lighting, atmosphere, and surroundings influence human mood and behavior (e.g., how the warm light changes Alice's living room compared to the cold, stark reality).

6. Curiosity as a Catalyst for Growth: Explore why Alice chooses to step into the unknown. Discuss how curiosity, courage, and a willingness to explore new perspectives help young people navigate life's unexpected transitions.

Act 2

Alice, her brother, and the anxious bunny finally arrive in Wonderland, only to discover a desolate, frozen landscape shadowed by a massive, icy blue heart. A chilling royal decree echoes through the air: the Queen of Hearts has permanently banned all affection, warmth, and joyful expression. Venturing deeper into the frost, the trio encounters the Mad Hatter, who sits utterly despondent at a towering, snow-covered tea table under the Queen's oppressive rule. While her brother cautiously takes in their strange new surroundings, Alice steps forward to offer the Hatter a genuine, comforting embrace.

This simple act of kindness sparks a transformation. As Alice begins to help the citizens, her warmth slowly thaws a realm that has been frozen for years. A joyous, grand tea party erupts as the inhabitants celebrate their rediscovered connection, completely unaware of the approaching royal guards. Dispatched by the Queen to extinguish any signs of joy, the soldiers ambush the gathering, triggering a frantic game of hide-and-seek. As they evade capture, Alice wrestles with her purpose. She knows this oppressive cold is wrong, but she questions why she was sent on a mission to such a sorrowful, desolate place.

Exhausted by their journey, the siblings fall into a deep sleep, blurring the lines between reality and dreams. Along their path, they encounter various inhabitants of this realm—now known as Winterland—including a brave band of rebels ready to defy the Queen's decrees. An adventure to the royal palace becomes inevitable. Amidst the building tension, Alice's doubts grow: why is the bunny truly leading her? Is this an elaborate trap? Does the bunny secretly serve the Queen, and who exactly is this tyrannical ruler?

Ultimately, Alice is challenged to stand face-to-face with the Queen of Hearts. The stakes are absolute: if Alice fails, this upside-down world will remain frozen for eternity, trapping her and her brother alongside it. The Queen is stubborn, irrational, and rules with an iron fist, demanding total submission from her subjects and soldiers alike. Seeing that this is no way to live, Alice realizes she must be the one to stop the cycle of misery.

Drawing on years of dealing with her brother's bullying, Alice understands that cruel behavior often masks unresolved pain and fear. Having guided her brother toward this realization throughout their journey, she decides to extend that same profound empathy to the Queen. Alice recognizes that true leadership requires understanding rather than control, and that our responsibility as growing individuals is to resolve our internal struggles with compassion rather than inflicting them on others.

Through this empathy, the winter curse is broken. The magical realm is restored, and the world Alice and the inhabitants choose to rebuild is one rooted in mutual respect, equality, and lasting emotional freedom. Having not only saved Wonderland but also guided her brother toward a kinder path, Alice realizes it is time to return home. A sudden wave of doubt washes over her—should they really go back? A part of her desperately wants to stay in this newly warmed, accepting world. Yet, she knows deep down that she still has to face her own reality. As she and her brother prepare to step back through the magical door, a final, lingering question remains: is Alice ready to manage the conversation with her own family? Will her living room, once so cold, become warm again?

Pedagogical Discussion Topics & Educational Connections for Act 2

1. Challenging Systemic Oppression and Fear: Examine the leadership style of the Queen of Hearts, who relies on rules of fear, rigid control, and the suppression of joy. Discuss what makes a healthy, supportive community versus an authoritarian one.

2. Empathy as a Tool for Transformation: Analyze how Alice breaks the cycle of coldness not with anger, but with a thoughtful gift and genuine warmth. Discuss how empathy can soften conflict and reach individuals who seem guarded or difficult.

3. Unpacking the Roots of Bullying and Harshness: Explore why the Queen and Alice's brother act out, looking beneath the surface behavior to understand that aggression often originates from a lack of connection, fear, or unhealed hurt.

