Kinesis Dance; photo by Chris Randle

From contemporary and flamenco to belly dance and swing, the 13th Annual Scotiabank Dance Centre Open House offers the chance to sample a host of dance styles in a full day of free open classes, studio showings, and events.

Participating companies and artists will include Shay Kuebler/Radical System Arts, Kinesis Dance somatheatro, Karen Flamenco, TomoeArts, as well as a diverse selection of local dance artists and companies working across many different dance traditions.

Shay Kuebler Radical System Arts; photo by David Cooper
[Shay Kuebler/Radical System Arts; photo by David Cooper]
 
Full schedule (all classes and events are open level – beginners welcome):
11 am to 5 pm | Vancouver Ballet Society Library + Dance International Magazine
Explore the library’s extensive book and magazine collection, and pick up a free back issue of Dance International magazine (limited quantities available).
 
11 am to noon | Class: Ballet Fit with Suzy Kaitman
This ballet-inspired workout uses the principles of classical dance to tone and sculpt the body and includes elements of barre work, cardio, core and flexibility.
 
11 am to noon | Demo/Workshop: TomoeArts and nihon buyoh – Japanese classical dance
Artistic Director Colleen Lanki and company member Ryan Caron will demonstrate dances, talk about nihon buyoh as an art form, and teach participants some gestures and steps.
 
11am to 12:30 pm | Lecture/Workshop
Healthy Dancer Canada physiotherapist Stuart Anderson and educator Andrea Downie discuss Anxiety and Movement Memory
 
Noon to 1 pm | Flamenco with Karen Flamenco

Noon to 1 pm | Contemporary dance with Linda Arkelian
Linda’s class focuses on alignment, core strength, release work, breath and flexibility.
 
Noon to 1:30 pm | Classical ballet class with Debbie Lee of Debbie Lee Dance

12:30 to 1:30 pm | Studio Showing: Butoh
Kokoro Dance’s Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashi host a showing of work created by participants in a recent intensive workshop and discuss the art of Butoh.
 
1 to 2 pm | Class with Nia, a blend of dance, martial arts and healing arts, with Jasjit Rai of Joiworks

1 to 2 pm | Contemporary dance class with community-based performance group Polymer Dance

1 to 2 pm | Middle Eastern Dance introductory class with belly dance teacher/performer Negma

2 to 3 pm | Studio Showing: Glory
Shay Kuebler and Radical System Arts give a sneak peek of Kuebler’s hotly anticipated new work, set to premiere in 2015. Artist talkback after the showing.
 
2 to 3 pm | Afro-Cuban dance class with Kenny-Davis Ntolla of Okokan Entertainment

2 to 3 pm | Pow-Wow with Nyla Carpentier
The class will follow a natural flow of warm up, pow-wow cardio and cool down, while exploring pow-wow basics, themes, and history.
 
3 to 4 pm | Studio Showing: things near and far
Performers Ziyian Kwan, Anne Cooper, and Ron Stewart give a sneak preview of excerpts from an evening of contemporary choreography by Tedd Robinson and Josh Martin, premiering at the Firehall Arts Centre in December (followed by an artist talkback).
 
3 to 4 pm | Ukrainian Folk Dance class with the Dovbush Dancers/Association of United Ukrainians

3 to 4 pm | Hip Hop class with Kim Sato of Project Soul Productions

4 to 5 pm | Showing/Discussion: Project CPR
Now in its fifth year, Project CPR (Choreographic Practice and Research) is an initiative of choreographer Claire French and Restless Productions focusing on research and creation for contemporary dance artists.  Featured choreographers Jacinte Armstrong, Caitlin Griffin and Jamee Valin will show work in development, followed by a discussion.
 
4 to 5 pm | Demo/Class: Swing Dance with Port-O-Swing

4 to 5:30 pm | Workshop: Dance Out Loud with Kinesis Dance somatheatro
Artistic Director Paras Terezakis and company dancers lead Dance Out Loud, the company’s signature workshop—a dynamic blend of voice, physical movement, and improvisation. 

Karen Flamenco; photo by David Cooper
[Karen Flamenco; photo by David Cooper]
 

The Dance Centre presents 13th Annual Scotiabank Dance Centre Open House

Date: September 13, 11 am to 5 pm
Venue: Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie Street (at Granville), Vancouver
Free admission; phone 604.606.6400 or visit The Dance Centre online for details
Presented with the support of Scotiabank

Regarded as Canada’s flagship dance facility, Scotiabank Dance Centre was designed by Arthur Erickson and opened in September 2001. “Our annual Open House is an opportunity to celebrate a wonderful building which has become a home for dance of all kinds, and also to discover the excitement and diversity of Vancouver’s dance scene,” according to Mirna Zagar, Executive Director of The Dance Centre, the organization which spearheaded the development of the facility.

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