MUSIC | DANCE | THEATRE
VANCOUVER’S PERFORMING ARTS ANNUAL 2015–2016 • PREMIERE ISSUE
The Cliffwalk pitches high above the canyon from a granite rock face, Treetops Adventure sways through the old growth canopy and the legendary suspension bridge swings 450 feet from cliff to cliff. It’s ancient forest above, deep canyon below and jaw dropping views everywhere you look. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, it’s all around amazing. FREE SHUTTLE FROM CANADA PLACE 604.985.7474 CAPBRIDGE.COM
2015–2016 PUBLISHER & FOUNDER Misty Tompoles
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Katrina Ketchum
COPY EDITOR Kristen Seidman
DESIGN Sara Sjol Zelda Burk
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rebecca Karpus Katrina Ketchum
MEDIA DIRECTOR Chris Porras
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS A.L. Adams Zoë Forsyth Rebecca Karpus Jerry Wasserman
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Jeremy Okai Davis M.A. Tateishi
PHOTOGRAPHER Rob Trendiak
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE WWW.ARTSLANDIAVANCOUVER.COM
PUBLISHED BY
Rampant Creative, Inc. 2240 N Interstate, Suite 200 Portland, OR 97227 Phone: 503.922.2110 www.ArtslandiaVancouver.com
Copyright 2015 by Rampant Creative, Inc. Content may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
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IN THIS ISSUE
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MUSIC
28
20 Chor Leoni Men’s Choir 22 Coastal Sound Music Academy 23 Elektra Women’s Choir 24 Phoenix Chamber Choir 25 Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra 26 Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra 28 Vancouver New Music
The Art of a Cover
29 Vancouver Opera 30 Vancouver Recital Society 31
39
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
32 Vancouver Youth Choir
DANCE 36 Ballet BC 38 CatchingART Contemporary Ballet Theatre 39 The Dance Centre 40 DanceHouse
THEATRE
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44 Evergreen Cultural Centre 45 Full Circle: First Nations Performance 46 Gateway Theatre 48 Pacific Theatre 50 Shadbolt Centre for the Arts 51
Single Line Theatre
52 Studio 58 54 Surrey Civic Theatres: Surrey Arts Centre
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The Art of a Cover
This year’s cover artist, M.A. Tateishi, pulls back many layers of paint and paper to reveal her vibrant work, Key Lime Pie.
55 Surrey Civic Theatres :
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Centre Stage at Surrey City Hall 57 The Cultch
From the Desk of
58 Théâtre la Seizième 59 Touchstone Theatre
John Fluevog invites us into his design studio in Gastown, opening up about what inspires his creativity and what items he simply cannot leave home without.
60 Vancouver TheatreSports League
IN EVERY ISSUE 06 From the Associate Publisher
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07 Artslandia Contributors
Origin Stories
Dramatic Dishes
20 Music
How do arts organizations begin? Sometimes with one brilliant vision and sometimes from a random series of events. A few local luminaries share their starting-out stories.
08 Letter from Artslandia Ambassador
Near the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Chambar certainly makes good on the promise of entertainment. Chef Nico Schuermans shares with us a recipe that packs variety into every bite.
36 Dance 44 Theatre 56 Tag. You’re It. 62 Venues 64 Art & About 66 Past Performances
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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| FROM THE ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER |
“The arts in all their many exciting forms are a bridge between people.” –ANNETTE STRAUSS
W BE IN THE NOW. BE IN THE KNOW. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE E-NEWSLETTER
Want to find out what is happening on Vancouver’s performing arts stages each week? Visit us online and sign up for our e-newsletter at www.ArtslandiaVancouver.com.
elcome to the premiere issue of Artslandia Vancouver! It is my great fortune to embark on this journey with so many vibrant creatives and visionaries in a quest to celebrate their successes and bring their works to a wider audience of Vancouverites. This annual publication assembles, in one beautiful place, a go-toguide for the 2015–2016 season of offerings in music, dance, and theatre in Vancouver. For the past five years, we have published Artslandia in Portland, Oregon. Our expansion to Vancouver is a natural progression in what we feel is a synergistic relationship between the two cities, both renowned for their local food and craft beer movements, their connection to spectacular natural surroundings and community gardens, and most importantly, their creatively diverse arts community. Our kinship fuels our excitement to forge deep bonds within this network of artists. To the arts groups that have joined us on this endeavor by giving us access to your ideas, workspaces, and community—we give you in return our heartfelt thanks. Thanks also to our incredibly talented photographer, Rob Trendiak, whose captured moments
are proudly displayed on these pages and whose help has been absolutely invaluable. As our vision of participating in this community has taken shape in the form of this magazine, we celebrate this new beginning by looking at the origins of the companies that are foundational to our artists, dancers, and musicians—the fibers that make up the fabric of this creative city. Delving into the how, what, where, when, and why of their geneses allows us, as patrons, to see behind the curtains of our city’s arts companies. Before words were put to a script, dance shoes to a studio, or notes to an instrument, there was the idea, dream, and inspiration that drove the founder’s creative endeavors. We invite you to join us in celebrating the performing arts in this amazing city and couldn’t be more pleased to showcase this snapshot of Vancouver culture.
