Straddle #2025 - BRIGHT WORMS by Louise Michel Jackson

In a low-fi performative universe of abyssal colors and iridescent surfaces, Bright Worms celebrates the need for light, luminous laughter, and what emerges from the depths. This multidisciplinary work pays homage to bioluminescent creatures and explores the possibilities of humans generating their own light. A laboratory of the senses between the underwater and intrauterine worlds, where textures, materials, reflections, and distortions create a welcoming microcosm. Through athletic prowess and coral somatic dance, Bright Worms displays its complicity with the strange world of shipwrecks and the unknown.

About the artist:
Louise Michel is a dancer, choreographer, filmmaker and teacher. For over 20 years, she has worked for various companies and independent artists such as Hanako Hoshimi-Caines, Rubberbandance,  Dana Gingras, Kim Sanh Chau, Frédérick Gravel, Adam Kinner, Simon Portigal, Lara Oundjian, and Eastman-Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. After living in Belgium for 5 years, she moved between Brussels and Montreal, creating her first project "STROKE" aka SHUDDER in collaboration with Ben Fury (Co-Production Charleroi-Danses, Belgium). 

She then created a first solo Bright Worms (Théâtre Lachapelle April 2021 and Offta 2023) a research on bioluminescence with the integration of video projection and light devices in collaboration with sound artist Magali Babin. She is currently accompanying Edon Descollines (associate artist of the Joe Jack and John theater company) as an artistic ally for his show "Black whole"  (Espace libre, October 2025). She's been teaching at University of Quebec at Montreal since 2023, and Since 2021, she has also been working in the field of plants and flowers at the Jean-Talon market. With her hands in the earth and "off the dance circuit", this fascinating sphere is now essential for maintaining a good mental balance and maintaining a space of retreat necessary for her artistic practice.

Bright Worms Team
Sound Design:  Magali Babin + Hazy Montagne Mystique
Light design collaboration : Jon Cleveland
Outside eyes: Lara Oundjian, Victor Dumont, Ellen Furey, Kim Sanh Chau
Movement Consultant: Caroline Gravel
Movement Catalysis: Justin De Luna, Lara Oundjian, Silvia Sanchez, Elinor Fueter
Video Consultant: Kim-Sanh Châu

With the support of the Conseil des arts de Montréal, Canada Council for the Arts and Conseil des Arts du Québec 

Co-production: Théâtre La Chapelle, remounted for OFF.T.A 2023

Residencies: CCOV, La SERRE-arts vivants, Studio 303, PHI Centre, Carrefour culturel de Notre-Dame des Prairies, Théâtre La Chapelle, Circuit-Est, Third Floor, Studio Stable – Animals of Distinction, Diane Dufresne Art Centre, Hector-Charland Corporation, Garage François  

Details of the performance:
Date: 11th April 2025 (Friday)
Time: 8.30pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Five Arts Centre @ 9th Floor, GMBB, KL

This performance is part of the programme of Straddle #2025. For the full programme pass, please check out details here. 

Straddle #2025 is a new platform by Five Arts Centre aimed at nurturing connections between artists in Kuala Lumpur and other cities. 

A special shoutout to our community partner, GMBB. 

The participation of the Montréal artist is made possible by the financial support of the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec.