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Dance

Dec10

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Ballet BC: Encore at the Queen E

Posted in: Ballet, Dance, Events, Vancouver

[Donald Sales in Herman Schmerman; photo by Chris Randle.]

Ballet BC will bring Encore to the Queen E Theatre for three evening performances from January 24 to 26. The series is part of the 2013 Push International Arts Festival and will feature three audience favourites from the 2010 and 2011 dance seasons.

Herman Schmerman is choreographed by William Forsythe, recognized as one of the world’s foremost choreographers. The piece will be danced to music by Dutch composer Thom Willems. Widely responsible for reorienting the practice of ballet from its identification with the classical repertoire to a dynamic 21st century art form, Herman Schmerman was an enormous audience success when it was premiered by Ballet BC in April 2010.

In addition, Forsythe directed the Frankfurt Ballet for 20 years. His work is regularly performed by companies around the world, including the St. Petersburg’s Kirov Ballet, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, the Royal Ballet and The Paris Opera Ballet.

“Forsythe’s work is featured in the repertoire of every major ballet company in the world,” according to Ballet BC’s Artistic Director Emily Molnar. “Encore is a full evening of audience favourites and Forsythe’s virtuosic and vibrantly musical Herman Schmerman is in keeping with Ballet BC’s diverse approach to contemporary ballet. This is dance that moves and captivates audiences.”

In February 2011, Ballet BC premiered 1st Flash by Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo. Audiences were enchanted by this work for six dancers, performed to a beautiful Sibelius violin concerto. Elo is resident choreographer of Boston Ballet and a former member of The Netherlands Dance Theatre, Sweden’s Cullberg Ballet, and The Finnish National Ballet.

[Petite Ceremonie; photo by Michael Slobodian.]

Originally created for Ballet BC in February 2011, Petite Cérémonie is a powerful and poetic full-company piece by European dance star Medhi Walerski. Inspired by the idea of ‘life in a box,’ it is a surprising and delightful mix of dance and theatre, full of imagery and adventure, a dazzling landscape of movement and ideas. Walerski’s original voice makes dances that are “out of this world…a dreamlike experience. A dream you never want to wake from.” Walerski is a dancer with The Netherlands Dance Theatre.

Adds Molnar, “Both Jorma and Medhi have had great international success and have created and staged works for major dance companies around the world. We are thrilled to have their work as part of Ballet BC’s repertoire.”

Ballet BC Presents Encore with Push International Arts Festival
Dates: January 24 to 26, 2013, 8 pm
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 649 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $22.25 to $70 (plus service charges); available online or via phoning Ticketmaster at 1.855.985.2787 (855.985.ARTS).
Oct26

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Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna

Posted in: Dance, Events, Vancouver

Cirque du Soleil returns with Amaluna, a new show set to tour Canada through the end of the year. Amaluna’s name is a fusion of the words ama, referring to “mother” in many languages, and luna, meaning “moon,” a symbol of femininity that evokes both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of goddess and protector of the planet. Amaluna is also the name of the mysterious island where the story unfolds.

Amaluna invites the audience to experience this unique island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honours femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance, marking the passing of these characteristics from one generation to the next.

As the story unfolds in the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men lands on the island, setting the stage for an emotional love story between Prospera’s daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a love that will be put to the test. The couple must face numerous demanding trials and overcome daunting setbacks before they can achieve mutual trust, faith, and harmony.

“Amaluna is a tribute to the work and voice of women,” explains Director of Creation Fernand Rainville. “The show is a reflection on balance from a woman’s perspective,“ he adds. Show Director and Writer Diane Paulus says: “Amaluna is less about feminism and more about reconnecting to our world in a different way.”

Cirque du Soleil is known for its incredibly colourful and detailed costumes and this show will be no exception. Inspired by Asia Minor, the corseted costumes of the Amazon warriors are augmented with ponytails and high-heeled black and red leather boots in a look that is more fantasy than historical reality. Amaluna’s world also includes costumed half-human, half-animal characters, lizards, peacocks and fairies.

Amaluna costume designer Mérédith Caron has brought a company of fabulous and eclectic characters to life through the magic of her creations. She imagined the world of the show – the mysterious island of Amaluna – as existing somewhere in the Mediterranean as a true meeting place between East and West, a distant land where ancient and modern times overlap and blend harmoniously, with different eras and cultures melding into one location.

