Creative Connector Updated on Jul 27, 2026 4 min read

The Man Who Carries Dawn

Tour-ready project by Kathleen Rea.

Keywords: Dance, music, performance, theatre

The Man Who Carries Dawn is a mixed-ability dance-theatre work that explores depression, friendship, masculinity, disability, and the transformative act of carrying light for another person during periods of darkness.

The work follows a man struggling with depression and emotional isolation who, due to expectations rooted in toxic masculinity, is unable to seek help. During a sleepless night he encounters an unconventional angel who has been placed on leave because of his unorthodox methods of helping people. Their relationship unfolds through movement, humour, tenderness, and moments of risk, creating a story that is simultaneously touching, funny, unsettling, and hopeful.

The project draws inspiration from integrated dance practices, contact dance, disability aesthetics, contemporary dance theatre, and lived experiences of mental health challenges. It is also informed by my previous dance-theatre works exploring healing, resilience, community, and human connection.

The initial presentation at the Betty Oliphant Theatre attracted approximately 150 audience members and generated overwhelmingly positive feedback. Audience members repeatedly expressed that the work resonated deeply and deserved a larger reach. This response confirmed the artistic success of the project and reinforced the need to get The Man Who Carries Dawn out into the world.

The project is especially relevant at this time. Conversations about mental health, loneliness, and social isolation continue to grow, while many men still face barriers to seeking support. At the same time, there is increasing recognition of the importance of disability-led artistic creation and more authentic representation of diverse bodies on stage. The Man Who Carries Dawn contributes to both conversations while remaining rooted in artistic excellence rather than advocacy alone.

The Man Who Carries Dawn is a 45-minute performance followed by a 20-minute audience creator chat designed to further expand the learning and the impact of the work.

Performers: dance-theatre artist Frank Hull (who dances using a wheelchair) and Adrian Chuquipiondo with live musical accompaniment by Indie musician Tamara Williamson.
Director and Choreographer: Kathleen Rea

About the Artists

REAson d'etre dance:
REAson d'etre dance strives to provide artistic expression through movement, inclusive of age, ability, level, or background. We create, stage, and program dance works based on Contact Improvisation so we can utilize the inclusiveness that can be a part of this dance form. Our vision is for both professional dancers and everyday people to be inspired by and invigorated through Contact Improvisation. We believe that increasing accessibility breaks down barriers to dance, creating stunning humanity that is the heart of the artistic aesthetic we reach for. Our productions use multi-disciplinary story-telling, with Contact Dance at their heart. Professional dancers, ranging in age and abilities enable inter-generational storytelling that brings meaning to people's lives. REAson d'etre dance is disability lead and has a disability focus. The current artistic director has a learning disability and Autism. A significant proportion of our creative teams are composed of mixed abilities including creative leads, project leads, and collaborators with disabilities.

Kathleen Rea:
Kathleen Rea is a choreographer and director, who has created over 50 works and received seven DORA nominations. A published author (The Healing Dance), she brings 27 years of contact improvisation experience and expertise in Axis Syllabus to her performances and teaching. She is the director of REAson d’etre dance productions, producing dance jams, film festivals, and performance works. She has autism and loves to chat about neurodiversity and her special interests.

You can view Kathleen's profile on our directory here.

Frank Hull:
Frank Hull who dances using a power wheelchair embraces his Mi’kmaq heritage and queer identity, creating works that transform “deviant” bodies into sources of beauty. His multidisciplinary practice spans dance, theatre, music, and media arts. Recent projects include Access Me (DORA award for Outstanding New Play), the Rolling Dance Chair Project, and the documentary by Sarah Jones, Own Kind of Beautiful.

Adrian Chuquipiondo:
Adrian Chuquipiondo collaborated with Kinesfera, a mixed-ability dance company based in Peru with strong foundations in Contact Improvisation and with Maloka Rincon's Teatro del Vinagre. He has performed in contemporary dance festivals in Perú, Germany and Cuba. He has been training and collaborating with Kathleen Rea, where he is diving into Axis Syllabus and Contact Improvisation. Adrian believes that meaningful stories have a transformative power.

Tamara Williamson:
Tamara Williamson is a captivating storyteller. A published author (Mirror Horse, Douglas & McIntyre), award-winning playwright (Break-Up Diet, Adams Award), a major/independent label touring musician (BMG, Aporia) and successful painter. Front person for TORRANCE a four-piece original alt grunge band. A veteran of the Canadian independent music scene, she has released over ten albums, toured internationally, and collaborated with artists such as King Cobb Steelie and Do Make Say Think.