The Dance Centre presents the Global Dance Connections series
Dumb Instrument Dance
Rebel Grace
May 12-14, 2022
Scotiabank Dance Centre
I am thrilled to continue The Dance Centre’s ongoing collaboration with Ziyian Kwan, Artistic Director of Dumb Instrument Dance. We have been supporting her work for several years now and are pleased to be part of her artistic trajectory and growth. Ziyian is one of Vancouver’s dance jewels – selfless and dedicated to her fellow artists, supporting them through her own initiatives; considerate and generous in her reflections, and how she can harness communal, collective energy to make the world better. Rebel Grace brings together a powerhouse group of artists through dance, text and music, applying their multiple talents to explore their experiences dealing with the challenges in their own lives, and also the global issues society has been facing over these past couple of pandemic years, including the unjustified rise in anti-Asian hatred, and attacks on women’s rights, indeed human rights in general. Yet there is also joy and celebration in what they share. We rebel, we love, we yearn, we grow. Ziyian Kwan – the Rebel Grace in all she does – invites us to rethink what we ourselves can do to deliver a better world for all.
Mirna Zagar
Executive Director, The Dance Centre
DUMB INSTRUMENT DANCE
REBEL GRACE
Created by Ziyian Kwan
In collaboration with performers:
Justin Calvadores
Lisa Mariko Gelley
E. Kage
Andrea Naan
Roxanne Nesbitt
Rianne Svelnis
In collaboration with creative and production team:
Creative Assistant: Juolin Lee
Lighting Designer: Chengyan Boon
Production Assistant: Kelly McInnes
Technical Director: Jethro Allen-Martin
Original Music: E. Kage & Roxanne Nesbitt
Sourced Music: The Sweet Enoughs / Dream Puppy & The Grand Duel /Luis Bacalov
Costumes & Set: thrifted, repurposed and sourced by Ziyian Kwan
People Pillows: made by Sauha Lee
Presented through The Dance Centre’s Artist-in-Residence program.
Special thanks to PuSh International Performing Arts Festival for their generous contribution to residency programming.
Thanks and Acknowledgments
Ziyian extends a heartfelt thanks to The Dance Centre and its staff who have been so supportive of this project. Deep gratitude to Rebel Grace’s collaborating performers and production team: everything shared is through the generous contribution of these artists. Special thanks to Dumb Instrument’s Artistic Associate Juolin Lee, whose brilliant energy has infused the process with care. Rebel Grace is made possible through the generous support of The Canada Council For The Arts, The British Columbia Arts Council, City of Vancouver Cultural Services, The Dance Centre, and PuSh International Performing Arts Festival.
Biographies
Ziyian Kwan has worked as a dance artist on the unceded, ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations since 1988. As an interprète, she has performed over 100 original creations by an eclectic range of choreographers on international stages. As Artistic Director of Dumb Instrument Dance, Ziyian’s work abstracts lived experience to form collages of imagery, movement and language. Throughout her work, Ziyian aspires to artfully challenge the status quo and to conjure reciprocity through creative exchange. Ziyian’s artistry is inspired by collaboration with luminaries in the fields of dance, music, film, theatre, literature and visual art.
‘i am my heart’s dumb instrument’ – Denton Welch
dumbinstrumentdance.com
Justin Calvadores (they/them) is a freelance contemporary dance artist based in so called “Vancouver”, the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. In 2017 Justin joined Ballet BC as an emerging artist under the direction of Emily Molnar and then Ballet Edmonton as a company artist. As a freelance performer they have created work with companies such as Mile Zero Dance, Wen Wei Dance, Inverso Productions, FakeKnot and Jill Henis. Currently they are continuing to create and perform work with Dumb Instrument Dance, Mascall Dance, Heather Myers and The Falling Company. They are interested in creating work that relates to queerness and their identity as Filipinx. They enjoy integrating their studies of anatomy, Pilates, reiki, contemporary technique and improvisation to inform their practice.