See you at the performance!
Katrina Ketchum Artslandia Associate Publisher [ EMAIL KATRINA@ARTSLANDIA.COM
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ARTSLANDIA CONTRIBUTORS Jerry Wasserman is an actor, critic, professor of English and Theatre at UBC, and editor of Modern Canadian Plays. He was a theatre reviewer for CBC Radio for over 15 years, and currently writes for his website, www.vancouverplays. com, which has logged over one million hits. Jerry has been honoured with awards in the name of three great Vancouver theatre pioneers: Dorothy Somerset, Sam Payne, and Jessie Richardson.
Taking “write what you know” to heart, A.L. Adams has been writing about Portland life and art in all its forms for more than 10 years. Adams’ hands-on experience includes producing music used by Nike and Oregon Public Broadcasting, presenting at Wordstock, performing as a solo musician and actor, helping found PDX Pop Now!, and working on animated feature film Coraline.
Rob Trendiak is an award-winning photographer. He graduated from the Art Institute of Vancouver with honours and is best known for his portrait, wedding, and advertorial photographs. Rob was a camera operator at the speed skating oval for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and a tour photographer for the Lamborghini/Ferrari West Coast USA Tour. Now armed with his creative, business-savvy wife Eliza by his side (and a way cooler haircut), Rob leads the photography projects at Trendi Creative.
Rebecca Karpus has a dance background that includes her B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Ryerson University and is a M.A. candidate in Comparative Media Arts, specializing in dance history, at Simon Fraser University. When Rebecca is not exploring the Vancouver arts scene, she is most likely at home reading a ballet book, considering she is a self-professed dance nerd. Some of her favourite things are white wine, pugs, and of course, the arts.
Zoë Forsyth has been a fangirl of performance art since the days of pacifiers. Born in Vancouver, she can’t get enough of this city’s homegrown creative mindhives in all artistic disciplines. She is fortunate to work alongside some of the world’s most impressive productions by way of being a staff member at The Cultch. She’s extremely excited to be involved with Artslandia and looks forward to many performance adventures to come. .
M.A. Tateishi is a painter inspired by bright colour and geometric form. Her artwork has been in over 80 exhibitions and is held in corporate and private collections across Canada and in the U.S. Since moving from Ontario, she has fallen in love with the Vancouver lifestyle: vibrant multiculturalism, ocean views, and hiking the North Shore mountains. She enjoys the supportive artistic community of her East Van studio and believes that colourful art can brighten any grey, rainy day.
Jeremy Okai Davis is a Portland-based portrait painter who’s shown at Studio Museum of Harlem in New York, and at Duplex Gallery and P:ear in Portland, Oregon. As the goto cover artist for American Songwriter magazine, Davis paints unique, compelling portraits of music luminaries, such as Tom Waits and Taylor Swift, for print. Davis has won a 2015 public art commission to create sitespecific paintings for Oregon State University’s Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center, to be unveiled in September and on permanent view.
