The show must go on! Canada’s longest running contemporary dance festival, Dancing on the Edge, is gearing up its 32nd year.
For 2020, a reimagined Dancing on the Edge is coming to stage and screens, July 2nd to 11th. In this COVID-era, the festival has had to adapt to the new reality of physical distancing, health and safety precautions and audience limits.
Festival Producer Donna Spencer recently announced “We are very disappointed that Dancing on the Edge Festival 2020 which was scheduled from July 2-11 will not be moving forward as originally planned. The festival would have included a presentation of over thirty live performances featuring international artists from India, the USA, Quebec, Alberta, Ontario and from across BC. We know our audiences and artists look forward to the festival every year so we will be offering instead some specially curated digital programming with live streamed performances, premieres of dance films, dance discussions, four outdoor live performances in the Firehall Arts Centre’s Courtyard and one dynamic theatre performance at the Firehall Arts Centre Theatre (all live performances for very limited audiences with safety precautions in place). Dancing on the Edge has run uninterrupted for thirty-one years and we did not want to stop that momentum so we are hoping everyone will enjoy this one time only (we hope) re-imagined version of the festival. We, also, wanted to ensure our community of dance artists continued to be supported during this difficult time.”
The Dancing on the Edge full schedule is being announced June 25th, check dancingontheedge.org for details of performances and ticket information.
Spencer also, said “In addition, we are announcing five commission projects the COVID Commissions. Artists will be invited to submit their proposals with commissions ranging from $5,000-$10,000, dependent on the project. These new works will be premiered at the 2021 Dancing on the Edge Festival. We are thrilled to be offering this incentive, in the hopes that these commissions will enable artists to keep creating new work, during this difficult time for all. Now more than ever we need our artists and we need to keep moving so the EDGE is working to support and encourage both.”