Mérédith was additionally inspired by the clothing styles of major figures in the worlds of music, fashion, and film such as k.d. lang, Roy Orbison, John Galliano, Tim Burton — even a rock version of the Village People. “You might well see girls in these kinds of clothes among the heterogeneous fauna of a bar in avant-garde Berlin, for example,” says Mérédith, “hence the link between the costumes, the music and the decidedly rock sensibility of a show that celebrates beauty in all its guises.”

Scott Pask’s set creates a mysterious, lush, and enchanted island whose most important feature is a carefully crafted forest of bamboo-like branches that both frame and surround the action.

Amaluna world-premiered in Montreal on April 19, 2012. During its first year, the show will tour a few cities across Canada, including Quebec City, Toronto, and Vancouver. It will then travel to Seattle and return to Canada with stops in Edmonton and Calgary in 2013. All 120 of the cast and crew represent a total of 17 countries: Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, France, Greece, Japan, Mongolia, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Cirque du Soleil Presents Amaluna
Dates: November 23 to December 30
Venue: Concord Pacific Place, Vancouver
Tickets: $43.50 to $143.50; available online
The Tapit Rouge VIP experience includes access to the VIP ROUGE tent (an hour before the show and during intermission), food and wines, souvenirs, complimentary parking, private restroom and coat check, and other perks – splash out for the holidays! Adults $268.50; Kids (2-12) $192
Sep21

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Aszure Barton’s Project XII (Awáa)

Posted in: Dance, Events, Vancouver

Project XII, a new work directed and choreographed by Aszure Barton, will make its way to the Norman and Annette Rothstein Theatre next month. The work is performed by seven internationally acclaimed dancers and will feature an original score by Lev ‘Ljova Zhurbin’ and Curtis Macdonald.

“Project XII (Awáa) speaks of awakening, awareness of self, growth, motherhood, love and harmony with others. All this results in a presentation that is sad, happy, funny, mesmerizing, picturesque, aesthetically beautiful to behold and curiously inspiring.” – Susan Hickman, Dance Critic

Aszure Barton is a strong believer in allowing the dance to speak for itself and hopes that each person present will have their own individual experience with no imposed limitations. “I do not want to bind your findings with words. The physicality of the dancers is passionate, inspired and emotionally powerful. The musical score will be percussive and alive. I hope you will be touched in some way, and that the work resonates with you”, says Aszure Barton.

[Benjamin Kamino]

Canadian born and raised, Aszure Barton has collaborated with and created works for Mikhail Baryshnikov, Hell’s Kitchen Dance, The National Ballet of Canada, Nederlands Dans Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Les Chiche Capon, The Juilliard School, Ballet BC, The Chutzpah! Festival and BJM: Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal (Resident Choreographer 2005 to 2008), among many others.

[Andrew Murdock]

Aszure is an artist in residence at The Banff Centre in Canada as well as the proclaimed official Ambassador of Contemporary Choreography in Alberta, Canada.

Aszure Barton and Artists is a collective of visual, sound, and performing artists. Barton’s works have toured to Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Asia, Africa, Canada, and the US and is an audience favourite of the Chutzpah! Festival.

Project XII (Awáa)
Dates: October 24 to 28, 8 pm; Saturday and Sunday, October 27 and 28, 2 pm matinée
Venue: Norman and Annette Rothstein Theatre, 950 West 41st Avenue (2 blocks west of Oakridge Skytrain)
Tickets: Adults $30; Seniors $26; Students $22 (excluding HST); available by phoning 604.257.5111 (no service charge by phone), online, or Tickets Tonight

Project XII is a co-production of The CanDance Network Creation Fund, National Arts Centre, Danse Danse, Canada Dance Festival, Le Grand Théâtre de Québec, La danse sur les routes and The Banff Centre. It is supported by the Dance Section of the Canada Council for the Arts and The Banff Centre’s Performing Arts Residency program.

All photos courtesy of Kim Williams.
Sep18

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2012 Gait to the Spirit Dance Fest

Posted in: Dance, Events, Vancouver

[Savitha Sastry]

The 3rd Annual Gait to the Spirit Dance Festival celebrates the classical dance of India. This year’s festival will take place from October 26 to 29 at Vancouver’s Scotiabank Dance Centre.

For the 3rd edition, Mandala Arts and Culture will present three styles of Indian Classical dance: odissi, kathak, and bharata natyam. Shalini Patnaik (US), Aakash Odedra (UK), Savitha Sastry (US/India), and Malavika Santhosh (Canada) will be the featured artists. Friday night’s opening performance will be a double bill with two amazingly talented odissi and kathak dancers.

