from thine eyes.
Sean Ling dances in from thine eyes.
Photo/SCARLETT O'NEILL
Learning how to act for his latest production was a new experience for Sean Ling, a professional dancer who calls Leslieville home.
"It's quite a challenge learning to act. It's something dancers don't always do," said Ling, who plays the role of a drug-addicted man in his 50s named Peter as well as two supporting roles, in from thine eyes.
"The challenge is (to portray) 'real' sincerity, not 'acted' sincerity. This is a big push for me."
Co-produced by Signal Theatre and Native Earth Performing Arts and presented by DanceWorks (Toronto's longest-running contemporary dance series), from thine eyes is dance-theatre work where a cast of six main characters perform four separate stories about struggles to find meaning at the end of one's life. The characters confront their deepest fears, their most cherished memories and each other.
The name of the piece is derived from a passage in the Qur'an: "Lift the veil from thine eyes."
Ling, a three-year Greenwood Avenue and Queen Street East area resident, explained in from thine eyes it is implied each character has died and is reliving a moment they most regret.
"At the point of death, one can choose to be trapped in that horrible memory or let go," he shared, adding death is an inevitable fact of life many fear.
"Live your life without regrets knowing that you don't have the chance to change it."
Ling said the production gets people thinking about the importance of accepting their actions and moving forward.
"This is something one can consider any time: being able to accept our own guilt," he said.
From thine eyes is the first time Ling has worked with Aboriginal artists Michael Greyeyes, Signal Theatre's artistic director, and from thine eyes' choreographer and director Yvette Nolan, the piece's writer as well as the former artistic director of Native Earth.
Overall, it's been a wonderful and learning experience, said Ling, who has been rehearsing for the show for the last six weeks and spent three weeks earlier this year working on the creative side of it.
"Michael has been very generous with his time and explaining his vision, and Yvette has also been wonderful to work with," Ling said.
"They took the time to go in depth and explain the background of the characters."
From thine eyes will be staged at 8 p.m. daily from Sept. 22 to 24 at Harbourfront Centre's Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. Call 416-973-4000 or visit www.danceworks.ca to purchase tickets.