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| LETTER FROM ARTSLANDIA AMBASSADOR ERICK LICHTE | “Vancouver is a place where so many cultures share so much culture. The amazing people here feed the arts, and these great people are, in turn, fed by our city’s vast array of thought-provoking and stirring, artistic offerings.” Vancouver is an old place and a new city. The arts scene here reflects newness, with adventurous projects in theatre, dance, music, visual arts, film, and literary endeavors offered up for our enjoyment and our enlightenment. Our city’s art scene is as diverse as our people, embracing the classical roots of Europe, the people and ideas from our land’s Aboriginal past, and artistic influences from around the globe. We are coming into our own as a world-class city with more and more world-class theatre, dance, and music offered each season. The combinations of the old and the new, the classic and the modern, the Aboriginal and foreign in the arts scene of Vancouver make this a unique and wonderful cultural place. I am so happy that Artslandia has landed in Vancouver. I have known their work in Portland and have seen how they have coalesced the diverse arts community there. Every arts scene needs people, places, and publications to help draw more folks to the performing arts, to help them understand what is being offered, and to
excite audiences to make the arts an integral part of their lives. Artslandia will be our community’s much needed performing arts cheerleader and teacher, and our one-stop source for performances in Vancouver. It will get me excited to get out, see new things, and experience all this place has to offer. May it do the same for all of you. I am thrilled to serve as an ambassador for Artslandia, which I have no doubt will be a beautiful and indispensable addition to our arts scene. I am also so looking forward to the coming arts season. MY FELLOW SINGERS, MUSICIANS, ACTORS, DANCERS, DIRECTORS, AND WRITERS HAVE BEEN PRACTICING HARD TO OFFER YOU NEW EXPERIENCES TO IMPACT THE WAY YOU THINK, FEEL, AND ACT.
Welcome Artslandia and welcome fair audiences of Vancouver to the 2015–2016 performing arts season. Best,
Erick Lichte Artslandia Ambassador 2015–2016 Artistic Director, Chor Leoni Men’s Choir
[ ERICK’S TOP 5 PICKS FOR 2015–2016 IN VANCOUVER ]
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PROGRAM 1
DARK SISTERS
BALLET BC NOVEMBER 5–7, 2015
VANCOUVER OPERA NOVEMBER 26– DECEMBER 12, 2015
ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 CHOR LEONI DECEMBER 5, 2015
BRYN TERFEL, BASS-BARITONE
SEASON FINALE WITH CHAD HOOPES
VANCOUVER RECITAL SOCIETY MAY 4, 2016
VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JUNE 11–13, 2016
Photo by Rob Trendiak
Artist M.A. Tateishi
The Art of a Cover ARTSLANDIA COVER ARTIST, M.A. TATEISHI, EXPLAINS HER SPONTANEOUS, LAYERED PROCESS OF PAINTING. BY A.L. ADAMS
M.A. Tateishi freely admits her exuberant painting style flies in the face of her art professors’ recommendations at Emily Carr. “They actually discouraged us from using a lot of colour,” she laughs. But by the time she started—in her 40s—Tateishi’s sensibilities were already fully formed by a B.A. in English and M.A. in Business, a prior career in marketing and advertising, and her daily life as a mother. “Everything that you do in your life contributes to your art later,” she reflects. Tateishi’s love of language spurs her use of text as texture. Her brush with advertising informs a spontaneous, confident approach to image-making. And Vancouver’s often-gray sky inspires her rebellious streak of bright, tropical hues. Tateishi’s process begins with a wood panel, which she gessoes. On top of that, she intersperses layers of paint, paper, and tissue. Once she’s built up several layers, she strategically rips some away in different areas of the piece until she’s satisfied with the composition. Finally, she applies resin to hold the elements in place and make them shine “as if everything were covered in water.” Though the finished works are abstract, not representational, the layers are often imbued with private personal meanings that follow a theme. Tateishi’s been known to slip themed song lyrics or pages of her personal writings into the mix, and for a recent series entitled Secrets, she even sourced a pattern from a World War II–era coding machine. In a final piece, some of these subtleties may re-emerge, while others will remain under wraps. “WHEN I TEAR MY WORK, IT HAS THIS RANDOMNESS. I COULD PLAN EVERY LINE AND EVERY SHAPE, BUT AS SOON AS I GET IN THERE AND START RIPPING THINGS, I LOSE THINGS THAT I STARTED WITH, AND I REVEAL NEW THINGS. WHEN A PAINTING IS PERFECT, YOUR EYE JUST RUNS OVER THE SURFACE, BUT WHEN THERE ARE IMPERFECTIONS, THAT’S WHAT YOUR EYE IS DRAWN TO.” ..
OPEN STUDIO EVENT. Plan a visit to M.A. Tateishi’s studio during the Eastside Culture Crawl. November 19–22, 2015. www.matart.ca.
