LANDSLIDE: Signature Programme 4

Alyssa Martin is a choreographer whose work merges surrealism, humour, and modern dance. Based in Toronto, she is the Founder and Artistic Director of Rock Bottom Movement, a company celebrated for its bold approach to dance-theatre. She has created new work for The National Ballet of Canada, Alberta Ballet, University of the Arts Zürich, Toronto Dance Theatre and in collaboration with Citadel + Compagnie. Her work has been presented at Holland Dance Festival, Royal Ballet’s International Draft Works, Fall for Dance North Festival, Fluid Festival and Citadel Live among many others. Known for transdisciplinary collaborations across theatre, circus, film, musical theatre, and opera, Martin has worked with The Coal Mine Theatre, The Stratford Festival and Canadian Stage. Her work has been recognized with awards including numerous Dora Mavor Moore Awards in both the Dance and Theatre divisions, a nomination for the Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize and a Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Choreography. Alyssa also works as the Artistic Producer, Creative Action at The National Ballet of Canada. She is currently the artist-in-residence at Fall for Dance North Festival.

Rock Bottom Movement is a Toronto-based surrealist dance company and the home of choreographer Alyssa Martin’s work. With an anti-patriarchal approach to rigour, Rock Bottom subverts Modern dance physicality from a place of comedy and tenderness, starring performers who have a unique and cultivated presence, and who are particularly adept at being many facets of “themselves.” 

Originally founded as a busking company before growing into stage work, Rock Bottom brings high-energy mischief, sharp theatricality, and deep consideration for the audiences who come to play.

Their acclaimed works including Big Time Miss, Sex Dalmatian, Be the Bird, hollow mountain, String Quartet No. 14 in G Major, and MANICPIXIEDREAMGIRLS, have earned 8 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, 9 additional nominations, the Canadian Stage Award for Direction, and the d:mic Audience Choice Award. Rock Bottom has presented work across internationally at major festivals and performance seasons including, most recently, Holland Dance Festival. 

Their work strives to push the boundaries of live performance in Canada while reaching out to broad audiences, many of whom might be new to contemporary concert dance. Interesting art doesn’t have to be alienating. In fact, Rock Bottom thinks the most interesting art of all strives to be fundamentally not so.