4. The Power of Community Resilience: Look at how the inhabitants of Wonderland come together to support one another, share tea, and reclaim their joy. Discuss how collective kindness helps communities heal from difficult times.

5. Emotional Maturity and Personal Accountability: Reflect on Alice's realization that growing up means learning how to handle our emotions constructively instead of passing our frustrations onto others.

6. Building Inclusive Spaces: Discuss what it means to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and safe to express themselves authentically, ensuring that no member of the community is ever silenced or left out.

Educational Lessons

Lesson 1: The Language of Dance

What is Dance?
Bending, stretching, jumping, turning, sliding, and partnering are all fundamental physical actions that dancers practice daily. They train their bodies rigorously to transform everyday movements into a highly expressive physical language. In contemporary art, a movement sequence often originates from an abstract idea, a personal memory, a poem, a piece of visual art, or a musical score.
Dance serves as a powerful medium for expressing deep psychological and emotional states: joy, grief, tension, curiosity, and love. It is one of the oldest and most profound forms of communication available to humanity. Through the intentional movement of the body, dancers convey complex questions, inner struggles, and entire narratives without ever needing to speak aloud. It is a universal language capable of connecting people across diverse backgrounds, cultures, and lifelines.
While there are many distinct styles of dance—such as Classical Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, House, Voguing, Flamenco, and Classical Indian Dance—modern and contemporary dance focus heavily on using movement to map out the interior landscapes of human experience.

A Brief History of Dance
People have always danced. The earliest recorded dances were deeply integrated into spiritual, religious, and community ceremonies. However, by the era of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, dance had also evolved into a celebrated form of theatrical entertainment.
During the Middle Ages in Europe, theatrical dancing faced heavy restrictions from religious institutions. The arrival of the Renaissance in the 1400s sparked a massive cultural rebirth, making dance highly popular once again. It was within the lavish European royal courts of the 16th and 17th centuries that the formal structures of ballet were born.

The Foundations of Ballet
Ballet—originating from the Italian word ballare, meaning "to dance"—debuted as an elite art form created strictly for European nobility. In the 17th century, King Louis XIV of France established the Académie Royale de Danse, which formally codified the five basic feet and arm positions used in ballet training today.
The 18th century brought female dancers to the forefront of the art form, pioneered by innovators like Marie Camargo. By the 19th century, the Romantic Movement completely transformed ballet, introducing long tulle skirts, pointe shoes, and ethereal storylines that emphasized a sense of weightlessness, magic, and illusion.

The 20th Century Transition
While the term "classical" is often used broadly to describe traditional dance, it specifically refers to a category of grand, evening-length story ballets created in Russia at the end of the 19th century. During this era, the global center of dance shifted from France to St. Petersburg. Here, French choreographer Marius Petipa collaborated with Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky to create iconic, spectacular ballets that audiences still love today, including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker.
In 1909, a visionary Russian impresario named Serge Diaghilev brought together a revolutionary collective of dancers, choreographers, avant-garde painters, and composers to form Les Ballets Russes. This company took the world by storm, breaking away from old traditions by introducing short, high-concept, one-act ballets like The Rite of Spring, The Firebird, and Petrushka, setting the stage for modern experimentation.

Lesson 2: Modern & Contemporary Dance

Modern Dance
In the early 1900s, dance pioneers such as Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, and Mary Wigman led a fierce rebellion against the rigid structures, tight corsets, and artificial weightlessness of classical ballet.
Instead of hiding gravity, modern dance completely embraces it. Dancers work with the natural weight of their bodies, utilizing organic movements like falling, rolling, sliding, and rebounding off the floor. Choreographers like Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Alvin Ailey, and José Limón developed codified techniques centered on personal, raw emotion and self-expression over traditional fairytale plots.