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I N T HE B EG I N N I NG… Before the curtain ever rose, before the music filled the air, before a fully formed arts group emerged from clouds of ether and stacks of paper...there was a need, a niche, a vision, or a calling. Somebody sat up in bed and said, “You know what this community could use?” or “You know what kind of art I want to make?” or even just, “You know what would be fun?” Or perhaps it wasn’t a Big Bang, a sudden flash of inspiration and then a scattering into a universe of ever-increasing scope and span. Perhaps it was a slow-building alignment of the stars, a lifetime of experiences finally arranging into the perfect constellation. The dreamers and visionaries at the centre of our cultural life have lessons to teach us and stories to share. Ask them, and they’ll light right up! Listen carefully, and they’ll connect some far-flung dots. W RI T TE N BY J E R RY WAS SE R M AN ART BY J E R E M Y O KAI DAVI S
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ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
“Everyone told me I was crazy, that it would fail. That was my greatest encouragement.”
Founded
VANCO UVER RECITAL SOCIETY
Leila Getz, founding artistic director
Leila Getz arrived in Vancouver from her native South Africa in 1966 and founded the Vancouver Recital Society in 1980. What was she doing in the years between? She flashes her Cheshire Cat smile: “It took me that long to learn how to clean a house and cook!” But the self-described “bored housewife” remembered how her aunt had established a thriving Shakespeare festival in Cape Town. “She wasn’t a businesswoman, but she was visionary and determined. I thought, if auntie could do it, I could do it.” Eager to use her musical education while she raised her family in Vancouver, Getz volunteered with local impresario David Y.H. Lui. Working as his receptionist in the
late ‘70s, she learned a lot about booking artists and producing concerts. Then one day, Lui asked her to vacuum. Seven months pregnant with her second child, Getz quit (“on good terms”). Soon after, she launched the Vancouver Recital Society (VRS). “Everyone told me I was crazy, that it would fail. That was my greatest encouragement.” The VRS has grown steadily under her artistic directorship, presenting world-class artists in the Chan Centre and Orpheum, and in its Next Generation series at the Playhouse. Lang Lang played there when he was 17. Yo-Yo Ma, Jessye Norman, András Schiff, and Itzhak Perlman have made repeat appearances. Getz ensured Perlman’s loyalty during his first concert here
in 1988 by planting a radio in his dressing room so he could listen to the World Series. But it’s the unknown musicians and her core audience of just 300–400 that make Getz proudest: “Last year we had a mandolinist nobody ever heard of and sold out the Playhouse. We have one of the most unbelievably loyal audiences on the planet— knowledgeable, intelligent, and willing to take risks with us. I keep saying to them, ‘Go forth and multiply!’” For her own part, Getz remains determined to abide by the can-do philosophy that has guided her so far: “Anything predictable is boring. Dream big. If you don’t risk failure, you don’t risk success.” . ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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1965 Antony Holland, founding artistic director 1965-1985 was more challenging. “I only did half of that,” he confesses. “I read the rest.” The man’s modesty is as remarkable as his energy and memory. Holland can recount in detail his early life as an actor in England, his extraordinary experiences during World War II organizing military theatricals across North Africa (the subject of his solo show One Man in His Time), his years as assistant principal of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and his move to Vancouver in 1957. He could easily create a show about his first Canadian job, teaching drama to prisoners at the Haney Correctional Institute.
STUDIO 58 Jerry Wasserman interviewed his long-time friend Antony Holland for this profile in April, and wrote it shortly before Antony passed away on July 29, 2015 at age 95. Antony Holland is a phenomenon. But at 95, even he admits he’s slowing down a little. Mobility problems have forced him to modify the staging of his newly created solo show, Antony Holland performs Shakespeare’s
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Women, in which he plays 14 female characters from Shakespeare. “For a scene between Juliet and the Nurse, I’ll just be moving my head several inches either way,” he chuckles. “That’s the choreography.” Naturally, he performs the new show off book, as he does his other one-man Bardathon, Antony Holland’s Shakespeare. “I don’t find Shakespeare difficult to memorize at all. It’s music, rhythm.” Neither has he any trouble with the daunting title role of Tuesdays with Morrie. But a recent performance of The Gospel of St. Mark, a 90-minute monologue,
In 1965, he founded the theatre program at Vancouver Community College that was named for its room number when it moved to a basement studio on the Langara campus. With Holland as artistic director, Studio 58 became, and continues to be, one of Canada’s most important and prestigious actor training centres. Holland is still incredulous that he was forced from that position (“Fired!”) in 1985 when he turned 65, the then-mandatory retirement age. Thirty years later his life remains a continuous inspirational explosion of creativity. Living on Gabriola Island—where he started a new theatre company, of course— still acting in film, TV, and onstage, honoured with the Order of Canada, Antony Holland dynamically illustrates the adage that you are never too old. .
