BC YOUTH DANCE PROJECTS

The BC Youth Dance Research Project is made up of three components: Research, Production and Documentation, and began from a few ideas: 

  • how to connect under-represented youth - from BIPOC/IBPOC, LGBTQ2S+ and/or disabled communities beyond the Lower Mainland - with dance and the performing arts, 

  • how to support BIPOC/IBPOC and/or LGBTQ2S+ dance artists as well as BC communities to support youth and artists with creative, group projects 

  • how to offer some support for creative projects - as we emerged from the depths of Covid-19 and its impacts

From these ideas, we were fortunate to receive funding from CCA Strategic Innovation funding for research and documentation, and a BC Arts Council Arts Impact for project production and documentation. 

RESEARCH

In Spring 2022, artists responded to a call for ideas to develop projects that centre IBPOC and LGBTQ2S+ youth and community members. The artists embarked on a year of research and development with project colleagues and consultants. On October 29, 2022 Dance West Network hosted a live and online Public Gathering in collaboration with Simon Fraser University Woodwards Cultural Programs to share this research in a youth-led dialogue with the artists about their projects. 

Go here for more information on this early phase of the project and info on the artists involved.

RESEARCH DOCUMENTATION 

This gathering led to the production of the ENCOMPASS booklet with essays from the artists involved in the BC Youth Dance Research project highlighting this community-driven work Click HERE.

This research was supported by CCA Sector Innovation funding. 

PRODUCTION

From the strength of this research, Dance West Network was then able to produce four community-engaged workshop and artist exchange projects.

Workshop Exchanges with local youth, Summer 2023 & Fall 2024

including exchanges between local and visiting artists

  • CHANGE MAKERS’ EDUCATION SOCIETY

    Ts’msyen La̱xyuup homelands (Prince Rupert) 

    Aug 1-6, 2023 

    Brenda Kent Colina aka Bee Llegada, Partida (Arrival, Departure)

    Fior Saoirse Land Alchemy: Movement Meditations

    Film showing: March 1 2024

  • LENA RESIDENCY & THE YELLOWHOUSE ARTS CENTRE

    Tsawwassen First Nation, on the lands of the Penelakut, Hwlitsum, Lelum Sar Augh Ta Naogh, and other Coast Salish peoples (Galiano Island)

    June 13-15, 2024

    Shion Skye Carter: Movement and Calligraphy Workshop

    Collaborator: calligraphy artist Kisyuu.

  • THE STUDIO: Dance & Wellness

    on the lands of the Sinixt, Secwepemc (Secwepemcul’ewc), Syilx, and the Ktunaxa (Revelstoke) 

    Sept 20-23, 2024

    Simran Sanchar, Sophia Sosa: The Lunacy Phase

    Emily Carlson, The Studio Dance & Wellness: Youth Program

    Collaborators: Sophie Sosa, Sevrin Emancen-Boyd

  • ANTLER RIDGE DANCE STUDIO

    Te’mexw Treaty Association, WSÁNEĆ, Hul’qumi’num TreatyGroup,Tsawwassen Territory/Salt Spring Island BC.

    Dec 7, 2024

    Shion Skye Carter: Movement and Calligraphy Workshop

PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

PRODUCTION: four community-engaged workshop and artist exchange projects

Movement + Calligraphy Workshop Facilitated by dance artist Shion Skye Carter

Workshop hosted by Antler Ridge Dance Studio

Te’mexw Treaty Association, WSÁNEĆ, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group,Tsawwassen Territory/Salt Spring Island

In this unique workshop of fusion of visual art and movement, Shion guided participants first through an introductory lesson on Japanese calligraphy followed by an improvised movement practice based on the individual calligraphies they had created.

“Thank you so much for hosting such a delightful event with Shion ! It really inspired me to explore deeper my own heritage and introduce it to this part of the world.” Gintare Jankauskaite, workshop participant

Movement + Calligraphy Workshop at Antler Ridge Dance

by Adele Cecotti

Building on the BC Youth Dance Project begun in 2022, Artists Simran Sachar, Sophia Sosa and Severin Emnacen-Boyd visited the lands of the Sinixt, Secwepemc (Secwepemcul’ewc), Syilx, and the Ktunaxa (Revelstoke) in a collaboration with The Studio Dance & Wellness: Youth Program. Simran offered a dance workshop titled, Waacking with Simran! where she encouraged the dancers to enjoy their own unique and individual self expression in their dance! 

In addition, Simran presented her work Act Twenty Five at the Luna Festival, a three-day arts festival of music, installation art and interactive performances. 

Thanks to the BCAC Arts Impact for their support of these events

The community members of Revelstoke had the wonderful opportunity to learn from Simran. There were many laughs, smiles and new experiences to be had! It made such a lasting impression on attendees as it is a dance style that is not widely practiced where we are and was so fun for the whole class to be beginners in something. Simran inspired our creativity and artistry by empowering our own inner dancers, weaving waacking and posing elements into improvisation. It was such an uplifting and enjoyable workshop!

