This will be the last Friday Round-Up for 2022! We wish you all a wonderful holiday season – and see you in 2023! Happy Holidays!

Before we all move into holiday mode, we wanted to let you know about the DanceHouse presentation of Sacre, January, 17-21, 2023. Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, his wildly transgressive work that almost succeeded in burning down the theatre upon its premiere, erupts once more in Sacre, a new interpretation from Australia’s mighty Circa. There is a certain logic in the marriage of circus’ raw strength and Stravinsky’s brute ceremony. Rooted in ancient tradition, the circus arts are meant to both enthrall and terrify, but there is far more than simple spectacle here. Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz gives the work a razored social edge that investigates the very nature of human experience. What does it mean to bear the weight of another body? What do we owe each other when poised on the brink of total disaster? Supported by ten acrobatic performers and Phillipe Bachman’s score, the dispossessed and the diabolical meet in a scrum of bodies, out of which emerges a ferocious new species of beauty. At its seething heart, Sacre combines carnality with ritual to manifest a cathartic union with the divine. More to come in the new year, but check out more about the work here. At the Vancouver Playhouse, 8 pm. Tix

You have until Saturday, December 10 to catch The Dance Centre presentation, as part of the Global Dance Connections series, of an exciting world premiere You Touch Me, created by Vancouver-based choreographers Arash Khakpour and Emmalena Fredriksson. You Touch Me weaves an intricate web of duets within an ensemble of people who grew up far from here, and far from each other. Using dance and text, their encounters investigate notions of ‘self’ and ‘other’, cultural identity, race and gender. Six virtuosic performers dance, entertain, question and challenge each other, touching on universal themes from togetherness, ageing and love, to climate change and migration. Moving between the political and the poetic, the provocative and the abstract, seriousness and silliness, the work will attempt to feel and reveal this moment in time. Check out a trailer! At the Scotiabank Dance Centre, 8 pm. Post-show artist talkback December 9. Tix

December 15 – 17, check out Ascension, an interdisciplinary production produced and performed by undergraduate students of the Dance, Music & Sound, and Theater Production & Design programs at SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts. Ascension asks students to collaborate across disciplines in the SCA to generate original works outside of designated class times, serving as both a platform to promote and extend the interdisciplinary nature of the SCA, while also providing an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience that they can take with them past graduation. For more info on the many artists involved, go here. At Studio T – SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, SFU Woodwards, 7 pm. Tix

It’s that time of year – time for the Nutcracker! This weekend, Friday to Sunday December 9-11, Vancouver once again welcomes the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to the Ballet BC stage with their iconic, distinctly Canadian retelling of Nutcracker. Danced to an exquisite Tchaikovsky score, the fantastical story follows the adventures of Clara, her Nutcracker Prince, and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Add in dancing mice, a pudding-stealing bear, toy soldiers and surprises galore! A heart-warming classic for the entire family to enjoy. At the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, go here for show times and tickets.

December 15 to 17, Goh Ballet offers their telling of the Nutcracker, where you can experience Clara’s dream come to life as she embarks on a magical journey through the Land of Snow, across the Lemonade Sea, to the Kingdom of Sweets where she is greeted by the enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy. An unforgettable adventure awaits as her gallant Nutcracker battles the evil Mouse King and his army of mischievous mice. Also at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, both 7:30 and 2 pm performances. Tix.

And for a modern and engaging twist on this seasonal classic December 16 to 18, check out the Arts Umbrella Dance Company’s version of The Nutcracker, bringing together a flavoursome assortment of dance styles for an extra-special holiday treat. This one is at the Vancouver Playhouse, and there are both 7 pm shows on Friday and Saturday, and a 2 pm matinee Saturday and Sunday. Tix

If the Nutcracker is not for you but you are looking for something seasonal, Lamondance offers A Winter’s Twist… a reimagined contemporary work and breathtaking spin inspired by the beloved classic “Romeo and Juliet”. This joyful show about being fascinated by love and promises will leave memories in our hearts this holiday season. Saturday, December 17 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 18 at 4:30 pm. At the BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts. Tix

DEADLINE Friday, December 9, 11:59 pm – Matriarchs Uprising has a Call for films created by Indigenous Women & Non-Binary artists to be presented at @odela_arts 5th annual Matriarchs Uprising Festival from February 13-19, 2023. Matriarchs Uprising brings together Indigenous women who are both nurturing and advancing the art of contemporary dance. This year’s theme is ‘Indigenous Futurism – Stories of Transformation’. We are seeking short films that are completed or in post-production. Films will be hosted online for the duration of the festival. Artist fee $750. Go here for more details and to apply

There is still time to register for Company 605 Winter Intensive – December 12-16th, 10-5pm Daily. This annual professional contemporary dance training program is a unique opportunity to learn about our choreographic process and repertoire, from recent projects and new creations, led by Artistic Co-directors Lisa Mariko Gelley and Josh Martin. The intensive will also include choreographic offerings and movement research from the practices of additional guest artists. Guest Instructors include Jeanette Kotowich, Brandon Lee Alley & Racheal Prince,  Francesca Frewer and Eric Cheung. For more info and to register