EVENTS
DanceHouse and The Cultch present Circa’s Duck Pond
DanceHouse and The Cultch present Circa’s Duck Pond, on stage January 22-25, 2025 at 8pm and January 25, 2025 at 2pm at the Vancouver Playhouse. Australia’s leading contemporary circus company re-imagines the world’s most romantic ballet, Swan Lake, as a cheeky, acrobatic spectacle. This unforgettable new work merges Tchaikovsky’s timeless score with contemporary percussive tracks, launching characters from Swan Lake and The Ugly Duckling headfirst into an enchanting, topsy-turvy world of circus. The cast of performers embody the pining prince, black swan, and yellow-billed duck-dancers through mesmerizing sequences of acrobatics, burlesque, and slapstick comedy. Duck Pond is a wild, wacky, and utterly captivating show that will have audiences on the edge of their seats. For tickets and further information, visit: dancehouse.ca
(Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton St, Jan. 22 - 25)
The Dance Centre presents Daina Ashbee: We learned a lot at our own funeral
The Dance Centre presents the internationally acclaimed BC choreographer Daina Ashbee’s compelling new solo We learned a lot at our own funeral, which examines the notion of death. Performed by the Italian dancer Imara Bosco, the choreography evokes a battle with the self: she challenges gravity, resists the ground, and overcomes precarious balances.
Using movement, breath and voice, the work draws the audience – seated on all four sides of the stage - into a potent sense of ritual, echoing the communal experience of a funeral rite. The atmospheric score incorporates sounds from nature and haunting vocalizations. We learned a lot at our own funeral is a profound meditation on the strength and fragility of the body.
(Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St, Vancouver, Feb. 6 - 8)
Ballet Jörgen’s Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty by Ballet Jörgen spins a tale of nature and love that will inspire young and old alike.
Danced to the original score by Tchaikovsky, this new ballet tells the enchanting story of Aurora and her prince complete with its inherently magical qualities and dazzling choreography.
An ensemble with stunning costumes and captivating lighting design, this classic fairy tale is guaranteed to provide an afternoon of entertaining and inspiring live dance performance.
(Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Avenue, New Westminster, Feb. 8)
Matriarchs Uprising
O'Dela Arts, in partnership with The Dance Centre, is thrilled to present the seventh edition of Matriarchs Uprising, a celebration of contemporary dance by Indigenous women artists. From February 19 to 22, this dynamic event offers 4 unique programs of live performance, along with artist-lead conversations, masterclasses, community workshops and the Indigi-Dance on-demand film series all week-long.
(Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie Street, Vancouver & Morrow, 910 Richards St. – Unit 204 & Online, Feb. 17 - 22)
PAPER PLAYGROUND
A playful and interactive dance performance where children are free to join in and explore, because that’s what young ones do best!
Paper Playground is a stimulating experience set on a large paper carpet, created especially for children five and under that is full of dancing, drawing, live music and projections. Fully immersive, Paper Playground welcomes children as true creative collaborators and they become an essential part of the performance.
Exploring the theme of water with boats, fish, crabs and sharks, performers present irresistible invitations for children to participate through drawing, moving, and music making.
9:30 AM show recommended for children aged 8 to 36 months
11:00 AM show recommended for children aged 36 months to 5 years
(The ACT Arts Centre, 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, Feb. 20, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m)
Sankofa Danzafro’s The City of Others
DanceHouse, in partnership with Blackout Art Society and Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre, presents the Vancouver premiere of Afro-Colombian Dance Company Sankofa Danzafro’s episodic work, The City of Others (La Ciudad de los Otros), on stage February 21 at 8pm, and February 22 at 2pm & 8pm at the Vancouver Playhouse. Created in celebration of Colombia’s 159th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, The City of Others seeks to take apart the country’s history and culture to examine its complex and often agonizing past. Blending contemporary dance with high-energy beats inspired by Latin and hip hop music, coupled with traditional Colombian songs and rhythms, the dancers and live musicians reclaim the stage as a space for democracy, equality, and empowerment. The result is at once exhilarating and powerfully rousing. For tickets and further information, visit: dancehouse.ca
(Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton St, Feb. 21 - 22, 2:00 p.m + 8:00 p.m)
The Dance Centre presents SHIAMAK Vancouver
The Dance Centre’s popular Discover Dance! noon series celebrates the exuberance, comedy, drama, and fun of Bollywood, with a performance by SHIAMAK Vancouver. Blending Bollywood with jazz, funk, folk and modern influences, the company delivers entertaining performances that are guaranteed to get audiences on their feet.
(Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St, Vancouver, Feb. 27, 12:00 p.m)
Vancouver International Dance Festival 2025
In 2025, the Vancouver International Dance Festival (VIDF) celebrates 25 years of presenting world-class dance with no aesthetic boundaries! From March 5—15, with OFFSITE events happening March 2—22, VIDF 2025 transforms our beautiful city into a vibrant hub for live art, where raw, kinetic, and experimental works take centre stage.
This year’s festival features 25 performances by 14 artists/companies, with over 100 artist collaborators. We're also offering BATTLES * BALLS * OFFSITE PARTNERSHIPS* INSTALLATIONS * WORKSHOPS * LATE NITES *
Promoting exchange between local, national and international artists who challenge norms, communicate beyond language, and reflect societal issues, VIDF 2025 will leave audiences feeling transformed.
Themes for VIDF 2025
*Women-led projects to celebrate International Women’s Day, March 8.
*Street dance on stage and on the concrete.
*Dance that features live and original music.
Dance is constantly evolving and much of this innovation is coming from beyond the margins. As artists with a history of self-producing, VIDF's new Co-Directors
Deanna Peters + Victor Tran are in relationship with artists whose work is incredibly nuanced, creative, and which often goes unseen on mainstream stages.
TICKETS + PASSES on sale now: vidf.ca
(Annex, Roundhouse Community Centre, March 5 - 15)
The Dance Centre announces its 2024-2025 season
The Dance Centre’s 2024-2025 season presents a comprehensive program of exciting performances, accessible community programs, residencies, and projects. Highlights include the Global Dance Connections series with Indigenous choreographers Sophie Dow and Daina Ashbee, works rooted in classical Indian dance by Anusha Fernando/Shakti Dance and Gaurav Bhatti, and a collaboration by Company 605 and Singapore’s The Human Expression. The Discover Dance! noon series features Corporeal Imago, Arts Umbrella Dance Company, SHIAMAK Vancouver, the Lorita Leung Dance Company, and Danny Nielsen. The biennial Dance In Vancouver takes place Nov 20-24. This season sees the appointment of Associate Artists Justine A. Chambers and Ralph Escamillan, and two national exchange projects. Choreographic research is supported through residencies, labs, and projects, and the 12 Minutes Max program. Community programs include the annual Scotiabank Dance Centre Open House and International Dance Day, and the Power of Dance program for children, youth and seniors.
For full details and tickets visit thedancecentre.ca.
(Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St, Vancouver, Sep. 2024 - Jun. 2025)