The festival will offer a two day bharata natyam workshop by guest artist Savitha Sastry as well as a lecture demo by kathak dancer Aakash Odedra. Aakash will speak on the nature and influences of his more contemporary work.
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Aug22

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2012 Vancouver Flamenco Festival

Posted in: Dance, Events, Vancouver

[Angeles Gabaldón]

Spanish award-winning performer Angeles Gabaldón is one of many national and local artists set to entertain Vancouver for the 23rd annual Vancouver International Flamenco Festival. Both Flamenco Rosario’s Artistic Director Rosario Ancer and Musical Director Victor Kolstee are proud to bring this talented performer to Vancouver’s growing flamenco community.

Having performed on all seven continents, Gabaldón’s dancing fuses the most passionate aspects of Flamenco with the elegance of classical Spanish dance.

Gabaldón’s work is a combination of her great restlessness and a strong sense of the necessity towards self-improvement that have allowed her, step by step, to find, shape a unique style that stands out from the rest of contemporary flamenco artists.

The festival presents flamenco artists performing in a range of styles: traditional, contemporary, soloists and ensemble works. The Vancouver International Flamenco Festival will take the audience on a journey from flamenco’s origins as a blend of cultures through to today’s continual evolution of music, song, and dance.

[Fiona Malena. Photo credit: Ivan Karabobaliev]

Festival highlights include:
Flamenco Rosario: Free lecture and dance demonstration
Monday, September 17, 8 pm
Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch

Performances by Calgary’s Fiona Malena Flamenco Ensemble
Thursday, September 20, 8 pm
Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island

Performances by Montreal’s La Otra Orilla
Friday, September 21, 8 pm
Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island

“Del Quivir” by Angeles Gabaldón/performance by Flamenco Rosario
Saturday, September 22, 8 pm
Vancouver Playhouse, 8 pm

La Musica del Flamenco: a night dedicated to guitar and song
Sunday, September 23, 7 pm
Cory Weeds’ Cellar Jazz Club 7pm

Vancouver Flamenco Festival
Dates: September 17 to 23
Venue: Various venues around Vancouver
Tickets: Visit the Vancouver Flamenco Festival website
Jul10

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Dances for a Small Stage

Posted in: Dance, Events, Vancouver

[Peter Chu]

Dances for a Small Stage will present two installations of its contemporary performance series this August at The Legion on the Drive.

On August 1 and 2, Dances for a Small Stage 26 highlights internationally renowned choreographer Peter Chu and his critically acclaimed company. On August 3 and 4, the 27th installment presents some of Vancouver’s hottest young artists in daring new works on the signature, ridiculously small 10-by-13-foot stage.

“I’ve always been of the mindset that you can never have too much of a good thing,” says MovEnt Artistic Producer Julie-anne Saroyan. “So when the opportunity arose to have Peter Chu, an unbelievable artist, come to Vancouver with his insanely talented company coupled with a stellar mix of Ballet BC dancers performing during their summer hiatus – I couldn’t possibly pick just one. The result is going to be more talent than we’ve ever seen on our tiny stage.”
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May23

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2012 HSBC City of Bhangra Festival

Posted in: Dance, Dining, Events, History, Music, Surrey, Vancouver

Beginning next week, dance to your hearts’ content with over 200 of the best Punjabi dancers and musicians set to perform at the 8th Annual HSBC City of Bhangra Festival. Many events are either free or very affordable considering the talent being brought into the city. UK’s Sunil Kalyan and JK, as well as New York’s DJ Rekha and Bikram Singh will headline free outdoor concerts in both Surrey and Downtown Vancouver presented by the VIBC Society.
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Apr16

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New! National Dance Week

Posted in: Dance, Events, Vancouver

The Canadian Dance Assembly is launching the first ever National Dance Week as well as the ‘I love dance/J’aime la danse’ campaign leading up to International Dance Day, celebrating the art of dance across Canada.

International Dance Day was initiated by UNESCO in 1982 and is marked globally each year on April 29. The date commemorates the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), regarded as the founder of modern ballet.

The Dance Centre will present a program of exciting events celebrating both National Dance Week and International Dance Day in Vancouver, featuring flamenco and contemporary to bharata natyam and pow-wow dance styles.

In a new partnership between The Dance Centre and the Vancouver Biennale Open Air Museum, local dance artists will perform alongside the city’s monumental Biennale sculptures from April 23 to 28.