PACIFIC DANCEARTS & COASTAL CITY BALLET Li Yaming & Andrea Allen, co-founding artistic and school directors
When the Chinese government told Li Yaming he was going to Canada in 1986, he packed his thick down jacket. A graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy and dancer with the Central Ballet of China, Yaming didn’t know anything about this country. He arrived in Vancouver (didn’t need that jacket) as a guest artist with the Goh Ballet, where local girl Andrea Allen was a member of the student company. Soon they’d be together in a pas de deux that would take them across the world as dancers and teachers. With Theatre Ballet of Canada, Ottawa Ballet, and other companies, the two performed with stars like Nureyev and Baryshnikov, Lynn Seymour, and Karen Kain. But ballet careers tend to be short. With the clock ticking on theirs, Yaming and Allen decided to open a school back in Vancouver.
They founded Pacific DanceArts in 1999 and its offshoot, Coastal City Ballet, in 2011. Allen’s architect father helped them turn a print shop off Boundary Road into purposebuilt classrooms and studios. Scotiabank Dance Centre’s floors, they proudly note, are modeled on theirs. Pacific DanceArts teaches ballet, jazz, and contemporary to students at all levels. At the heart of the school are two intensive programs: half-days for high school teens, plus the fulltime classes, rehearsals, and six-performance season of Coastal City Ballet. “We wanted to provide quality training,” Allen explains, “and more than just yearly recitals and competitions. We wanted a company feel like we had ourselves—a professional feel. We measure our success by how many students get into profes-
sional companies.” (“We’re financially not very smart,” Yaming jokes about encouraging students to leave Coastal City to pursue their careers.) Their grads have danced with the Atlanta Ballet, Houston Ballet, Royal Winnipeg, New York Theater Ballet, Staatsoper Berlin, Ballet BC, and more. Coastal City’s repertoire features new versions of classic story ballets with original choreography: Hansel and Gretel, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coppelia, and 2015’s Cinderella. “We’re trying to hit a younger audience with the fun side of ballet,” says Allen, “the magical stuff. And once they come, they seem to come back.” .
Pacific DanceArts Founded
Coastal City Ballet Founded
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“…I’ve always been interested in art as a political tool.” So what are Spencer’s credentials for running a cutting-edge showcase of contemporary dance that has helped introduce, among others, 605 Collective, Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, Crystal Pite, Emily Molnar, Wen Wei, and Serge Bennathan? “My parents forced me to take tap lessons as a kid.” Like so many arts producers, she actually gained most of her experience on the job, aided by an eclectic background in acting, front of house management, banking, and fashion merchandising, all leavened by a strong sense of social and political responsibility. It’s no coincidence that one of her sons, Spencer Herbert, grew up to be an NDP MLA.
Donna Spencer, founding artistic producer
FIREHALL ARTS CENTRE
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The Firehall’s location—bordering Chinatown, the former Japantown, and the Downtown Eastside, Canada’s poorest postal code—syncs perfectly with Spencer’s commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. “Being in this neighbourhood impacts our choice of programming, but I’ve always been interested in art as a political tool.” Donna Spencer sits comfortably amid the clutter and history, the costumes, props, and archives of the Firehall Arts Centre boardroom. In a city infamous for ignoring its heritage, here’s a building constructed in 1906 as Vancouver’s first fire station, turned into a theatre in 1982. Spencer was there at its rebirth, the Firehall’s first (and only) artistic producer. Along with the Firehall’s regular programs of theatre and dance, Spencer inaugurated Dancing on the Edge in 1988. It became an independent society in 1998, still uses the Firehall as its venue, and is now the longestrunning dance festival in Canada.
Among its current initiatives, the Firehall trains youth at risk, holds a spring break camp for First Nations students, and offers a V6A membership pass for low income residents to see, for $2, shows like the Spencer-directed Stephen Harper satire Proud, indigenous drama like God and the Indian, and the hit musical Urinetown. In this neighbourhood, having a place to pee is a genuine political issue. It’s challenging, she admits, working in an environment with so many intractable problems. “But we at least have a great opportunity to make sure local people have access to theatre and dance.” .
