Some of British Columbia’s best dancers are coming to the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts for the wind-up performance of the season.
The Shadbolt is once again playing host to Dances for a Small Stage for its season-ending Live at the ’Bolt performance, running June 23 to 25 at Deer Lake Park.
Audience members will have a chance to walk around the park and view a series of site-specific short works by some of Vancouver’s top dancers and choreographers - all in outdoor spaces.
Dances for a Small Stage, which has been running since 2002, is a series that showcases dance professionals in cabaret-style performances on a small stage. The series has been to Shadbolt before, when an evening of dance on the Shadbolt lawn played to great acclaim in 2014.
This year’s show features the company dancers of Ballet B.C., with performances that began in February at an initial lab to workshop ideas. The short works will be varied, playing in different locations around the park – and even on the water - and all are prepared to go rain or shine.
The challenge of creating outdoor work is relished by the choreographers involved.
Andrew Bartee, who is creating a work that he will dance with Zoe Michalik, says he’s excited to be dancing outdoors.
“Dance can be anywhere, and everywhere, and I would like to see dance play a greater role in our daily lives and culture,” he says in a media release. “It doesn’t always have to be a special ticketed event, or a dark club designated for dancing. We can dance on buses, and when we are sad, and in the park with our friends.”
Dancer Tara Williamson is making her debut as a choreographer, in a piece she will dance with Bartee.
“I love performing outside. There is something so freeing and refreshing about it,” she says. “The outdoors already sets a tone of sharing beauty together and being in a space that is comfortable. It’s inviting. Rain or shine – it’s all about adapting.”
Kirsten Wicklund, meanwhile, is bringing a personal connection to the space: her piece – which will be danced by Albert Galindo – is based around memories of her grandfather’s house. Now vacant, the house is owned by the city and backs on to Deer Lake Park.
She describes her work as “an excavation of memory, passage of time and intimate personal history.”
“For me, as an artist to be part of Dances for a Small Stage means the opportunity to explore my most pressing questions through movement and creation,” she says. “It means I am able to inquire and move forward with my personal voice, my unique perspective, and engage with the community on a more personal and intimate level as a choreography and dance artist.”
They’ll be joined by a cast that includes Karissa Barry, Emily Chessa, Livona Ellis, Alexis Fletcher, Scott Fowler, Vanessa Goodman, Christoph von Riedemann, Gilbert Small, Peter Smida, Dayna Szyndrowski and Nicole Ward.
Dances for a Small Stage: Live at the Bolt is set to run Thursday, June 23 through Saturday, June 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. Call 604-205-3000 or see tickets.shadboltcentre.com.
