The Friday Round-Up

Welcome to the Friday Round-Up, a place for the Vancouver community of dancers and dance lovers to come together and share what is going on in the local dance community. In this new world in which we find ourselves, it is now more important than ever to find ways to connect and share all the many new and innovative ways in which we create, communicate and relate in the world of dance. So if you have something you would like to share with the Friday Round-Up, please send it to debora@dancehouse.ca. We look forward to hearing from you!

Dancing at Dusk – A Moment with Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring
Ecole-des-sables in Dancing at Dusk – A Moment with Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring

Kickoff the DanceHouse Fall season October 21 to 28 with École des Sables (Senegal) in their stunning film Dancing at Dusk – A Moment with Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring! Pina Bausch’s iconic choreography for The Rite of Spring takes place in an extraordinary setting, on a remote beach near Toubab Dialaw, Senegal. As the world descended into pandemic lockdown, the performance captures the final rehearsal of 38 dancers from 14 different African nations. Faithful to Stravinsky’s composition, this seminal work examines the power of ritual and sacrifice, as a young woman is chosen to mark the changing seasons. Check out this article in The Guardian about making of the film during the early days of the pandemic.

And there’s more: before the performance, there will be a pre-show documentary of the history of The Rite of Spring by Valérie Lessard, dance history specialist. The presentation will be followed by the screening of a short making of the film and an interview with founder of École des Sables Germaine Acogny and with Jorge Puerta Armenta, former member of the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch company and re-stager of The Rite of Spring at Ecole des Sables. Details on access to the screening, and to buy tickets.

Alexander Ekman, photo © Rahi Rezvani
EKMAN.ALEXANDER-by Rahi Rezvani

The DanceHouse season continues November 6-8 with Nederlands Dans Theater (Netherlands) in NDT2: Dare to Say – LIVE from the Hague. In Dare to Say, dancemakers Alexander Ekman and Dimo Milev challenge their performers with distinct new approaches to movement and choreography, necessitated by the restrictions imposed by COVID-19. The result is radically exciting new choreographic works. DanceHouse is thrilled to present these two new world premieres featuring NDT 2’s distinctive creative voices. The livestream presentation will include an introduction to the work followed by a fully staged performance. Collapsing time and space, the digital livestream will allow audiences to enjoy the dancers on stage in The Hague, from the comfort of their own home. Get your tickets now because they are available for purchase only until October 30 and a limited quantity are available

October 21 to 24th, the Farouche Collective will be live streaming from KW Studios, Here Again: A collection of three scores. Hosted by VIDF and Farouche Collective, October 21 to 23 at 7 PM (PT), and 24th at 4 PM (PT). Each night is a different pairing of dancers so you may even want to join them more than once! For tix

Tomorrow, Saturday October 24, check out See Sounds Listening Party with Justine A. Chambers. The See Sounds Listening Parties provide a look in to the musical and sonic influences and processes of local artists. The anchors of Justine A. Chambers movement based practice are found in collaborative creation, close observation, and the idea of choreography as living archive. She is concerned with a choreography of the everyday; with the unintentional dances, as she describes them “that are already there.” Tix (FREE or by donation)

Sunday October 25, the response. presents their Dance Café with Salomé Nieto, Human Body Expression and Tomoyo Yamadawith Xinue Liu. Beginning at noon, join on Instagram live @response.Dance. FREE!

Thursdays October 29, November 5 and November 12 12-2pm via Zoom,  SFU Institute for Performance Studies presents Women in Hip-Hop from the Birthplace: Three Master classes with Caridad De La Luz, Ana Garcia and Jane Gabriels. Caridad De La Luz (aka La Bruja) and Ana Garcia (aka Rokafella) are two professional Hip-Hop artists/activists/teachers from the birthplace of Hip-Hop, The Bronx, New York. In these three master classes, they offer personal insights into the impact The Bronx has on their artistry, the trajectory of their creative works, and how they also have developed projects that further support historically invisible communities. Producer and curator Dr. Jane Gabriels will also speak about her work to support the artists and create opportunities for them to engage with audiences. All three co-teachers have worked together on multiple projects for 20 years. There will also be an opportunity for students to share their reflections. Please note, classes will be recorded. , RSVP by Monday October 26 to peter_dickinson@sfu.ca and a link will be sent upon registration. FREE!