January 2025 MAINSTAGE, DWN Newsletter

Dance West Network: connecting artists and communities in motion

January 2025

MAINSTAGE

STILL TIME TO REGISTER

Industry Showcases, online and in-person

For presenters, curators, festival and residency directors, funders, and other arts and cultural collaborators.

Virtual Showcase/Pitch Sessions, Jan 22 & Feb 12

Dance West Network invites presenters, curators, festival and residency directors, funders, and other arts and cultural collaborators to attend two virtual showcases celebrating contemporary dance artists from British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon.

Join us on January 22 and February 12 online. Please note the sessions are listed in Pacific Time. Details and registration links follow below.

Mainstage Marathon

January 22, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM PT
Immerse yourself in a marathon of movement featuring over 30 talented dance artists from British Columbia. This dynamic 4.5-hour showcase includes:

Artist Pitches: Each artist will present a 5-minute pitch, followed by a 2-minute Q&A.
Segmented Format: Approximately 7 artists per hour, with short breaks in between.
A full afternoon of dance that promises to inspire!

Register here: Eventbrite - Mainstage Marathon
Explore the artists: Mainstage Listings

Spotlight on Dance in Alberta & the Yukon

February 12, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM PT

This curated 90-minute showcase highlights over 10 exceptional artists from Alberta and the Yukon. Presented in collaboration with our regional partners, this session features:

Artist Pitches: Each artist will deliver a 5-minute pitch, followed by a 2-minute Q&A.

Register here: Eventbrite - Spotlight Showcase
Explore the artists: Spotlight Listings

Please feel free to come and go as you need during these online events.

For more info, visit our website here.

IN-PERSON SHOWCASE, January 29

We are also showcasing 8 dance artists during the PuSh Festival’s Industry Series, produced in collaboration with the Dance Centre on Wed, January 29, at 4 pm.

For information, register here.

COMMUNITY DANCE CONNECTORS, CDCs

WELCOME

We are so happy to welcome Erin Kennedy, who will be stepping into the role of Ancillary CDC on the territory of the Okanagan Nation / Vernon BC.

As an ancillary CDC, Erin will have opportunities to meet and build relationships with other CDCs by participating in DWN CDC meetings, training and workshops.

Erin also brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from her many years of work in the arts - we are looking forward to learning from each other!

You can learn more about Erin here.

RE-CENTERING/MARGINS RESIDENCY

Our residency culminated in October 2024, with two vibrant, in-person showcases.

To catch the brilliance of this past year’s cohort, please review our Residency recap here.

RESIDENCY ALUMNI

participate in new collaboration with the Burnaby Art Gallery

Reflection essay, written by Charlie Colbourne can be found here.

BC Youth Dance Project, Spring 2022 - Fall 2024

To review updates on this research, production and documentation project,

please click here.

Brenda Kent Colina aka Bee in a workshop exchange with Fior Saoirse and Change Makers’ Education Society, Ts’msyen La̱xyuup homelands (Prince Rupert), March 2024

This exchange led to a short film, Home Lands in Our Bodies, to view, click here (scroll down to video link).

A showing of this film was followed by a writing workshop - with prompts generated from the film - which all culminated in a public reading at a local Open Mic.

Shion Skye Carter and Kisyuu offered a Movement + Calligraphy Workshop in collaboration with the Leña Residency and Yellowhouse Arts Centre, on the traditional territories of Penelakut, Hwlitsum, and Tsawwassen First Nations, and of other Hul'qumi'num-speaking peoples - also known as Galiano Island, June 2024.

Local writer Finn Bryant offers a reflection on the beautiful workshop, here.

Photo: Dayna Szyndrowski

Simran Sachar, Sophia Sosa and Severin Emnacen-Boyd offered workshops in collaboration with The Studio Dance & Wellness: Youth Program, on the lands of the Sinixt, Secwepemc (Secwepemcul’ewc), Syilx, and the Ktunaxa (Revelstoke), September 2024.

