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The Dance Centre’s 2024-2025 season presents a comprehensive program of exciting performances, accessible community programs, residencies, and projects, featuring a diverse roster of artists working in a wide variety of dance genres. Highlights include the 14th edition of Dance In Vancouver, two new Associate Artist positions, two performance series, and national choreographic exchanges.
Our Executive Director Mirna Zagar said, “This season really encapsulates how The Dance Centre has built up, over more than three decades, a range of activities which is unparalleled in Canadian dance. We look forward to continuing to support hundreds of artists, offering a diverse selection of events, and welcoming audiences to our vibrant cultural hub Scotiabank Dance Centre, in the coming year.”
The Global Dance Connections series features Indigenous choreographers Sophie Dow (Sept 20-21) and Daina Ashbee (Feb 6-8); world premieres of works rooted in classical Indian dance forms by Anusha Fernando/Shakti Dance (Oct 4-6) and Gaurav Bhatti (Mar 28-29); and an exciting new collaboration by Company 605 and Singapore’s The Human Expression (June 5-7).
The popular Discover Dance! noon hour series includes aerialists Corporeal Imago (Oct 31), Arts Umbrella Dance Company (Nov 28), Bollywood specialists SHIAMAK Vancouver (Feb 27), Chinese classical and folk dance troupe the Lorita Leung Dance Company (Mar 27) and tap star Danny Nielsen (Apr 24).
The 14th edition of The Dance Centre’s biennial Dance In Vancouver takes place Nov 20-24. This is a celebration of BC’s contemporary dance scene both for local audiences and for presenters who visit from around the world. Since its inception in 1997, DIV has been instrumental in building connections between local artists and presenters, nurturing touring, exchanges and partnerships.
Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award recipient Anya Saugstad premieres her ensemble work Paper Mountains as part of DIV (Nov 23) and The Dance Centre partners with Mandala Arts and Culture to present a new Bharata Natyam duet performed by Kiruthika Rathanaswami and Malavika Santhosh (Dec 6-7).
This season The Dance Centre announces the appointment of two Associate Artists: Justine A. Chambers and Ralph Escamillan each start three-year terms where they choreograph new works, curate programs and events, and build connections with diverse communities. Two national exchange projects with organizations in Montreal and Toronto will support artistic growth and creative exchange.
Choreographic research and the development of new work is supported through a comprehensive suite of residencies, labs, and projects, and the 12 Minutes Max program for emerging artists, with free showings and events throughout the year. The Dance Centre continues to support hundreds of artists every year through its programs, subsidized or free studio space at Scotiabank Dance Centre, resources, information, professional development, and other opportunities.
Community programs including the annual Scotiabank Dance Centre Open House (Sept 14) and International Dance Day (April 29) provide free, accessible dance experiences for all. The Power of Dance program offers workshops for elementary and high school students, immigrant and refugee youth (in partnership with the Vancouver School Board) and seniors.
Tickets and Information
GLOBAL DANCE CONNECTIONS SERIES
Sept 20-21 Sophie Dow + Laura Reznek
Oct 4-6 Anusha Fernando/Shakti Dance
Feb 6-8 Daina Ashbee
Mar 28-29 Gaurav Bhatti
June 5-7 Company 605 + The Human Expression
TICKETS Series subscriptions (3-show and 5-show packages), single tickets from $28 + facility fee, available at thedancecentre.ca.
DISCOVER DANCE! SERIES
Oct 31 Corporeal Imago
Nov 28 Arts Umbrella Dance Company
Feb 27 SHIAMAK Vancouver
Mar 27 Lorita Leung Dance Company
Apr 24 Danny Nielsen
TICKETS Series subscriptions, single tickets from $14 + facility fee available at thedancecentre.ca.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Nov 20-24 Dance In Vancouver
Nov 23 Anya Saugstad
Dec 6-7 Kiruthika Rathanaswami + Malavika Santhosh
TICKETS go on sale in September.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Sept 14 Scotiabank Dance Centre Open House
April 29 International Dance Day
Season-wide The Power of Dance
ASSOCIATE ARTISTS, NATIONAL EXCHANGES, RESIDENCIES AND PROJECTS
Associate Artists
Justine A. Chambers
Ralph Escamillan
National Exchanges
Quebec-BC Residency Exchange
Creative Exchange Project: From the Back
Residencies, Labs and Projects
Artists-in-Residence Claire French/Restless Productions | Gabrielle Martin, Jeremiah Hughes/Corporeal Imago | Kay Huang/Crossmaneuver | Lee Su-Feh | Tasha Faye Evans
Scholar-in-Residence Ileanna Cheladyn
DanceLab Interdisciplinary Research Natalia Martineau | Kiera Shaw
Special Projects Aeriosa | All Bodies Dance Project | Matriarchs Uprising Festival | Queer Arts Festival | Raven Spirit Dance
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Photos: Sophie Dow/Vitantonio Spinelli; Lorita Leung Dance Company/Philip Chan
Explore dance performances currently presented by The Dance Centre. Each season, you’ll find new dance shows. See what’s on today.