[605 Collective. Photo by Gary Cotter]

Highlights will include a noon performance of The Dance Centre’s Discover Dance! series by local favourites The 605 Collective, a partnership presentation with Co.ERASGA featuring Germany’s COCOONDANCE, and a full day of free events on International Dance Day, Sunday April 29.

National Dance Week Events
April 23 to 28
Vancouver Biennale Open Air Museum
Presented in partnership with the Vancouver Biennale, dance artists will perform at Biennale sculptures around Vancouver. As part of the Vancouver Biennale BIG IDEAS Educational Program, these free public performances will also include original student works in dance, music, drama and poetry.

Monday, April 23
Noon, Walking Figures, Broadway/City Hall Canada Line station
Danny Nielsen will perform a tap improvisation inspired by the natural rhythm of everyday life.

Tuesday, April 24
11 am, Engagement, Sunset Beach Park
- Ziyian Kwan/dumb instrument Dance in because the world is round, ‘a brief romance for two brides’, performed by Jane Osborne & Ziyian Kwan
- Caitlin Griffin’s Disk Pin, a lighthearted look at expectations performed by Griffin and Elissa Hanson

Wednesday, April 25
10 am, Echoes at Kitsilano Beach Park
- Flamenco Rosario performs Verde que te quiero verde, danced by Rosario Ancer and accompanied by guitarist Victor Kolstee
- Ziyian Kwan’s echoes, a bilingual musical dance created with students from Henry Hudson School

Thursday, April 26
11 am, Water #10 at Cambie Plaza, Richmond
Performance by The Landing Dance Company

Discover Dance!
Noon, Scotiabank Dance Centre; tickets $10/$8 via Tickets Tonight
The Dance Centre’s noon hour series features The 605 Collective in a sneak preview of work from their hotly anticipated new piece, Inheritor Album. Fusing contemporary, hip hop, and martial arts to create a virtuosic and high-energy movement style, the company (dancers Laura Avery, Justine Chambers, Lisa Gelley, Shay Kuebler, Josh Martin and David Raymond) will perform excerpts, along with video projections created by Los Angeles-based experimental animation artist Miwa Matreyek. Informal demonstrations and an audience Q&A will follow.

Friday April, 27
Noon, Walking Figures, Broadway/City Hall Canada Line station
Nicole Dupuis’ Pastures, a structured improvisation responding to ideas represented by the sculpture

Saturday, April, 28
11:30 am, Echoes at Kitsilano Beach Park
The Contingency Plan presents “what belongs to you” (excerpts), a trio choreographed by Vanessa Goodman

1 pm at King and Queen, Harbour Green
Arash Khakpour’s The Righteous Floater, inspired by the tale of Cain and Abel, performed by brothers Arash and Aryo Khakpour

[Another You, COCOONDANCE. Photo Klaus Frohlich]

Another You
8 pm, Scotiabank Dance Centre; tickets $25/$18 via Tickets Tonight
A double bill of contemporary dance works from Vancouver and Germany. Alvin Erasga Tolentino’s ADAMEVE/Man-Woman (Part 1) is a riveting duet which premiered in 2008 and features charismatic performers Alison Denham and Billy Marchenski. Rafaele Giovanola’s COCOONDANCE is based in Bonn, Germany and will present the duet Another You. Presented by Co.ERASGA and COCOONDANCE in partnership with The Dance Centre.

Sunday, April 29
International Dance Day
A program of FREE daytime studio showings, open classes, and events at Scotiabank Dance Centre

11 am to 1 pm
Raven Spirit Dance: Pow-Wow Boot Camp with Nyla Carpentier
Participants will learn the history of Pow-Wow styles and intertwine it with building stamina and strength alongside the fast heartbeat of the drum. Ages 16+.

11 am to 1 pm
Modus Operandi
An opportunity to view emerging contemporary dance artists from Out Innerspace’s intensive professional training program in class and rehearsal.

Noon to 1 pm
Contemporary dance showcase
An informal presentation of works featuring works by Meredith Kalaman, Give Me Brilliance, and The Contingency Plan/Vanessa Goodman followed by a moderated discussion.

1 to 2 pm
Kinesis Dance somatheatro gives a studio showing of a new ensemble work in progress by Artistic Director Paras Terezakis.

2 to 3 pm
Book launch
Local author Lori Henry’s Dancing Through History: In Search of the Stories that Define Canada. Readings, discussion, and dance demonstrations by artists including the Dancers of Damelahamid.

