Embracing Winter In Saskatoon: Olfert Backyard Antics
Over the past few months regular Everyday Tourist readers and sometimes guest bloggers, Leila and Charles Olfert have been sharing with me some of the fun ways they have been embracing winter. Recently they shared some photos and a video of a Free Flow Dance Group’s performance in their backyard.
As winter is upon all of us, I thought I would share with you this unique way of embracing the winter. Hope you enjoy….stay warm!
The Olferts found this fun snow creature on one of their winter cycling trips around Saskatoon.
FYI: The Olferts do indeed have a very unique backyard. The photos above were taken when we visited in June 2018.
Hi Richard,
How and why did we had dance rehearsals and fireside performances in our backyard this year is an interesting story. It begins with our architectural office being located in an inner city neighborhood that includes many artists and creative people. We try to be good neighbors by sponsoring many.
One of these groups is the “Free Flow Dance Theater Company (FFDTC).” In 2020 when we (aodbt architecture + interior design) were celebrating our 40th anniversary, FFDTC were celebrating their 25th, so we agreed to try to coordinate some of our celebrations. We had big plans, including a theatre production when COVID came and turned things inside out.
Instead of big events, Free Flow Dance Theatre Company moved to small events with very limited in person audiences and an on-line presence.
Small performances meant they were not limited by location and they went in search of interesting places to perform.
One of these was the “Back Alley Antics” event in the back lanes and rail tracks near our office.
In July they were seeking a nice back yard to perform a piece called PODS that involved three performers in Lycra costumes that each included the person and their own three foot mini-trampoline. Very unique.
Olfert Backyard Antics
They had heard our yard was interesting, and they really liked it, however it was rejected as “not flat enough” for the trampolines. Notwithstanding this, the dancers were quite taken by our little glass pavilion and felt that it would be really neat to have a dancer on the roof and one inside with coordinated moves.
Jackie Latendresse (Artistic Director, Choreographer, Instructor and General Manager of Free Flow Dance Theatre Company) began immediately to plan a site specific event. She recruited three pairs of dancers, and they started spending time in our yard developing the most interesting, graceful and athletic moves using our swing set in ways it had never been used before. They planned their performance for the middle of November when it wouldn’t be too cold, and there was a chance of a little snow which would be ideal for the amazing light show that Jackie envisioned.
Then, just three days before show time, we had the biggest blizzard in 15 years. We had five foot deep drifts in some of the dance locations. Fortunately, our neighbor (an Instagram influencer), is constantly receiving new toys to review.
He just got a big, new, electric snow blower that he could hardly wait to try in all kinds of conditions. It was a win-win and much snow was moved.
The program needed a few tweaks, but the snow was magical and the snow piles allowed four couples to each sit, socially distant, with their own mugs of mulled wine around individual fire pits.
Those who were lucky enough to purchase a ticket all said how much they enjoyed the chance to forget about COVID for an hour as they were transported into a magical world of contemporary dancers performing in parkas and boots.
Leila & Charles
P.S. The Olferts are not only embracing winter this year, but every year…who else would go to Yellowknife in the winter? Yes they did and blogged about their adventure: Yellowknife: Winter Fun & Games
Last Word
It has been interesting to watch how most of us have adapted to how we “live, work and play” in 2020 as a result of the COVID pandemic. I love how people are outside more enjoying the great urban outdoors even in the winter - be that walking in their ‘hood with family and friends, checking out their local outdoor skating rinks, parks and pathways or cycling around the city.
Hopefully these simple, healthy, every day, outdoor habits will continue after the pandemic is over.