April 29th is International Dance Day! The day has been celebrated with dance events across Canada and around the world since it was created by UNESCO in 1982, International Dance Day to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), regarded as the founder of modern ballet.
The Dance Centre is collaborating to present a full day of events celebrating the art of dance for International Dance Day. This year’s events feature Dance//Novella, students from Gladstone Secondary School’s dance program, Anusha Fernando/Shakti Dance Society, Carla Alcántara & Kaili Che, Kinesis Dance somatheatro, and Sarah Hin Ching U.
The International Dance Day schedule of events taking place April 29, 2023 includes:
Studio Showing: Anusha Fernando/Shakti Dance Society: Sky Dancers Process
Supported through The Dance Centre’s Special Projects & Partnerships Program.
11pm @ Scotiabank Dance Centre
Bharata natyam dancers Sujit Vaidya, Arno Kamolika, Kiruthika Rathanaswami, Malavika Santosh, and Ashvini Sundaram share and discuss work they have been developing under the mentorship and guidance of Anusha Fernando. The process lays the groundwork for peer support in the Vancouver Indian classical dance community, and will lead to a presentation titled Sky Dancers.
Event: Gladstone Secondary School with Virginia Duivenvoorden and Kay Huang/VDCM
Supported through the Power of Dance program12 noon @ šx????n?q Xwtl’e7én? Square (formerly the Vancouver Art Gallery north plaza)
photo: Saloome Motavas
Students from Gladstone Secondary School’s renowned dance program perform a short selection of dances they have been rehearsing, including work choreographed by Virginia Duivenvoorden and Kay Huang, and student creations following the theme ‘Stars and Superheroes’.
Event: Kinesis Dance somatheatro: Aethernet
12.30pm @ šx????n?q Xwtl’e7én? Square (formerly the Vancouver Art Gallery north plaza)
Aethernet is a community-engaged dance project that was first born from the isolation people felt when the pandemic hit. Conceived and directed by Artistic Director Paras Terezakis, the project brings together a group of professional, student and community dancers of all ages for a joyful performance which celebrates life, togetherness, and our interconnection to each other and to our planet, accompanied by live music from The Carnival Band.
Register online to participate in the project, join in the free community workshops on April 22nd & 23rd from 10am – 12pm at KW Studios #10 – 111 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC, V6B 1H4
Studio Showing: Carla Alcántara & Kaili Che: INTERWEAVE
2.30pm @ Scotiabank Dance Centre
INTERWEAVE (working title) is a new contemporary dance and mixed media performance created and performed by Carla Alcántara and Kaili Che. The work embraces childhood games through re-imagination, joy, and laughter; using play, family and empathy as their core themes.
Studio Showing: Sarah Hin Ching U: Silent Howl
3.30pm @ Scotiabank Dance Centre
Silent Howl celebrates the beauty and diversity of neurodivergent minds. Through movement and real-time animation corresponding to the theme of lines, the work creates a mesmerizing and immersive visual experience.
Performance: Dance//Novella: When The Walls Come Down
5pm @ Scotiabank Dance Centre
Tickets on a sliding scale: $0/$10/$20 Book here
Inspired by the life story of Caroline Hébert, When The Walls Come Down sheds light on the stereotypes and difficulties that many Deaf Canadians may face. A vivid and powerful blend of dance, lighting, sound and animation, the piece is choreographed by Brandon Lee Alley and Racheal Prince, formerly artists with Ballet BC, who perform the leading roles alongside Hébert.
The work is performed in ASL with English voice overs, making it equally accessible for hearing and Deaf audiences. As well there will be a talkback after the show.
International Dance Day activities take place throughout April 29, 2023. Most events are free, to find more information on the schedule of events and to buy tickets for When The Walls Come Down visit thedancecentre.ca