A celebration of International Dance Day

The Dance Centre presents a program of events celebrating the art of dance for International Dance Day. Free afternoon events at 800 Robson Plaza offer workshops with OURO Collective, VanVogueJam and Hustle at RS Dance Society. In the evening, Action at a Distance premieres an innovative new work, Soft Currents, at Scotiabank Dance Centre.

Initiated in 1982 by UNESCO, International Dance Day is marked annually on April 29 with events across Canada and around the world. The date commemorates the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), regarded as the founder of modern ballet.

Free Events at 800 Robson Plaza

(Vancouver Art Gallery south plaza, 800 block Robson St)

1.30-2pm Movement Workshop with OURO Collective

OURO Collective’s dynamic work explores hip hop, waacking, breaking, popping, house and more. Co-Artistic Directors Cristina Bucci and Rina Pellerin will lead a workshop informed by these styles. Get ready to sweat, groove, and laugh together! All ages and all levels welcome. 

2-2.30pm Step Into the Hustle Dance: Workshop with Hustle at RS Dance Society

Step Into the Hustle Dance is an introduction to hustle social dancing and its history; including an informal demonstration and a participatory workshop to learn basic footwork, partner connection and patterns of the dance. Everyone is welcome! With instructors Shawn Kim, Manju Chiu, David Chen and Erin Michell.

2.30-3pm European Runway Workshop with VanVogueJam

VanVogueJam founder Ralph Escamillan (AKA Posh Gvasalia Basquiat), assisted by Princess Bee Gvasalia and Nova Siriano, leads an introduction to European Runway. Participants should wear their favourite walking shoes – sneakers, heels, boots, whatever makes them feel fabulous. All welcome.

Performance at Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St

Action at a Distance Soft Currents

6pm | Scotiabank Dance Centre

Tickets on a sliding scale: $0/$10/$20 at thedancecentre.ca

Soft Currents is inspired by murmurations – enormous groups of starlings that twist and swirl across the sky in shape-shifting clouds. This unique creation brings together 15 dance artists to explore the idea of collective responsibility. Over the course of one week the performers collaborate together on a series of evolving text and movement-based tasks. The result will be a performance full of spontaneous eruptions, compositions and delights, alternating between collective unison and individual focus, and creating a sense of anticipation from moment to moment.

Soft Currents is created by Vanessa Goodman/Action at a Distance in collaboration with the performers, with original sound by Brady Marks and lighting design by James Proudfoot.

Performing collaborators: Alder Mauria Orest Graye, Alexis Fletcher, Brenna Metzmeier, danielle Mackenzie Long, Jamie Robinson, Janice Laurence, Juan Duarte, Justin Calvadores, Kate Franklin, Kevin Li, Lance Lim, Leelee Oluwatoyosi Eko Davis, Perelandra Waddle, Simran Sachar, Natalia Martineau.

A co-production between Action at a Distance, The Dance Centre, and New Works.

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The Dance Centre was established in 1986 as a resource centre for dance professionals and the public in British Columbia, and offers a range of activities unparalleled in Canadian dance. The Dance Centre offer programs and resources supporting the professional development of artists, presents public performances and events, manages Scotiabank Dance Centre, one of Canada’s flagship dance facilities, and works to promote BC dance.