Founded
Margo Kane, founding artistic managing director
FULL CIRCLE: FIRST NATIONS PERFORMANCE Full Circle: First Nations Performance isn’t just the name of Margo Kane’s company. Full Circle describes the journey her life and work have traced for her in Vancouver. Trained as a dancer, actor, and singer (“I didn’t want to go to university!” she exclaims with her characteristic big laugh), the Cree/ Saulteaux performer from Edmonton arrived here in 1983 on tour with George Ryga’s The Ecstasy of Rita Joe. Kane was the first professional Aboriginal actress to play the title role in that classic drama about a young First Nations woman who comes to the city only to have her dreams destroyed. Since then, Kane has devoted herself to making this a place where young Aboriginals can dream and thrive in a supportive, egalitarian environment. “Full Circle,” she explains, “is a cultural metaphor that describes not only the tribal family, but the gathering place for all peoples. There’s no hierarchy in a circle.” At the same time, she insists on her company’s specific mandate: “We have our own Native voice and we need to develop it theatrically— to discover our own forms rooted in our cultural practices of storytelling, song, and dance.” Kane began realizing those ideas as artistic director of Vancouver’s Spirit Song Native Theatre and as an ambassador with the National Native Role Model Program, traveling through Aboriginal communities across Canada. She developed her own successful solo show, Moonlodge, which toured for over 10 years. But what she really wanted was “to have an ensemble I could train with and work with.” So
she launched Full Circle in 1992, opening with a new interdisciplinary piece, The River-Home. With Kane as artistic managing director, Full Circle continues developing new work, has taught a generation of kids in its Aboriginal Ensemble Program and Workshops in Schools, and presented local, national, and international Aboriginal theatre, music, and dance through its annual Talking Stick Festival since 2001. Kane herself remains in demand as a performer—with Vancouver Moving Theatre, the Arts Club, and this fall at Richmond’s Gateway Theatre. But her dream hasn’t changed: “to create new work from an Aboriginal perspective—together.” .
“We have our own Native voice and we need to develop it theatrically—to discover our own forms rooted in our cultural practices of storytelling, song, and dance.” ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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Founded
Christopher Gaze, founding artistic director
“‘I could have been a pimp,’ he confides, a little swagger mixed with his chagrin.”
BARD ON THE BEACH Talk about roads not taken. Here’s the elegant Christopher Gaze, a classically trained actor hailing from what he calls London’s “stockbroker belt,” presiding over Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival for 26 years with his gentlemanly manners and ripe English accent, bringing over 100,000 people (he says with amazement) to see Shakespeare in Vancouver last summer alone. Sporting honorary doctorates and the Order of British Columbia. Performing with the Vancouver Opera. Hosting the Vancouver Symphony’s Tea & Trumpets series, for God’s sake. 16
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“I could have been a pimp,” he confides, a little swagger mixed with his chagrin. The story: landing in Vancouver in the late ‘70s to act at the Playhouse, he’s waiting tables at the old Black Angus Steakhouse. Late one night this thug comes in, finishes his surf ‘n turf, and says, “Gimme a woman.” Seems like a good idea to Bard’s future artistic director who sees hookers at another table, connects customer and client, pockets a $20 tip, then thinks, no, there are better ways than this to make a living.
A conservative adventurousness has been Gaze’s trademark. Founding Bard in 1990 “was chutzpah more than anything,” he says. He’d seen others try and fail to establish a Shakespeare festival outdoors in a rainy city where theatres would shut down in May as soon as the sun came out. But he gradually made it work, first as a modest equity co-op doing one show (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), now with four shows each summer in two tents, big audiences, and a full range of educational and community outreach programs like Young Shakespeareans and Bard in Your Neighbourhood. He’s also slowly expanding Bard’s repertory, this year directing an adaptation of C.C. Humphrey’s novel Shakespeare’s Rebel. Gaze is excited about moving his company’s headquarters to the brand new BMO Theatre Centre in Olympic Village, which Bard will share with the Arts Club. A winter season for Bard in the new theatre seems like a good idea—but Gaze will think about it first, and then go slowly. It’s worked for him so far. .