Contemporary Dance
Contemporary dance is a fluid, constantly evolving genre that blends the technical virtuosity of classical ballet lines with the raw, grounded freedom of modern dance. It utilizes an expansive range of motion, complex floor work, and sudden changes in direction, rhythm, and speed. Dancers may perform in bare feet, soft slippers, socks, or even pointe shoes.
Unlike the ornate, decorative sets of early classical ballets, contemporary dance relies heavily on minimalist stage design, architectural lighting, and integrated digital video projections to reveal the human form. Rather than telling a simple linear story, contemporary dance investigates abstract human concepts. Leading global pioneers of this style include Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, and Canada’s own Crystal Pite.

The Creative Production Team

- What is a Choreographer? A choreographer is the lead creative professional who conceives, designs, and directs dance sequences. They act like a visual director, mapping out physical patterns, architectural spacing, and emotional movement structures for the dancers to execute on stage.

- What is a Composer? A composer is the musical mastermind who writes and arranges auditory scores. In contemporary dance, choreographers collaborate intimately with composers to align sound with movement. A dance performance might feature a newly commissioned electronic track, a traditional classical arrangement, spoken-word poetry, or even complete silence.

- What is a Lighting Designer? A lighting designer is a crucial visual artist who uses theatrical light to shape how an audience experiences space. By manipulating color, intensity, shadows, and angles, they dictate the atmosphere, direct the audience's focus, and paint the emotional mood of each choreographic piece.

Collaborator Bios & Credits

About the Choreographer

Davi Rodrigues / Brazil - Canada
Artistic Director & Choreographer
Seen as a visionary leader in the Canadian dance community, Davi Rodrigues arrived in Canada in 2008 to pursue his passion for dance. Since then, he has played a pivotal role in the Lamondance Arts Society, first as a dancer and guest choreographer and later as the Artistic Director, shaping the company's artistic identity for over 15 years. His commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment has established a vital scholarship program benefiting emerging artists nationally and internationally, ensuring that arts are accessible to all. Under his guidance, countless emerging artists have been supported by training as professional dancers, choreographers, and rehearsal directors, making a global impact. His unwavering dedication to ensuring that no aspiring artist is held back due to financial constraints has changed lives and set a standard for excellence in the industry.

Lighting Designer

Jamie Sweeney / Vancouver, BC
Jamie Sweeney is a Canadian, Vancouver-based theatre collaborator. She is a lighting designer, a production manager, a performer, and a deviser. She has a BFA in theatre production and design from Simon Fraser University. Some companies she has worked with include Vancouver Opera, Bard on the Beach, Ballet BC, Arts Club, rice & beans theatre, vAct, and Neworld Theatre. Further credits can be found on her website: www.jamiesweeney.ca

Lamondance Team

Artistic Director, show writer and choreographer: Davi Rodrigues
Rehearsal Director: Margarida Macieira
Set Designer & Costumes: Davi Rodrigues
Lighting Designer: Jamie Sweeney
Stage Manager: Anna Brew
Photos by: Adrian Ortega
Costumes Coordinators: Andrea Isea Galindo and dancers
Props Coordinators: Dania Grant and dancers

Dance Faculty: Sarah Brewer Clowes, Bev Bagg, Hannah Sim, Isak Enquist, Davi Rodrigues, Margarida Macieira, Nicole Rose Bond and Cristina Bucci.
Board of Trustees: Charlotte Aurela Edgson, Vice-President; Mark Lawrence, President & Chair; Giselle Clarke-Trenaman, Director; Joel Harnest, Director; Lorena Galindo, Fundraiser; Tracey Carpenter, Director.

If you enjoy our show and want to continue to see Lamondance producing high-quality shows, consider donating to our organization. With your help, we can continue to provide our professional dancers and contemporary training program a better future here in North Vancouver.

