Joe Ink was founded in 1995 and has built a reputation for its versatility. Described as “wickedly sophisticated,” “unusual,” and “daring,” this Vancouver dance company speaks in a movement language all its own. Led by dancer and choreographer Joe Laughlin, the mission is to engage and inspire people through the medium of dance, pushing the edge creatively and artistically as professional artists while also strengthening community through dance.

Founding Artistic Director Joe Laughlin has created fourteen productions for the company, most recently DANCE:CRAFT, Joe: A Solo Show, 4OUR and Retrospective:25 Years. Presentations include the High Performance Rodeo, On the Boards, Festival of New Dance, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, FNB Dance Umbrella, International Children’s Festivals and the Seoul Marginal Theatre Festival, among many others. Numerous commissions include the National Arts Centre, Canada Dance Festival, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet BC and the Johannesburg based company Moving into Dance Mophatong. Laughlin’s canon of over 65 works have been performed throughout Canada, in the US, UK, Europe, South Africa and South Korea.

Joe choreographs in contemporary dance and has also successfully crossed over into ballet, theatre, new media and television. His reputation for versatility is due as much to these forays as to his natural curiosity about life. His passion for working with communities led him to create Move It! in 2001. Honors include the Canada Council’s Jacqueline Lemieux Prize, Banff Centre's Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award and the BC Isadora Award for excellence in choreography.