Kyra Jean Green – The Smile Club LiveEvents September 12, 2021 1817 Festival Quartiers Danses presents Kyra Jean Green Cinquième Salle – September 17-18, 2021 The Smile Club The choreography and storyline of The Smile Club were inspired by psychiatric practices alleged to have taken place in Budapest, Hungary, during the Great Depression. In the aftermath of World War I, the city was dubbed the “City of Suicides.” The Smile Club features a group of individuals confined to a psychiatric hospital because they suffer from mental health disorders. They are subjected to an experimental treatment designed to redirect their negativity by forcing them to smile even when they are not inclined to. In reality, however, it teaches them to mask their true emotions and feelings and simply pretend to be happy. “My goal as an artist is to initiate and inspire change. I do this in an attempt to better understand things I cannot grasp and share them with the audience. I draw inspiration from social stigmas and challenge these ideas through dance. Improvisation is an important part of my creative process, as it allows me to discover and construct choreographic themes.” – Kyra Jean Green Duration: 50 minutes Friday, September 17 at 8:00pm Saturday, September 18 at 2:30pm Vaccine passport required Covid-19 sanitary measures in effect To purchase your tickets visit: www.placedesarts.com