Norman Armour, co-founding artistic and executive director & Katrina Dunn, co-founder
PuSh INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL Norman Armour practically vibrates with excitement as he shows off the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival’s new digs—8,500 square feet of offices and rehearsal halls shared with Touchstone Theatre, Music on Main, and the DOXA Film Festival at 750 Hamilton Street. “The arts have been shoved out of downtown because of the cost of real estate,” he says. “Now the Queen E and Playhouse are our neighbourhood theatres. We call it The Post at 750 because we’re hitching ourselves to the downtown.” A Toronto native, Armour came to Vancouver in the 1970s to play Frisbee, stayed to get a theatre degree at Simon Fraser, co-founded Rumble Theatre in 1990 with Chris GerrardPinker, and then co-founded PuSh in 2003 with Touchstone’s Artistic Director Katrina Dunn, a fellow SFU grad. The two shared a desire to bring work from other regions to Vancouver, “to get stuff moving around,” says
Dunn, who opted to stay with Touchstone. Armour left Rumble and became artistic and executive director of PuSh. “There was absolutely no power struggle,” Dunn insists. “It worked out quite brilliantly.” Armour has made the PuSh Festival an essential three weeks in Vancouver’s performance calendar, bringing international artists from varying disciplines together with local companies and performers in an eclectic, experimental brew. A self-professed lover of “the weird stuff,” Armour began his theatrical life doing performance art (“You could hang me upside down and have me eat a banana, and I could make sense of that.”) but he hit his stride as producer and director, recently branching out to direct City Opera Vancouver’s Pauline. Dunn has become one of the city’s premier directors while leading Touchstone toward its 40th season in 2016–2017. She also co-founded
In Tune, a development event for Canadian musicals, and won the Bra D’Or (Golden Bra) Award from Playwrights Guild of Canada for promoting the work of Canadian women playwrights. “That award really keeps me on my toes,” she laughs. “If I don’t [keep programming women’s plays,] they’ll take it away, and I’ll have to go braless.” As for Armour, his near-death experience in 2012—a massive heart attack during a PuSh performance—made him reduce his stressors. “If I’m standing at a bus stop and the bus doesn’t come, I don’t care.” But he still cares passionately about PuSh. “Katrina and I founded PuSh because we wanted to challenge ourselves, confound ourselves, create a new frame, a new audience, break down the silos. My goal is for the Festival to be synonymous with what the city is, what its roots are and what its future is.” . ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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2006 Founded
David Pay, founding artistic director
ABOUT THE ARTIST
JEREMY OKAI DAVIS
MUSIC ON MAIN When is attending a classical music concert like going to a new friend’s dinner party? When you go to a gig produced by Music on Main hosted by David Pay. Usually wearing one of his famous polyester shirts, the enthusiastic founder and artistic director of the eclectic concert series personally greets his guests, helps them get a drink and find their seat, and makes everyone feel at home. It’s an essential element of the company’s approach: “Classical, new, and genrebending music in intimate social venues where you can have a drink,” explains Pay. “When you’re comfortable, you’re going to listen better.” Pay feels lucky to have gone to public schools in North Vancouver with exceptional music programs. He played in the bands, sang in the choirs, and then specialized in classical saxophone at UBC and the University of Indiana. At 17 he went to India and studied sitar. “I got to see Ravi Shankar. But he was just the opening act. Then the really big sitar star came on.” 18
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
Back in Vancouver, Pay became an arts administrator and producer. Hanging out on Main Street he saw a lot of cool culture but no serious music. In response, he founded Music on Main in 2006, staging concerts in Heritage Hall and a weekly series in Kitsilano’s now defunct Jazz Cellar. “I thought I was filling a geographic need but realize it’s actually a need I have as a citizen: how to put the art I love onstage in a way that helps people connect with each other.” Pay is proud of presenting top-flight musicians from around the world along with local artists who want to experiment with new musical ideas. He’s excited about the company’s Modulus Festival and their composer-in-residence, Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw. And natural host that he is, he’s thrilled about showing off Music on Main’s new downtown offices along with his colleagues from the PuSh Festival, Touchstone Theatre, and DOXA. “Norman [Armour of PuSh] says if there’s a day when he’s not excited about giving a tour, fire him—and we all feel that way.” .
In the work of Jeremy Okai Davis, colour use and fidelity to his subjects make them feel alive, but without being too literal. The work feels really light at first glance, but on closer examination of text and posture, it is full of conflict, an exploration of the contrast between the shiny, smiling exterior that is frequently presented on the surface and the inner, self-conscious, status-obsessed mind state that so many of us endure beneath it all.