Lisa Mariko Gelley is an artist and mother, grateful to be living and working on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. She is Artistic Co-Director of Company 605, and collaborates and performs with other artists in Vancouver, including Justine A. Chambers and Cindy Mochizuki, and has danced in works by Amber Funk Barton, Dana Gingras, Vanessa Goodman, Karen Jamieson, and Julia Taffe (Aeriosa). In addition to her work as a performer/choreographer, Lisa values opportunities to connect with young dancers and emerging professionals through contemporary dance education. Lisa is the recipient of the 2015 Vancouver International Dance Festival Choreographic Award. Lisa is delighted to be on stage for Rebel Grace with this incredible team of humans and artists.
Kage is primarily a Taiko musician and performer. Born in Japan and growing up in Canada, they embraced the art of Taiko as a way to express themselves as a mixed race queer youth. Since the 1980’s they co-founded several Taiko/music groups touring parts of Europe and North America, and continue to create and collaborate with other artists. Recently they have been writing lyrics utilizing their mother tongue. Their ongoing projects include working with Onibana Taiko, studying the ceremonial roots of Taiko, and examining their relationships as settlers thriving and working on the unceded and stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ peoples.
Andrea Nann is a contemporary dance artist based in Tkaronto (Toronto). She is grateful for the privilege to live, dream, work and raise a family on the traditional territory of many Nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. Andrea choreographs, performs, produces and presents dance to reach across distance, to experience herself and others in celebration of possibility, diversity, connection and belonging. She believes dance can shift attitudes and ways of being, tuning us into what makes each of us distinct, to what we share, and ultimately how we can live together in wonderment and peace. As artistic director of Dreamwalker Dance Company Andrea channels her community-building passion into participatory, collaborative multi-arts experiences. Dance has taken Andrea around the globe and she remains forever grateful. www.dreamwalkerdance.com
Roxanne Nesbitt is a multidisciplinary artist, exploring the space between sound and design. Her research includes experimental instrument design, composition, improvisation, sound installation, and performance. Roxanne collaborates with musicians, dancers and choreographers as a performer and composer. She has premiered new compositions at the Western Front and PuSh Festival in Vancouver, Array Space in Toronto, and Bauchhund in Berlin. roxannenesbitt.com
Rianne Svelnis is a queer dance artist and a settler of European descent living on the lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and sə̓lílwətaʔɬ people. A graduate of Modus Operandi Contemporary Dance Training Program, Rianne has since collaborated and performed in works by Ziyian Kwan, romham pàdraig gallacher, Sasha Kleinplatz, Justine Chambers, Daisy Thompson, Olivia Davies, Emmalena Fredriksson and others. She has also created new works in collaboration with Sauha Lee, Zahra Shahab, Kelly McInnes, Areli Moran, and Andrea Cownden and Layla Marcelle. Rianne co-facilitates inclusive community classes with All Bodies Dance Project, and Movement Classes for Support Workers with Alexa Solveig Mardon and is in mentorship with Karen Jamieson and the Carnegie Dance Troupe in the Downtown Eastside. Rianne is also involved in supporting the mutual aid project Distro Disco.
Chengyan Boon is a Vancouver-based lighting designer, production manager and technical director. He has most often these past four years been found at Scotiabank Dance Centre, overseeing technical direction and staffing for the 154-seat Faris Family Studio. Though most often found lighting for theatre with companies such as Pacific Theatre, Gateway Theatre, and Mitch and Murray Productions, he is also a collaborator on dance projects with companies such as TomoeArts, TWObigsteps Collective and All Bodies Dance Project. Chengyan is lucky to have worked on many events that reflect Vancouver’s diversity, to have been able to collaborate closely with both local and international artists from the Japanese, Korean, South Asian and Chinese communities. Chengyan recognizes the unceded and traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples on which he lives and works.
Juolin Lee is a Taiwanese-Canadian emerging dance artist who is fascinated by the transformative power of dance. Juolin feels fortunate to live, learn and create on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Juolin completed her training in Modus Operandi Contemporary Dance program, and is so honoured for the opportunity to fulfill the role of Artistic Associate for Dumb Instrument Dance’s 21/22 season. Juolin has a deep love and respect for the dance community she’s immersed in. She has the pleasure to work with Ziyian Kwan, Natalie TY Gan, Zahra Shahab, Emmalena Fredriksson and Arash Khakpour. Dance to Juolin is a portal to indescribable emotions and complex, swerving stories. Through openness and curiosity she wishes to continuously unpack her idea of self and her relationship with the world.
