Did you know that Vancouver is bursting with incredible dance performances and festivals at all times of the year? Working in the Arts, I am lucky enough to see firsthand the volume of announcements and press releases that come through the office about upcoming shows around the city. These events are not just for the adult set - there are tons of kid-friendly shows to bring your children to that you'll enjoy way more than another Pixar/Disney film (it's totally okay to like those too). We have such a rich arts scene in Vancouver that there is no end to the opportunities to expose your child to the wide array of culture and history that is represented in different forms of fine and performing arts. Here is a small sampling of some of the upcoming dance performances I'd like to take my two little ones to.
Contemporary
Dance AllSorts - Meredith Kalahan & Deanna Peters
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Roundhouse Arts and Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews
Performance: 2pm, followed by a Q&A with the artists.
Workshop with Deanna Peters: 3:15pm, open to all ages and ability levels.
Advance tickets for guaranteed seating available online
Pay what you can at the door:
$15 Suggested donation, $5 for children under 12
The workshop is limited to 30 people. To secure your spot register online or email: info@newworks.ca
Deanna Peters: Cut Away
Deanna Peters' most recent production Cut Away features four performers aged 24 to 64: Barbara Bourget, Kim Sato, Deanna Peters and Elissa Hanson. Blending their histories in Butoh, hip hop and contemporary dance, they navigate how to move together, creating countless combinations that reveal where they overlap and where they diverge.www.mutablesubject.ca
Meredith Kalaman: Ruminate
Ruminate is a duet choreographed by Meredith Kalaman, in collaboration with Arash Khakpour. The piece was inspired by a YouTube video capturing the “necking process” where giraffes violently thrash their necks at each other in combat. The duet expresses the desire to dominate another being by means of physical force, juxtaposed with the need for tender care.
Afro-Peruvian and Afro-Brazilian Dance
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Performance 2:00pm. Workshop 3:15pm
CBC Studio 700, 700 Hamilton Street
Performance: 2pm, followed by a Q&A with the artists.
Workshop: 3:15pm, open to all ages and ability levels.
Advance tickets for guaranteed seating available online
Pay what you can at the door: $15 Suggested donation, $5 for children under 12
The workshop is limited to 30 people.
To secure your spot register online or email: info@newworks.ca
Expanding the scope of discussion around Black History Month, the February edition of Dance Allsorts presents a mixed program of Afro-Peruvian and Afro-Brazilian dance tradition from two of Vancouver’s leading dance companies. With roots in Brazilian samba and fused with numerous dance traditions, Samba Fusion will present a program that highlights Brazil’s African heritage, featuring dance styles that were created as expressions of freedom, and which have become popular around the world in recent decades.
Aboriginal Arts and Artists
February 17 - March 1, 2015
Multiple events and venues throughout Vancouver
The Talking Stick Festival is an annual event presented by Full Circle First Nations Performance, now in its 14th year, and is a multi-event gathering of national and international Aboriginal artists. This year's theme is Coming to the Fire, an inspirational call to keep the creative fires burning both in participants and audience members. The festival will feature musical performances, artist talks, kid-friendly workshops, and panel discussions at venues throughout the city.
Aboriginal Dance
Tuesday, March 3 - Sunday, March 8
Signature Evening Performance
Friday March 6th, 7:30 PM Doors open at 7 PM
Saturday March 7th, 7:30 PM Doors open at 7 PM
$25 adults, $20 students/seniors/MOA members
Tickets available through Tickets Tonight at: www.ticketstonight.ca
Festival Stage
Saturday March 7th, 1-4 PM
Sunday March 8th, 1-4 PM
Festival Stage performances included with regular MOA admission.
This year the Coastal First Nations Dance Festival has returned to the UBC Museum of Anthropology for a celebration of the diverse cultural traditions of some of the best national and international artists. This festival is produced by the Dancers of Damelahamid in partnership with the UBC Museum of Anthropology, and I can't think of a more stunning backdrop to such an exciting series of performances. I'll be bringing the kids to one of the afternoon festival state performances on March 7th or 8th, and then spending the rest of the day happily wandering around the MOA with them. See you there!
Carina-Marie Nilsson is the co-founder of Peaks and Harbours, a Vancouver “not just for moms” blog that showcases everything our city has to offer the younger crowd. @carinamarienilsson