[Mandala East Indian dance. Photo by Ron Sangha]

3 to 4 pm
Mandala Arts and Culture: bharata natyam lecture-demonstration, hosted by Artistic Director Jai Govinda

4 to 5 pm
Karen Flamenco
Open flamenco class; all levels welcome

[dumb instrument dance. Photo by Anna Waters]

5 to 8 pm
dumb instrument Dance throwing coin squeezing soy – interactive public research of the I Ching, the ancient Chinese method of fortune telling. Stationed in the main lobby, Ziyian Kwan and her assistants, Anne Cooper and akaSuzi, will translate questions from passers-by through dance and words.

Another You
8 pm, Scotiabank Dance Centre; tickets $25/$18 via Tickets Tonight
A double bill of contemporary dance works from Vancouver and Germany. Alvin Erasga Tolentino’s ADAMEVE/Man-Woman (Part 1) is a riveting duet which premiered in 2008 and features charismatic performers Alison Denham and Billy Marchenski. Rafaele Giovanola’s COCOONDANCE is based in Bonn, Germany and will present the duet Another You. Presented by Co.ERASGA and COCOONDANCE in partnership with The Dance Centre.

For listings of more National Dance Week events and a calendar of BC dance performances, visit The Dance Centre website.

For information on National Dance Week and the I love dance/J’aime la danse campaign, visit the Canadian Dance Assembly online.
Apr12

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The Fine Line ~ twisted angels

Posted in: Dance, Events, Vancouver

[Dancers Dancing's Bevin Poole, Cai Glover, Vanessa Goodman]

Local dance organization Dancers Dancing and SFU Woodward’s cultural programs are partnering to bring the world premiere of The Fine Line ~ twisted angels to Vancouver.

The Fine Line ~ twisted angels explores in movement, sound and image how we experience, perceive, relate to and react to both our internal and external worlds. Ephemeral, sometimes transformative, the moments between perceiving, sensing, and cognition create a rich tapestry of somatic images. The work engages with the fragility of our existence and risks the deep and dark journeys necessary to project the internal experience directly onto the stage.

Since 1999, Dancers Dancing has mounted productions both in Vancouver and on tour. The company is known for its passion and technical wizardry as well as for reaching diverse audiences. The press has called the company “…truly exciting… Bursting with energy from the moment the curtains open, this powerhouse of a show was a delight from beginning to end…”

Artistic director Judith Garay is a professional choreographer, having made her start over 30 years ago in New York. The New York Times called her “A choreographer with a sure inventive touch”. According to The Georgia Straight, “Garay has an incredible ability to boil down relationships to simple gestures that are loaded with meaning.”

[Dancers Dancing's Vanessa Goodman, Bevin Poole]

The Fine Line – Twisted Angels
Date: Wednesday to Saturday, May 23 to 26, 8 pm
Venue: Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, Studio D, 149 West Hastings Street
Tickets: Adults $25; students and seniors $15 (all ticket prices exclude service charge); available online via SFU Woodwards

All images courtesy of David Cooper.
Apr11

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Welcome to Harlem! at Calabash

Posted in: Dance, Dining, Events, History, Music, Theater, Vancouver

“Come on down to our speakeasy. The music is sweet and everything good to eat!”

Rooted Theatre Productions is proud to present “Welcome To Harlem! Celebrating The Renaissance”. Produced by Marsha Regis and Tanya Cromwell and directed by Marsha Regis, these two unique events will take place later this month at Gastown’s Calabash Bistro. The popular Gastown eatery will transform into a speakeasy, providing the new theatre company the chance to serve up a soul food buffet with music, poetry, dance and more.

[Chattanooga Choo Choo film still. Rooted Productions image.]

“Welcome to Harlem! Celebrating the Renaissance” is the second production created by actor/director/producer Marsha Regis for Rooted Theatre Productions, whose mandate is “Sharing universal stories through the lens of the Black experience.” This Vancouver based black theatre company will bring you back to the 1920s and 30s for a musical and poetic ride through the Harlem Renaissance.

Rooted Theatre Productions began as a play reading group. In between rehearsing and performing, the group meets monthly to read plays by black playwrights.

Regis and Cromwell have assembled a talented group of actors for these special performances, including Daren Herbert, Candus Churchill, and Tom Pickett. To add to the celebration, dancers and musicians will make the two performances both evenings to remember.

Welcome to Harlem! Celebrating the Renaissance
Dates: Sundays, April 22 and 29
Venue: Calabash Bistro, 428 Carrall Street (between Hastings and Pender)
Tickets: Available online for $30 (6 pm soul food buffet and show) and $15 (7:30 pm show only)