Dancers Bios

To get to know more about our dancers, click on the link below
Lamondance Professional Dance Company *
Lamondance Contemporary Training Program

Thanks and Acknowledgement

Lamondance would like to thank all of the fantastic artists involved in today's show, the volunteers, donors, and of course, all of you who are attending this incredible Performance.
Thank you to our Board of Directors and our wonderful volunteers for their tremendous work behind the scenes. We extend a special thank you to Brianna Giles and the team at RNB Dance for their incredible partnership. Our heartfelt appreciation also goes to Shawn Watson for his immense support of Lamondance, and to the entire staff at the CapU. Centre for the Performing Arts at Capilano University for helping us bring this production to life.

SUPPORTERS
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia. The City of North Vancouver & the District of North Vancouver through the Arts & Culture Grants Program of the North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission, Metro Vancouver, Capilano University and RNB Dance for their Artistic Support, Atlas LLP Accounting Firm and our Donors for their Artistic support.
Thank you for being here today and for your continued support of Lamondance.

Student Activities & Worksheets

Activity 1: Creative Post-Show Discussion

Upon your return to the classroom, engage your students in a collaborative group circle to unpack their experience viewing Alice in Winterland.

1. Sensory Memories & Observation
- What specific image, character, or movement sequence stands out most vividly in your mind?
- How did the visual environment and the dancers' movements change when Alice transitioned from her stark living room into the frozen, magical realm of Winterland?
- How did the dancers physically show the difference between a "frozen" emotional state (like the Queen of Hearts) and a "warm," joyful one (like Alice)?

2. Emotional Resonance
- How did the atmosphere change in the theater as Alice began to thaw Winterland with her acts of empathy and kindness?
- The story suggests that harsh behavior—like that of Alice's brother or the Queen of Hearts—often comes from unaddressed pain or fear. How did the dancers physically express these internal struggles before they found peace?
- How did the choice of music, lighting cues, and props (like the giant red bucket) help you understand the deeper meanings behind the story?

Activity 2: Writing a Performance Review

This writing exercise is designed to stimulate critical observation, analytical thinking, and artistic literacy.
Write a formal, 3-to-4 paragraph arts review of Lamondance's production of Alice in Winterland.

Part 1: Backstage Brainstorming (To do as a class)
Before writing individually, brainstorm a collective word bank on the whiteboard. Write down vocabulary words that describe:
- The Dynamics: (e.g., sharp, fluid, erratic, suspended, rigid, grounded, thawing, explosive).
- The Design Elements: (e.g., icy lighting, warm washes, shadows, magical props, winter-themed costumes).

Part 2: Review Framework (For the student)
Structure your individual review using the following guideposts:
1. The Introduction: State the title of the production (Alice in Winterland), the dance company (Lamondance), the venue, and the name of the creator and choreographer (Davi Rodrigues). Briefly state your overall impression of the performance.
2. The Physical Analysis: Choose one specific scene or character (e.g., the anxious White Rabbit, the multiplying bunnies, the Mad Hatter's tea party, or the confrontation with the Queen). Describe the movement patterns, the interactions between the dancers, and how the lighting and music enhanced the choreography.
3. The Human Connection: Alice in Winterland deals directly with empathy, family dynamics, overcoming emotional coldness, and the power of connection. Did the performance remind you of moments, struggles, or relationships in your own life? How did the expressive qualities of the dancers evoke those feelings in you?
4. The Verdict: Why do you believe it is important for young audiences to experience contemporary dance? Would you recommend a Lamondance performance to a peer? Why or why not?

Theatre Etiquette: How to be a Great Audience Member

Welcome to the theatre! Watching a live dance performance is an exciting adventure, and you are actually a very important part of the show. Live theatre is totally different from watching a movie at home because the dancers can see, hear, and feel your energy on stage.

Find your space quickly. When you enter the auditorium, get settled and comfortable before the lights go down.
Keep the magic alive. Talking during the show makes it hard for others to hear the music and stay inside the magical world of Winterland. Keep your voices resting so everyone can enjoy the story.
Help everyone see. You do not have to sit perfectly still like a frozen statue, but keeping your body calm ensures the friends sitting behind you have a great view of the stage.
Share your joy. The absolute best way to show the Lamondance artists that you love their hard work is to clap. Whenever a character is brave, or when a beautiful dance finishes, applaud loudly to send your amazing energy right back to the dancers!