Kelly McInnes Gratefully based on the unceded Coast Salish territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, Kelly McInnes is a dance artist concerned with embodying care, sensuality, hope and complexity. As choreographer, performer and community-engaged facilitator, the intention of her work is to inspire collective healing. kellymcinnes.com
Sauha Lee is an artist, designer, and horticultural technician practicing in Vancouver, BC. She is curious about local plants, found ephemera, textiles, and recycled or discarded things. Her works are often focused on: experiencing cultural catharsis, reflecting on land use, looking more closely at waste, ad hoc constructions, and questioning the nature of labour. sauhalee.com
Jethro Allen-Martin (he/him) is a technician and technical director. He is an alumni of Vancouver Island University’s Technical Theatre program and now based in Vancouver. Jethro has lived and worked in the city in a variety of roles for the past five years.
THE DANCE CENTRE
Executive Director Mirna Zagar; Programming Coordinator Raquel Alvaro; Associate Producer Linda Blankstein; Member Services/Outreach Coordinator Nazanin Oghanian; Director of Marketing Heather Bray; Digital Marketing Coordinator Lindsay Curtis; Venue and Operations Manager Simran Ghesani; Lead Technician Chengyan Boon; Comptroller Elyn Dobbs; Dance Central Editor Shanny Rann
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jason Wrobleski (Chair); Andrea Reid (Vice-Chair); Annelie Vistica (Treasurer); Tin Gamboa (Secretary); Judith Garay; Linda Gordon; Arash Khakpour; Rosario Kolstee; Anndraya Luui, Katia Oteman; Zahra Shahab
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 Byllaard, Sales Manager;
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 Jarislowski; Anne Hildebrandt
Artistic Director Linda Blankstein; Marnie Carter; Joyce Ozier; Yosef Wosk, OBC; Moh Faris; Pamela Goossen; David Matte
Principal Dancer David Cousins; James Felter; Ken Gracie and Philip Waddell; McGrane – Pearson Endowment Fund; Jean Orr; Janet and Ron Stern; Don and Jane Shumka; Mike and Kathy Gallagher
Dance Artist: Anonymous; Anonymous; Ken Alexander; Santa Aloi; Rosario Ancer; Mary and Herb Auerbach; Gary R. Bell; Andrew and Andrea Benzel; Trent Berry; Noel Best and Barbara Shuman; Matthew Breech and Shino Watanabe; Richard Cavell and Peter Dickinson; Amanda Collinge; Norm and Dorothy Cross; Count and Countess Enrico and Aline Dobrzensky; Jason Dubois and Clayton Baraniuk; Nicola Follows; Judith Garay; Peter Harmon; Karim and Christina Jandali; Linda Johnston; Emily Klukas; Amy Millar; Kathy Scalzo; Kemo Schedlosky and Mark Gatha; Betty Scheltgen; Ingrid Tsui and Matthew Heemskerk; Annelie and Dan Vistica; Denis Walz; Michael Welters; Mirna Zagar; May Wyman and Susan Mertens; Jason Wrobleski
THE ARTIST’S CIRCLE
Linda Aristizabal; Brent Belsher; Denis Blais and Paras Terezakis; Val Brandt; Deborah Dragon; Sheila Evani and Jeffery Ramkellawan; Lorna Froidevaux; Megan Halkett; Lynn B. Johnston; Lorita Leung – The Lorita Leung Dance Association; Barry McKinnon; Dubravko Pajalic; Dr. Mary Robertson; Frank Salisbury; Selma Savage
The Dance Centre acknowledges that it is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy’əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl’ílwəta?/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. It is an honour and a privilege for us to be guests in their lands. We are grateful.
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.
The VDC Dance Centre Society is a registered charity no. BN 11925 8754 RR0001