Photo: Alexi Mostert Photography

The students of THE STUDIO had the priviledge of working with Simran, Sophia and Severin to deepen their understandings of waacking, hip-hop, and breaking and most importantly about themselves as dancers. Alongside teaching the fundamentals in these three styles, the team empowered the dancers to make creative decisions by offering students a space to explore the movement capacity of their bodies; something so valuable to bring to our dancers. I am proud of the students for their efforts in this class and grateful to Simran, Sophia, and Severin for for bringing their creativity, expertise and inspiration.

Dance of Grief: Simran Sachar and Sophia Sosa

By Megan Gillis

Shion Skye Carter: Movement and Calligraphy Workshop

LENA RESIDENCY & THE YELLOWHOUSE ARTS CENTRE

With beautiful images taken by Dayna Szyndrowski, this essay by Finn Bryant walks us through Shion Skye Carter and Kisyuu's Movement + Calligraphy Workshop on the traditional territories of Penelakut, Hwlitsum, and Tsawwassen First Nations, and of other Hul'qumi'num-speaking peoples - also known as Galiano Island. In collaboration with the Leña Residency and Yellowhouse Arts Centre, Shion and Kisyuu had time to connect and prep for the workshops together before leading youth and adults through an intro to calligraphy followed by movement inspired by the brushstrokes, ink, and shapes, June 13-15 2024. 

Movement + Calligraphy Workshop on Galiano Island by Finn Bryant

Home Lands in Our Bodies

Brenda Kent Colina aka Bee in a workshop exchange with Fior Saoirse, Ts’msyen La̱xyuup homelands (Prince Rupert) 

‘Home Lands in Our Bodies’ is the result of a dance-based artist exchange between multidisciplinary artists Fior Saoirse and Brenda Kent Colina. 

The short film produced was reached through a series of workshops that were offered primarily to youth through Change Makers’ Education Society, a non-profit dedicated to creating social change in Prince Rupert, on the unceded Ts’msyen La̱xyuup homelands. 

This project unfolded as a dynamic tapestry of creativity and community, encouraging participants to explore dance as a means to forge deeper connections with themselves as well as with each other.

Throughout the entire planning process, it was deemed important for the focus to be intentionally shifted away from rigid dance form and technique. Instead, the emphasis was placed on tuning into one's body and relishing the joy of dancing as a form of play, release, and integration. Thus, the workshops unfolded as a holistic journey, encompassing various forms of expression such as meditation, journaling, walks in nature, and even participating at an open mic night. 

As a whole, ‘Home Lands in Our Bodies’ aims to capture the beauty of embodied art and the importance of collaborative expression. 

Orchestrated in partnership with Change Makers’ Education Society and Dance West Network, this initiative was supported by the BC Arts Council Arts Impact Fund.

Changemakers’ Education Society, March 1 2024 monthly open mic

The film showing of Homelands in Our Bodies was followed by a writing workshop - with prompts generated from the film - which all culminated in a public reading.

These productions were supported by BC Arts Council Arts Impact. 

PRODUCTION DOCUMENTATION

Writer Tin Gamboa is working on an essay with artist interviews. Online publication date, Feb 2025.

Research

on the intersections of creative projects and communities located beyond the Lower Mainland, BC

An online listing of artist profiles - see below - from the BC Youth Dance and Research Project which shares the artists’ research, creative processes, and development of projects which are ready to engage with communities in collaboration with local organizations.

Project Colleagues: Alyssa Amarshi, Joanne Cuffe, Tsatassaya White

Project Consultants: Olivia C. Davies, Lindy Sisson

Dance West Network is thrilled to continue ongoing work connecting dance artists & writers through Encompass, a booklet documenting the projects from the 2022 BC Youth Dance and Research Project, including image descriptions and graphic recordings. 

This multidisciplinary booklet features essays by emerging artist Alex Masse & booklet editor Sarah Wong, photos by Jordan Shum, illustrations by Juolin Lee, and graphic design by Emma Reid. 

It highlights the amazing community-driven work happening across the Lower Mainland from BC Youth Project artists Alyssa Amarshi, AJ Kule Kambere, Bee Kent Colina, Fior Saoirse, Rosario Ancer, Shion Skye Carter, Simran Sachar, and Tanis Baer & Kenley Knock.  

The essay is also in French, translated by Carroll Guerin LaFleche with support from Audrey Gaussiran. 

The booklet is now available online for FREE in two formats: as a PDF and we also have the booklet available as a Word Document (designed to increase accessibility for blind/low-vision communities using screen readers and magnification). If you would like access to a word document, please reach out to admin@dancewest.net. The file is too large to make easily available on this website platform.  

We are also excited to be offering made-to-order booklets in print form so Encompass can find a spot in your bookshelf.

PDF (Free) - click here

Booklet ($12) - click here

Selected Artists & Projects