PRESS CLIPPINGS

For Anthology Vol. 1, emerging dancesmith Norman has gathered four of her works to be performed by nine talented dancers. As a choreographer, Norman is drawn to a wide range of subjects and always includes unexpected details in her movement. The remounts include Waving From the Inside (2004), inspired by the dreams of the dancers; Are We There Yet? (2006), a futuristic take on speed; and the excellent Gifted (2007), about innocence forced into murky waters. Her new work is a hilarious solo titled Insomnia.—Paula Citron Toronto Life April 08

“Perhaps the most successful was Tracey Norman’s Gifted, a solo for Jesse Dell that looked at innocence forced into murky waters.”
-Paula Citron, arts reviewer for THE NEW CLASSICAL 96.3 FM; November 4, 2007

“Tracey Norman, who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from York University in 2003, performs in the emerging artists program at the Toronto International Dance Festival.

She is performing a duet, all alone, together, with Leah Archambault.  The original score was composed by her brother, Daniel Norman, a Western graduate.
all alone, together is the story of a girl born holding her heart in her hand.
Norman said the festival is a chance for her to network and meet contacts in the industry.

“York Dance grad Tracey Norman (BFA '03) tells us that in May 2004 she had the honour of being asked to complete her work Waving from the Inside for the Season Finale of Series 8:08, held in Toronto’s historic Distillery District. Tracey’s choreography has also been shown at the Celebrate Toronto Street Festival, fFIDA 2003, the Junction Arts Festival, the Small Potatoes series and A Choreographer’s Ball. Throughout her recent successes, Tracey has kept her ties with York. “The dance faculty are incredibly experienced in the field and continue to support me in my endeavours,” says Tracey. “I made connections with teachers and fellow students at York which continue to grow and whom I know I can count on for years to come.” Currently Tracey is creating a work which will be shown at several venues before its final production in June of 2005 at the Dancemakers Centre in the Distillery District.”
-York & U Newsletter, Spring 2005

“This month [Series 8:08] has heavy hitters Newton Moraes and Tracey Norman.”
-Paula Citron, Toronto Life: January 2005

“Meaty: Tracey Norman for her challenging quartet that explores the meaning of home (14 stairs; 1 window)
-Paula Citron, The Globe and Mail: August 24, 2004

“…Tracey Norman’s 14 stairs; 1 window, which featured three female dancers, two of them creators or performers of other fFIDA pieces, along with composer/violinist Kousha Nakhaei.  All four moved randomly about the stage while musing aloud on the idea of home (:a terrycloth bathrobe,” “the stairs,” “CBC,” “old clothes”).”
-Susan Walker; Toronto Star: August 2004

“York dance alumna Tracey Norman (BFA 2003) has choreographed an original piece titled 14 stairs; 1 window which will receive its world premiere at fFIDA. Her last piece was shown at the Season Finale of Series 8:08, a choreographic performance workshop, held in May at Dancemakers’ Studio in Toronto.  Her other works have been presented at Celebrate Toronto Street Festival, fFIDA 2003, Junction Arts Festival, Series 8:08 and Small Potatoes Series.  She is currently dancing in a work choreographed by her York classmate Kerry Rathje.
Over the course of her studies and her career since graduation, Norman discovered that the word “home” means many different things to different people. “Where we come from geographically, environmentally and genetically shapes our relationships with others”, she said. “14 stairs; 1 window involves three women with different ideas of home who share a home together for a time.  The exploration will be somewhat personal for the performers, as it draws on their own thoughts and stories of homes that exist for them as buildings, people, communities, feelings and more.  The text is original and the music is an original composition for violin by Kousha Nakhaei.” “
-York U Flavours Indie Dance Festival, August 2004

“Tracey Norman, a 2003 dance graduate at York University, created Waving from the Inside with seven female dancers who volunteered their dreams for the piece. Composer Daniel Norman contributed a romantic piano solo that sometimes recalls the theme to Exodus.
Rising from a half-kneeling position like a flock of sheep, the dancers awake, images of their dreams freshly with them.  One remembers a baby that transforms into a baby carrot.
…a smartly paced exercise in moving in unision.”
-Susan Walker, Toronto Star: May 2004

“Tracey Norman’s quartet We Fill Up addresses the never-satisfied black hole of urban living through fetching vocal sound effects and distorted physicality.”
-Paula Citron, The Globe and Mail: August 9, 2003