Welcome to another fortnight of dance!

Ongoing until November 18, check out the the eighth annual F-O-R-M — a celebration of movement and the ever-evolving nature of film. This year, we’ve embarked on a journey that has seen us welcoming new team members, bid farewell to cherished ones, and constantly has us questioning and pushing the boundaries of what a film festival can be. Each of these elements has played a vital role in shaping us — a combination of our history and the endless possibilities we aspire to explore. 42 Short Films from 10 Countries. 15 World Premieres from 17 Youth + Emerging Commissioned Artists
Public Screens, Technology and Interaction Exhibition, FORMations, Workshops, Artist Talks + more. Check out their website for the many, many offerings, on a sliding scale starting at $10.

This Friday and Saturday, November 17 and 18, The Dance Centre Global Dance Connections series presents Stand Up Dance: Anatomalia: anatomy + anomaly + femalia. An exciting world premiere created by Berlin-based queer Canadian choreographer Meagan O’Shea, Anatomalia is an adventurous international collaboration, and a passionate collective healing of the damage done to ‘femalia’. Bringing together a cast of five exceptional dancers from Canada, Mexico and Europe, original sound and design, and local participants, the work cycles between shame and curiosity, repulsion and desire, fear and trust, to release the trauma stored in the body, and reclaim joy. Theatrical, playful, and imaginative, this one-of-a-kind creation celebrates survival and recovery. Check out a trailer here. At the Scotiabank Dance Centre, 8 pm. Tix

This Saturday, November 18, Thomas Vo Van Tao performs Mohiniyattam an Indian classical dance style originating from the region of Kerala. Also known as the Dance of the Enchantress, it is traditionally performed by a woman, and Thomas is one of the rare male dancers to perform this dance style. It will be the first time that Mohiniyattam is presented professionally in Vancouver. Check out a beautiful teaser video here. This is a Mandala Arts & Culture presentation in partnership with the Roundhouse. At the Roundhouse Performance Centre, 7:30 pm. Tix

Coming up Thursday November 30 – Saturday December 2, join The Biting School for the world premiere of Zahak, the Serpent King. So the story goes… Zahak was a prince who made a pact with the devil and killed his own father. The devil kissed him on the shoulders and there grew two snakes. The two snakes gave him so much pain and fear; but every time he cut them off, they would grow again. He is told there’s only one way he can calm them down, and that is to kill two young men every day and feed their brains to the snakes. Inspired by this Persian myth, directors Aryo and Arash Khakpour invite audiences into a mesmerizing world of physical theatre, dance, surrealist imagery, slippery snakes and transformation. Zahak, the Serpent King is presented by New Works. At the Annex, 8 pm. Tix

Sunday, November 19, dance teachers, check out NW In Practice with Ralph Escamillan | Tangible Movements, offered by New Works. NW In Practice is a professional development series for dance teacher and leaders to gather and engage in critical conversation around the practice of teaching dance. This season, the series will focus on addressing and supporting needs in community driven spaces through a diversity of topics and angles. Artist Ralph Escamillan brings his breadth of experience between both his two non-profits as well as being a freelance artist, teacher, curator and producer. Ralph will breakdown his process as a community organizer, how he’s worked within the funding system to share his value systems – as well as his physical practices in relation to moving with tangible mediums like fabrics and objects. 3:45 – 6:45 pm at the Scotiabank Dance Centre.