From contemporary and flamenco to bellydance and swing, the annual Scotiabank Dance Centre Open House offers the chance to sample a host of dance styles in a day of free open classes, studio showings and events. Participating companies and artists include Shay Kuebler/Radical System Arts, Kinesis Dance somatheatro, Karen Flamenco, TomoeArts and a diverse selection of local dance artists and companies working across many different dance traditions.
Full Schedule of Events
11am – 5pm 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). www.vancouverballetsociety.ca www.danceinternational.org
11am-12 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. www.balletfitclasses.com
11am-12 noon Demonstration/Workshop: TomoeArts introduces 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.www.tomoearts.org
11am-12.30pm Lecture/Workshop: Healthy Dancer Canada physiotherapist Stuart Anderson and educator Andrea Downie discuss Anxiety and Movement Memory. www.healthydancercanada.org
12 noon-1pm Class: Flamenco with Karen Flamenco. www.karenflamenco.com
12 noon-1pm Class: Contemporary dance with Linda Arkelian. Linda’s class focuses on alignment, core strength, release work, breath and flexibility.
12noon–1:30pm Class: Classical Ballet with Debbie Lee of Debbie Lee Dance. www.debbieleedance.com
12:30–1:30pm 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. www.kokoro.ca
1-2pm Class: Nia, a blend of dance, martial arts and healing arts, with Jasjit Rai of Joiworks. www.joiworks.com/nia
1-2pm Class: Contemporary dance with community-based performance group Polymer Dance. www.polymerdance.com
1-2pm Class: Middle Eastern Dance introductory class with bellydance teacher and performer Negma. www.negmadance.com
2-3pm 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. There will be an artist talkback after the showing. www.shaykuebler.com
2-3pm Class: Afro-Cuban dances with Kenny-Davis Ntolla of Okokan Entertainment. www.okokaninc.com
2-3pm Class: 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. www.ravenspiritdance.com
3-4pm 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.
3-4pm Class: Ukrainian Folk Dance with the Dovbush Dancers/Association of United Ukrainians. www.auucvancouver.ca
3-4pm Class: Hip Hop with Kim Sato of Project Soul Productions. www.projectsoulproductions.com
4-5pm 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. www.projectcpr.wordpress.com
4-5pm Demonstration/Class: Swing Dance with Port-O-Swing. www.portoswingvancouver.com
4-5.30pm Workshop: Dance Out Loud with Kinesis Dance somatheatro. Artistic Director Paras Terezakis and company dancers lead Dance Out Loud, the company’s signature workshop which is a dynamic blend of voice, physical movement, and improvisation. www.kinesisdance.org
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,” said Mirna Zagar, Executive Director of The Dance Centre, the organization which spearheaded the development of the facility.
Information: 604 606 6400 www.thedancecentre.ca
