LAST SOLO: PROGRAM

Choreographer and Performer: Wen Wei Wang

Visual-Sound Artist, Composer, Performer: Gary James Joynes

Lighting Designer: Jonathan Kim

Costume Designer: Linda Chow

Rehearsal Director and Choreographer Assistant: Connor McLeary

Outside Eye: Daria Mikhaylyuk

Executive Producer: Francesca Piscopo

Managing Director: Jim Smith

Production Coordinator: Kevin Soo-Locsin

Marketing and Communications Manager: Jonathan James

Accounts Manager: Ann Hepper

Produced by: Wen Wei Dance

Premiere: October 23-24, 2026 in Vancouver, Presented by The Dance Centre

Created and presented through The Dance Centre’s Artist-In-Residence program

Wen Wei Dance recognizes the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council and Province of BC, and the City of Vancouver.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone at The Dance Centre for their boundless support, specifically Mirna Zagar, Raquel Alvaro, Jullianna Oke and Lindsay Curtis.

Last Solo

Wen Wei Wang began dancing in China, where the expressive language of the hands, arms, and upper body shaped his artistic voice. As he grew older, he came to understand that his sexuality was different, a realization that deeply influenced his life and creative journey.

Now, returning to the stage as a senior artist, he reflects on memory, mortality, and the connection between body, mind, and the universe. Through this final solo work, he invites audiences to contemplate aging, transformation, vulnerability, and resilience.

The work is created in collaboration with visual and sound artist Gary James Joynes, who works at the intersection of analog and digital media. For this piece, he brings live vocalizations into the space alongside projections that translate sound into visual form. 

Staff  
Executive Director Mirna Zagar; Associate Programming Director Raquel Alvaro; Membership Coordinator Kaia Shukin; Outreach Coordinator Yurie Kaneko; Marketing Coordinator Jullianna Oke; Digital Marketing Coordinator Lindsay Curtis; Development Manager Catherine Butler; Comptroller Elyn Dobbs; Dance Central Editor Shanny Rann

Board of Directors 
Rosario Ancer, Elaine Carol, Yvonne Chartrand, Linda Gordon (Vice-Chair), Selim Hasan (Chair), Anndraya Luui, Jordan Thomson, Sujit Vaidya, Wen Wei Wang, Amanda H. Collinge, Mark Weston (Treasurer)

The Dance Centre is an IATSE 118 Union house. 

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank Gary James Joynes, Linda Chow, Connor McLeary, and Daria Mikhailiuk for being part of my journey in creating this solo.

You have all spent time in the studio with me, helping me shape and develop this work. As my collaborator, rehearsal directors, and outside eyes, you have offered valuable feedback, guidance, encouragement, and support, always helping me bring out the best in myself and in this piece.

Creating this solo has been a deeply personal journey, especially as this will be my last solo performance on stage. Having you alongside me throughout this process has meant more than words can express.

I am truly grateful for your time, generosity, honesty, and belief in me. It has been a privilege to share this journey with all of you.

I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to Wen Wei Dance and The Dance Centre for their support in making the two-week technical residency in the theatre possible. Having this dedicated time and space in the theatre has been invaluable in refining the work and bringing all the elements together. Your support has helped us achieve this important milestone and bring this final solo to life.

Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

Wen Wei Wang

The Dance Centre is grateful for the generous support of The Choreographer’s Circle, Anndraya Luui, the BC Arts Renaissance Fund, and all of the following:

THE CORPORATE LEADER’S CIRCLE 
The Holiday Inn and Suites Vancouver Downtown – Angela van den Byllaardt, Sales Manager

THE CHOREOGRAPHER’S CIRCLE 

Impresario: London Drugs Foundation, Anndraya Luui, Ocean Park Foundation, Deux Mille Foundation
Choreographer: Anonymous x2, Marnie Carter, Moh Faris, Tony Giacinti (in memory of Lola MacLaughlin), Stephen Jarislowsky, Jackson McKiee, Yosef Wosk OBC, Linda Blankstein,

Artistic Director:  David Matte  Beau Howes, Ken Gracie and Philip Waddell, McGrane – Pearson Endowment Fund Max Wyman and Susan Mertens,

Principal Dancer: Anonymous, Ken Alexander, Amanda Collinge, David Cousins, James Felter, Judith Garay, Jean Orr, Dubravko Pajalic, Raymond James Canada Foundation, Patrick Shea, Janet and Ron Stern, R&J Stern Family Foundation, Mirna Zagar

Dance Artist: Anonymous, Santa Aloi, Rosario Ancer, Matthew Breech and Shino Watanabe, Richard Cavell and Peter Dickinson, Kirk Chantraine, Yvonne Chartrand, Robert & Nicola Follows, Lorna Froidevaux, Mike and Kathy Gallagher, Kemo Schedlosky and Mark Gatha, Linda Gordon, Selim Hasan, Linda Johnston, Catherine McAllister, Anthony Roper, Annelie and Dan Vistica, Wen Wei Wang, Jason Wrobleski,

THE ARTIST’S CIRCLE
Ingrid & Evan Alderson, Sylvia Anderson, Gary Bell, Linda Brandt, Catherine Butler, Carol Carr, Beth Carter & Bob Baker, Count and Countess Enrico and Aline Dobrzensky, Jason Dubois and Clayton Baraniuk, Erik Graff, Laurel March, Dr. Mary Robertson, Michael Watt

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 Dance Centre | Level 6, 677 Davie Street, Vancouver BC V6B 2G6

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The VDC Dance Centre Society is a registered charity no. BN 11925 8754 RR0001