The Dance Centre presents the 14th biennial Dance In Vancouver
FakeKnot: Croquis
Ziyian Kwan/Odd Meridian Arts: Tendrils
November 21, 2024
Scotiabank Dance Centre
The Dance Centre acknowledges that it is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. It is an honour and a privilege for us to be guests in their lands. We are grateful.
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With multiple partnerships and the vibrant engagement of colleagues (often from afar), each edition of Dance In Vancouver brings a fresh perspective to what dance here on the west coast is, and who we are as a community. We witness diverse voices, take in exhilarating stories, and explore new territories. Most importantly we connect to each other as we explore and dream up future possibilities, and I hope that the experience resonates with you for some time to come. In a world of uncertainty one thing is certain – that we in dance and the arts must continue to assert the transformational power art has to ignite inspiration and open the doors to a better future. Thank you for taking the time to be with us.
Mirna Zagar
Executive Director, The Dance Centre
About Dance In Vancouver
Initiated in 1997 and produced every two years by The Dance Centre, Dance In Vancouver (DIV) is unique for its concentrated focus on promoting the province’s contemporary dance talent, not only to local audiences, but also to presenters who come from across Canada and around the world to experience the dynamic contemporary dance of the Canadian West Coast.
In addition to public performances and events, visiting presenters experience works by over 30 BC-based artists over the course of five days. This edition of DIV also centres partnerships with Vancouver’s artist-run centres which will share their programming with presenters, including Left of Main, Morrow, Boombox, and Progress Lab 1422.
The DIV 2024 guest curator is Anthea Lewis, founder of Blulilli Projects UK, in association with Dance Umbrella (UK) – London’s International Dance Festival, and FABRIC International.
FAKEKNOT
CROQUIS
Choreographer & Performer: Ralph Escamillan
Choreographer’s Assistant: Daria Mikhaylyuk
Managing Producer: Francesca Piscopo
Croquis is a durational performance that explores the idea of a “croquis”—a quick, expressive sketch of a garment, often the first step towards bringing an idea into tangible reality. Within the context of this work, the pencil is the body and the paper a modular canvas—dissecting the desire to imprint and archive oneself into physical space.
This solo pulls inspiration from Ralph Escamillan’s personal memories, his ongoing fascination with codes of fashion, and his appreciation for the act of crafting and constructing objects and materials by hand.
Central to this work is a garment constructed entirely out of paper. The physicality of this solo is entirely reactionary to this garment, inspired by the silhouette of the historic ball gown skirt, the duality of which has been synonymous with ideas of celebration, femininity and pomp, while also representing a type of confinement and mourning.
Croquis is produced by FakeKnot.
FakeKnot gratefully acknowledges the support of the City of Vancouver.
A special thanks to the Vancouver Art Gallery for their support during its creation.
FakeKnot
Executive Producer and Agent: Jim Smith
Producer & Agent: Francesca Piscopo
Marketing and Communications: Jonathan James
Associate Producer: Kevin Soo-Locsin
Accounts Manager: Ann Hepper
ZIYIAN KWAN/ODD MERIDIAN ARTS
TENDRILS
Imagine
A constellation of creative thoughts
That seek us out and land on our bodies
Magneting to us like starbursts of acuity
Filling the empty spaces in which we are ghost
With galaxies of intelligence
Creation and Performance: Ziyian Kwan
Closing Letter/Message: Written by Tedd Robinson to Ziyian Kwan / recited by Ziyian Kwan
Costumes & Props: Ziyian Kwan with the inclusion of a wool hat and orbs that were part of Tedd Robinson’s creative archives, gifted to Ziyian as part of 10 Gates Dancing’s Multiples project.
Original Music: Jo Hirabayashi, Stefan Nazarevich
Sourced Music: The Arts and The Hours, Jean-Philippe Rameau played by Víkingur Ólafsson
Lighting Design: Chengyan Boon
Creation and Production Assistant: Kaya Tsurumi
Creative Consultants: Angie Cheng, Kelly McInnes
Heart thanks to Ariane Custodio, Joyce Rosario and Calder White for sharing insights in the creative room. Gratitude to Raquel Alvaro, Ralph Escamillan, Tina Legari, Cathy Levy and Deanna Peters for their time and energy in offering feedback around decisions made during creative process.
Tendrils benefitted from early development support from The Dance Centre and New Works. Odd Meridian’s programming is generously supported by core funding from City Of Vancouver Cultural Services and by project funding from The British Columbia Arts Council, The Canada Council For The Arts and The Department of Canadian Heritage.
THE DANCE CENTRE
Established in 1986 as a resource centre for dance in British Columbia, The Dance Centre is a multifaceted organization offering a range of activities which is unparalleled in Canadian dance.
We present performances and events, building audiences and nurturing public awareness; invest in programs, resources and support for hundreds of dance professionals working in all genres; operate Scotiabank Dance Centre, a cultural hub and one of Canada’s flagship dance facilities, which welcomes tens of thousands of visitors annually; and work to promote BC dance.
