It appears that spring is just around the corner – oh welcome sweet spring!

Coming up this Monday, February 14 (online), join DanceHouse, SFU Woodwards and Matriarchs Uprising in Speaking of Dance Talking Truths: Shaping Our Presence and Remembering Our Past. With speakers Maura Garcia, Sophie Dow, Christine Friday, Jeanette Kotowich and facilitated by Olivia Davies, join the conversation “What does care look like when we create work that holds ancestral spirit?” Four Indigenous women from across the country speak about the choreographic impulses that guide their creative process and the cultural heritage informing their practice. For more information and to learn about the artists, and to register for the event, go here. FREE!

Perhaps the silver lining of not having been able to see live dance during these last 2 years is the development of wonderful things digital! One of these is the Digidance presentation of Via Katlehong Dance (South Africa) in Via Kanana, February 16 – March 6 (online).

The award-winning Via Katlehong Dance was formed in 1992. Originally a community troupe, Via Katlehong was made up of youth from the Township of Katlehong in the East Rand – a notorious war zone during the 1980s uprising in South Africa – to keep away from the criminal activity raging in their township.Led by Vusi Mdoyi, Steven Faleni, and Buru Mohlabane, the company comprises a community school of dance and an 18-member professional company. They specialize in Pantsula, a South African Township dance, and other neo-traditional forms. Via Katlehong helped make Pantsula culture an important feature of today’s South African contemporary dance. They have won many awards along the way, including FNB Vita Dance, Dance Umbrella awards, Gauteng Dance Showcase, KTV Most Brilliant Achievement and Gauteng MEC Development Award amongst others.

Check out a teaser of the work, and then go here to buy your online ticket!

The 4th edition of Matriarchs Uprising Festival runs February 14 – 19. Curated by Olivia C. Davies (Anishinaabe), the Festival features an exciting program of new contemporary Indigenous dance works from Jeanette Kotowich (Cree-Métis), Maura Garcia (non-enrolled Cherokee/Mattamuskeet), Animikiikwe Couchie-Waukey (Nipissing First Nation) with Bella Waru (Maōri), Christine Friday (Anishinaabe), Sandra Lamouche (Cree), Samantha Sutherland (Ktunaxa), Sophie Dow (Métis-Assiniboine), and Vancouver DTES Grandmother’sCollective, plus masterclasses, community workshops and Talking Truth circle conversations. For all details of shows and workshops and to buy tickets, go here