Students of THE STUDIO worked with Simran, Sophia and Severin to deepen their understandings of waacking, hip-hop, and breaking and most importantly about themselves as dancers.

Community members of Revelstoke also participated in a community Waacking workshop with Simran.

Local Writer Megan Gillis wrote her reflections on the performance which can be read here.

In early December, Shion Skye Carter spent a morning with an intergenerational group of “SaltSpringers” - ages 9 to 75 - on Te’mexw Treaty Association, WSÁNEĆ, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group,Tsawwassen Territory in the Antler Ridge Dance Studio.

As part of the Movement + Calligraphy Workshop, Shion first led the group through an introduction to calligraphy, and then, using the shapes they created on paper, she led participants through a movement improvisation. The fusion of visual art and movement appealed to a diverse crowd of attendees bringing together folks from different artistic genres.

Essay by Adele Cecotti, here.

Photo: Metta Rose Photography

BOARD UPDATES

Thank you for 2 years of service on the Board, Juolin Lee; we wish you all the best in your continued dance career!

Welcome Allison Girvan! Thank you for your 3 years as a CDC in Sinixt Nation and the Yaqan Nukiy (Ktunaxa)/Nelson BC. We’re thrilled to have you on the Board in 2025!

New Chair: Kallee Lins

Secretary: Christine Añonuevo

Barb Parker (Treasurer) and Sue Pekonen (former Chair), thank you for your continued work on the Board to support Dance West Network.

COMMUNITY NEWS

New Works invites dance and movement artists to join them for a season of performance, residency, and learning opportunities.

All Over the Map | Performances at Granville Island during July or August.
Artist in Residence | Summer and winter residencies designed to support your artistic practice.
Summer Production Intern | Gain hands-on experience in production this summer!

Last day to apply: Jan 19, 2025

Learn more & apply here.

Join the DTRC for on the MOVE: Launch Pad Career Coaching Cohort

Get savvy with hands-on guidance: 5 Sessions (4 remaining). Tuesdays every 2 weeks Jan. 7, 21, Feb. 4, 18, Mar. 4, 9am PST/12pm EST (1.5 hrs)

Build your career connections in these practical “how-to” sessions in Zoom led by DTRC staff-artists – Giulia Tripoli and P. Megan Andrews – and special guests. Participate in a unique, informal group mentorship opportunity with colleagues from across the country. Bring your materials, ask your questions, receive expert feedback & coaching.

REGISTER

Louise Bentall Award DEADLINE COMING, JANUARY 26!

DanceHouse invites individual emerging choreographers working in all styles of dance in BC, including multidisciplinary projects, to apply for the

Louise Bentall Award!

The 2025 award financially supports the winning artist with $10,000 to research, develop, or produce new work, and a second-place winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000.

More information

BOGOTÁ by Andrea Peña & Artists

January 31 & February 1, 2025 | 8pm

Presented with PuSh International Performing Arts Festival

Visceral and transgressive, BOGOTÁ constructs a brutalist landscape from choreography inspired by Colombia’s political and spiritual heritage. Get Tickets

New Works: In Practice with PuSh Festival Artist in Residence: Majula Drammeh

Sunday, February 2, 2025 | 12pm - 3pm
Explore how to create inclusive spaces that prioritize visibility, agency, and transparent power dynamics while honoring the knowledge everyone brings.

Learn more & register here

Co-presented by New Works, PuSh Festival, The Dance Centre, and VIVO Media Arts Centre

The Dance Centre presents Daina Ashbee’s compelling new solo We learned a lot at our own funeral. Through movement, breath, voice, and an atmospheric sound score, the work draws us into a potent sense of ritual, in a profound meditation on the body’s strength and fragility - and the notion of death.

Thursday-Saturday February 6-8, 2025 at 8pm

Info and Tix

DTRC Financial Wellness Series

Taxes for Creatives - Thursday, March 13, 12:30PM-2PM EST (9:30AM-11AM PST). Unavoidable? Yes. Overwhelming? Doesn’t have to be.