Through programs, outreach and education, The Dance Centre is committed to sustaining a strong and vibrant community through dance.
FOR DANCE IN VANCOUVER
Guest Curator: Anthea Lewis
Associate Producer: Brian Postalian
Production Manager: Kayleigh Sandomirsky
Technical Director: Jack Chipman
Front of House Managers: Maya Lemire, Jullianna Oke, Josh Sunderman
Technicians: Claudia Chan, Olivia Niese, Angela Nguyen, Zack Faulks, Colleen Bayati, Reid Collinson, Charlie Beaver, Spencer Dyer, Liam Hunt, Nico Dicescco, Elsa Orme, Jack Goodison
Box Office: Niki Brown, Wendy Potter
Graphic Design: Corporate Graphics
Publicist: Jodi Smith, JLS Entertainment
Program Partners: Raven Spirit Dance
Community Partners: Chimerik 似不像; Co.ERASGA/WhatLab; Here & Now Productions/Boombox; plastic orchid factory/Left of Main; Progress Lab 1422; Ziyian Kwan/Odd Meridian Arts/Morrow
Hotel Sponsor: Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown Hotel & Suites
This edition of Dance In Vancouver is supported by the British Columbia Arts Council and the BC Fairs, Festivals, and Events Fund.
STAFF
Executive Director Mirna Zagar; Associate Programming Director Raquel Alvaro; Associate Producer Linda Blankstein; Membership Coordinator Kaia Shukin; Director of Marketing Heather Bray; Outreach Coordinator Yurie Kaneko; Digital Marketing Coordinator Lindsay Curtis; Development Manager Catherine Butler; Venue and Services Manager Crystal Lai; Comptroller Elyn Dobbs; Dance Central Editor Shanny Rann
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Linda Gordon (Chair); Andrea Reid (Vice-Chair); Mark Weston (Treasurer); Tin Gamboa (Secretary); Yvonne Chartrand; Judith Garay; Arash Khakpour; Anndraya Luui; Jennifer Aoki
THANK YOU
The Dance Centre is grateful for the generous support of The Choreographer’s Circle, Anndraya Luui and the BC Arts Renaissance Fund.
The Corporate Leader’s Circle
Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP – Ingrid M. Tsui, Partner;
The Holiday Inn and Suites Vancouver Downtown – Angela van den Byllaardt, Sales Manager;
Davidson & Company – Erez Bahar;
Jarislowsky, Fraser Limited – Beau Howes
The Choreographer’s Circle
Impresario: Charles and Eve Chang Foundation, Anndraya Luui
Choreographer: Anonymous, Anonymous, Beau Howes and Genieve Burley, Tony Giacinti (in memory of Lola MacLaughlin), Stephen Jarislowsky, Anne Hildebrandt
Artistic Director: Linda Blankstein, Marnie Carter, Moh Faris, David Matte, Jackson McKiee, Yosef Wosk OBC
Principal Dancer: David Cousins, James Felter, Mike and Kathy Gallagher, Judith Garay, Ken Gracie and Philip Waddell, McGrane – Pearson Endowment Fund, Jean Orr, Patrick Shea, Don and Jane Shumka, Janet and Ron Stern
Dance Artist: Anonymous, Anonymous, Ken Alexander, Santa Aloi, Rosario Ancer, Mary and Herb Auerbach, Gary R. Bell, Andrew and Andrea Benzel, Noel Best and Barbara Shuman, Matthew Breech and Shino Watanabe, Richard Cavell and Peter Dickinson, Kirk Chantraine, Amanda Collinge, Norm and Dorothy Cross, Count and Countess Enrico and Aline Dobrzensky, Tom Donaldson, Jason Dubois and Clayton Baraniuk, Nicola Follows, Peter Harmon, Linda Johnston, Emily Klukas, Gail Lotenberg, Peter Maloff, Amy Millar, Jean Millar, Andrea Reid, Kathy Scalzo, Kemo Schedlosky and Mark Gatha, Betty Scheltgen, Kaelin Sheaden, Ingrid Tsui and Matthew Heemskerk, Annelie and Dan Vistica, Denis Walz, Michael Welters, Jason Wrobleski, Max Wyman and Susan Mertens, Mirna Zagar
The Artist’s Circle
Sylvia Anderson, Linda Aristizabal, Brent Belsher, Denis Blais and Paras Terezakis, Val Brandt, Carol Carr, Beth Carter, Yvonne Chartrand, Deborah Dragon, Lorna Froidevaux, Lynn B. Johnston, Lorita Leung – The Lorita Leung Dance Association, Barry McKinnon, Dubravko Pajalic, Dr. Mary Robertson, Frank Salisbury, Selma Savage, Janice Wells
The operations of The Dance Centre are supported by the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of British Columbia, the BC Arts Council, and the City of Vancouver.
Media sponsors: Stir, The Georgia Straight
The VDC Dance Centre Society is a registered charity no. BN 11925 8754 RR0001