Ziyian Kwan; photo by Chris Randle

The Dance Centre will present a program of events celebrating International Dance Day in Vancouver on April 29. Featured companies and artists include the exciting aerial dance company Aeriosa at SFU Woodward’s, dynamic hip hop crew SOULdiers at the Vancouver Public Library, innovative contemporary dance artists Vanessa Goodman, Ziyian Kwan, and Deanna Peters at Scotiabank Dance Centre, and more. Admission to the events is free or by donation.

Initiated in 1982 by UNESCO, International Dance Day is marked annually on April 29 with events across Canada and around the world. The date commemorates the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), regarded as the founder of modern ballet. The Dance Centre, BC’s resource centre for dance, presents annual events to celebrate the art form.

Schedule of Events

10 am to 2 pm | Aeriosa: Refugia: V4
Woodward’s Atrium, 111 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
The latest installment of aerial dance company Aeriosa’s Refugia series. Bungee lines provide literal tension for dancers to explore horizontal and vertical air space while negotiating the boundaries of common ground. Open rehearsal 10 am to 1 pm; performances 1 to 1:15 pm and 1:45 to 2 pm.

12:30 pm to 1 pm | SOULdiers
Main Concourse, Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street
SOULdiers will perform a program of dynamic street dance styles including locking, popping, breaking, hip-hop, and house and show their individuality and versatility through freestyle movement.

3 pm to 4:15 pm | Dancing in the Dark: Michael van den Bos on the Movies’ Greatest Dance Numbers
Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver
VIFF and The Dance Centre present a special movie mix-tape featuring the greatest dance numbers ever committed to celluloid. Curated and presented by film scholar Michael van den Bos, this will be an exhilarating waltz through the history of movie musicals, celebrating the interplay between choreography and camera moves, featuring legends from Hollywood, Bollywood and beyond, including Busby Berkeley, Bob Fosse, Gene Kelly, and Baz Luhrmann.

4:30 pm to 6 pm | BLOOM
Mascall Dance Studio, 1140 Jervis Street, Vancouver
Mascall Dance will present an informal studio showing of six short dances, interpreted by a comedienne, and paired with wines.
Doors 4:30 pm; show 5:15 pm.
Suggested donation: $10

Vanessa Goodman; photo by Ben Didier
[Vanessa Goodman; photo by Ben Didier]

7 pm to 8 pm | New Contemporary Dance Works in Development
Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie Street, Vancouver
What belongs to you by Vanessa Goodman, featuring dancers Lisa Gelley, Josh Martin, Erika Mitsuhashi, Jane Osborne, and Bevin Poole
– An excerpt from a slow awkward by Ziyian Kwan, created and danced in collaboration with James Gnam
Itch, a solo created by Dance Centre Artist in Residence Deanna Peters with performer Ashley Whitehead

For more information, please visit the Dance Centre website.

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