Design Your Own Winterland Pet

In our story, you will meet a brand new character called The Thing. The Thing is a magical, unpredictable mix of different animals! It can have the bouncy excitement of a puppy, the grumpy laziness of a sloth, or anything else we can imagine.
Because The Thing is a hybrid creature, it can look like absolutely anything. Now it is your turn to be the creator!

1. Imagine your creature.
Pick your three favorite animals. What would they look like if they were all mashed together?

2. Draw your pet. Use the blank space below to draw your brand new Winterland creature.

3. Name your creation. Every great pet needs a name. What is your creature called?

4. Give it a superpower. Write one sentence telling us what special magical power your pet has in Winterland.

Whenever you are ready to move on, we have two items left on our list:
- The Winterland Word Search
- Write a Letter to a Character

Winterland Word Search

Can you find all the magical words hidden in the snow? The words can go across or down. Search for the following hidden words from the show:

ALICE | WINTERLAND | EMPATHY | RABBIT | MIRROR | MAGIC | DANCE | BUCKET | JOY

Write a Letter to a Character

After watching Alice's journey, think about the character you connected with the most. Was it Alice, who bravely showed empathy to a frozen kingdom? Perhaps you want to offer some encouraging words to the anxious White Rabbit, or maybe you have some helpful advice for the stubborn Queen of Hearts.
Use the space below to write a letter to your favorite character. You can tell them what you loved about their dancing, ask them a question about their adventures, or share a time when you had to be brave just like they were.

Dear ________________________________________,

Sincerely,

Venue & Parking Information

Depending on the date of your booking, your school will be attending Alice in Winterland at one of two fantastic venues. Please review the specific arrival and parking details for your scheduled performance below.

December 1st: CapU. Centre for the Performing Arts

Capilano University, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver, B.C.

School Bus Drop-off and Pick-up: Please instruct your bus drivers to enter the Capilano University campus via Purcell Way and drop off students at the designated bus loading zones near the theatre entrance. After unloading, buses should proceed to the designated oversized vehicle or bus parking areas on campus as directed by campus security or venue staff. Drivers must return to the loading zone 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time to ensure a safe and organized departure.

General Parking for Chaperones: For parents, teachers, or volunteers driving separately, pay parking is available in the various visitor parking lots across the Capilano University campus. Please remind all drivers to allow extra time to navigate the campus, find parking, and walk to the theatre to meet your school group before the show begins.

December 16th: The ACT Arts Centre

11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, B.C.

School Bus Drop-off and Pick-up: Please instruct your bus drivers to drop off students at the designated loading zones near the main entrance of The ACT Arts Centre on Haney Place. After unloading, buses will need to proceed to the designated oversized vehicle parking areas in the surrounding vicinity, as they cannot idle at the front entrance. Drivers should return to the loading zone 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time for departure.

General Parking for Chaperones: For those driving separately, underground parking is available directly beneath The ACT Arts Centre, which can be accessed via Haney Place or Edge Street. Additional street parking and public lots are located within a short walking distance from the venue. Please ensure you allow plenty of time to park and navigate to the main lobby to meet your school group before the performance.

Interactive Post-Show Q&A with Artists (15 min)

(For schools and classes able to stay following the performance)

Immediately following the final performance, we invite your students to participate in a live Question & Answer Session with Artistic Director Davi Rodrigues, Rehearsal Director Margarida Macieira, and the Lamondance company dancers.

Designed to break down the barrier between the audience and the stage, this 15-minute session gives students a rare chance to speak directly with the creators. Students are encouraged to ask about:

• The rigorous physical and athletic demands of contemporary dance.
• How a choreographer translates an abstract narrative or concept into physical movement.
• What goes on behind the scenes to design, manage, and run a professional theatrical production.

Advance notice is required; please let us know if your class plans to attend so we can secure your Q&A session.