On Friday and Saturday April 19 & 20, summoning thunder and lightning through the soles of their feet, the DanceHouse presentation of Dorrance Dance honours the past and the future of tap in SOUNDspace. The work was originally created as a site-specific piece that explored the unique acoustics of St. Marks Church in New York City through the myriad sounds and textures of the feet. Since adapted for various spaces, SOUNDspace puts the uniquely American art form fully on display. Channeling great tap masters of the past, the members of the company pay homage to the rich lineage and history of the genre. Dorrance Dance explores new possibilities of the relationship between sound and movement, expanding the audience for tap. Whether it’s the glissando slide of socks, the slap of bare feet or the roar of heels, the tonal variations and dynamic range create an accompanying score that moves from silence to all-out cacophony. SOUNDspace is a breathtaking meeting of past traditions and contemporary techniques. As the virtuoso display of physical percussion gives rise to a wall of sound, the performers unite, building a syncopated conflagration that will burn down the house. Check out a teaser and more info about the company here. Don’t miss this! At the Vancouver Playhouse, 8 pm, pre-show chat at 7:15 pm. Tix UPDATE: Very few tickets remain, but there will be a stand-by line at the Playhouse box office on both evenings beginning at 6pm. Any seats that become available will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

For dancers out there (experienced and other!) April 18 & 20 Community Partner in the DanceHouse presentation of Dorrance Dance Vancouver Tap Dance Society is hosting two masterclasses with Dorrance Dance at their studio, plus a post-show jam at The Irish Heather! Beginner/Intermediate Class Thursday April 18 | 8-9:30pm; Advanced Class Saturday April 20 | 11am-12:30pm; All Levels Jam Saturday April 20 | After SOUNDspace (Age 19+, $10 cover at the door). To register for the classes  admin@vantapdance.com. No need to register for the jam!

Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13, there is still time to catch MascallDance’s upcoming BLOOM! Picture 2 nights of dance, comedy and drinks, with a team of Vancouver based dance artists Rainbow Glitz, Billy Marchenski, Alexa Mardon and Mario Matias. Spectators are invited to sip on a selection of wines (or teas depending on the night) while taking in the 5-minute choreographic works-in-progress. Each pairing is carefully selected based on three adjectives the choreographer uses to describe their dance. After each piece, a comedian will wittily share their interpretation and experience with the audience – kindly and humorously voicing what may be passing through all of our minds. Opening night, April 11th, features a tea master introducing teas paired with each dance.  On April 12th & 13th, a sommelier introduces wine pairings. At Left of Main, 6:30 pm. Tickets are by donation, but please reserve here. UPDATE: Tickets are sold out, but there will be a stand-by line in case of no-shows.

Until Wednesday April 17, check out Kokoro Dance in LSD. From an Artistic Statement by Jay Hirabayashi and Barbara Bourget: “Suddenly, we are old. Like Kazuo Ishiguro’s Beatrice and Axl in The Buried Giant we wait anxiously for a boatman to take us to the island of eternity. We fell in love, we had sex, and now . . . ? LSD is an acronym for Love Sex and Death (as well as lysergic acid diethylamide) It is not macabre, but maybe a little psychedelic. It is not a linear narrative. It is the culmination of our forty-five-year journey in dance with each other, a journey shared with many outstanding artists.” If you have never experienced the work of Kokoro Dance, don’t miss this one! At KW Production Studios, 7 pm. Tix

Friday and Saturday, April 19 and 20, The Falling Company presents Family Room, a poignant dance theatre piece choreographed by Marissa Wong exploring immigrant life and cultural identity – and the complexities of her Chinese-Canadian upbringing and navigating her parents’ divorce. The innovative set design transforms the stage into a living room, each piece of furniture symbolizing familial connection and a foundation for interactions told through movement and text. Performed by three versatile dancers, Family Room is a deeply personal and intimate work, which touches on universal themes including frustration, belonging, and love. Check out a teaser here! Each show will be followed by a discussion facilitated by a counsellor, providing a supportive environment for audience members to share their reflections. At the Scotiabank Dance Centre, 8 pm. Tix

On Thursday April 25, as part of the Dance Centre’s Discover Dance! Series, Dance//Novella will share their newest work Night is the Mother. The piece is inspired by dreams and follows six characters as they band together and try to survive in a fantastical landscape of shifting realities. Dance//Novella was founded by former Ballet BC artists Racheal Prince and Brandon Lee Alley, and in a few short years has gained a reputation for bold and inspiring creations which blend superlative dancing, and rich theatricality. At the Scotiabank Dance Centre, noon. Tix

Also on Thursday, April 25 experience the beauty and depth of one of India’s most profound dance forms – Bharatanatyam – presented by one of BC’s leading practitioners of the art, Sujit Vaidya in Bharatanatyam in Sadhana: An Evening of Bharatanatyam. The dance form was born in the courts and temples of South India and was performed and developed by female-led hereditary communities of experts in the art form. It evolved to adapt to the stage, with an emphasis on devotional themes (at the expense of the erotic), while still allowing for the expression of emotions through music, acting, hand gestures, and intricate rhythmic compositions. The performance will be enhanced by the presence of a live ensemble of musicians, featuring Ramya Kapadia (vocal), Raman Kalyan (flute), Curtis Andrews (mridangam) and special guest from India, Vaidya’s guru/teacher A. Lakshman performing the role of the nattuvanar (conductor of the ensemble and recitation of rhythmic dance compositions). This is a rare opportunity for Vancouver audiences to witness Bharatanatyam dance accompanied by live music. Don’t miss it! A moderated post-show talkback with the artists and moderated by Vancouver-based dance artist Anusha Fernando, will occur onstage immediately following the performance. At the Vancouver Playhouse, 7:30 pm. Tix