HOUSE
THE PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS DANCE
THEATRE
36 Ballet BC
44 Evergreen Cultural Centre
38 CatchingART Contemporary
45 Full Circle:
Ballet Theatre
First Nations Performance
39 The Dance Centre
46 Gateway Theatre
40 DanceHouse
48 Pacific Theatre 50 Shadbolt Centre for the Arts 51 Single Line Theatre 52 Studio 58 54 Surrey Civic Theatres: Surrey Arts Centre 55 Surrey Civic Theatres : Centre Stage at Surrey City Hall 57 The Cultch 58 Théâtre la Seizième 59 Touchstone Theatre 60 Vancouver TheatreSports League
MUSIC
SON ILLUMINATED
ducer Jim Smith 20 Chor Leoni Men’s Choir ds light on the 22 for Coastal Sound Music Academy nning of a season ncouver stages. “My 23 Elektra Women’s Choir m is to bring the rich24 Phoenix Chamber Choir s, range, and diversity 25 dance Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra he international 26 rld to the city of Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra ncouver,” says 28 Smith. Vancouver New Music iew it as a personal 29 Vancouver Opera llenge and hope that 30 works Vancouver Recital Society eriencing these 31 Vancouver Symphony Orchestra satisfying challenge our audiences.” 32 Vancouver Youth Choir
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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CHOR LEONI MEN’S CHOIR
BACKSTAGE MOMENTS Chor Leoni members Paul Larocque, Liam Kearns, Doug Graeb, Derek Kief, James Carter, and Keith Sinclair share a moment of laughter as they prepare for a season that roars onto Vancouver stages. “The men of Chor Leoni,” says Artistic Director Erick Lichte, “brighten the world with their presence and singing.”
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ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
MUSIC
DYNAMIC. MOVING. POWERFUL. GRACEFUL. FUN.
Chor Leoni Men’s Choir FOUNDED BY DIANE LOOMER, 1992 Chor Leoni’s vibrant upcoming season finds the renowned male choir collaborating with a who’s who of artists across several genres. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Erick Lichte, this men’s choir has become one of the busiest ensembles in the Lower Mainland, with events and concerts stretching from September to June. The season launches with At Home, held at historic Casa Mia. This formal fundraiser features the men up close and personal, singing, and serving their guests. Next, Chor Leoni’s annual Remembrance Day concert focuses on the uniting and calamitous effects of war on families. The choir is pleased to welcome rising Canadian soprano Laura Widgett for Brothers In Arms.
Opposite: Photo by Rob Trendiak. Top: Best of Bard. Photo by William Ting. Bottom: Christmas with Chor Leoni. Photo by Phil Jack.
Chor Leoni is thrilled to be working once again with playwright and director Peter Rothstein for the encore presentation of All is Calm: The Christ-
mas Truce of 1914. Hailed by Vancouver Presents as “a show of grace, beauty, and stillness, and a reminder that the true spirit of Christmas can be found in all of us—no matter the situation, no matter how small,” last year’s record-breaking run of six sold-out shows performed to over 4,000 people. This year’s fully staged a cappella work of musical theatre moves to the much larger stage of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Christmas with Chor Leoni takes favourite carols, Renaissance motets, and singalongs, adds a dash of doo-wop and barbershop, and wraps them all up in Chor Leoni’s glorious sound. March finds the “choir of lions” hosting their second annual VanMan Male Choral Summit in the amazing acoustics of the Chan Centre. The concert features singing from the area’s best male ensembles, performances by Chor Leoni’s MYVoice choir of young men, and an unforgettable finale with over 300 male voices raised in song.
AT HOME
September 30, 2015 VENUE: Casa Mia
BROTHERS IN ARMS
23rd annual Remembrance Day concerts with Laura Widgett
November 11, 2015
VENUES: West Vancouver United Church
& St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church
ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 Written and directed by Peter Rothstein
December 5, 2015
VENUE: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
CHRISTMAS WITH CHOR LEONI
Sea to Sky pays homage to the stunning landscape of Vancouver, a place where the city meets the water and the mountains meet the sky. This diverse musical program that salutes our environment with works by Lauridsen, Ešenvalds, Kodaly, and more. Then, for a hilarious fundraiser like no other, Chor Leoni Idol puts the fun back into “fundraiser” as audience members weigh in to crown the next karaoke champion.
December 18 & 19, 2015
Audience members know to expect the unexpected when Chor Leoni steps onto the Bard stage each year to close their season. Chor Leoni Mane Stage showcases the kaleidoscopic talent within the ensemble in a mix of crazy, popular, fun, memorable tunes, choreography, and costumes.
VANMAN MALE CHORAL SUMMIT: SUMMIT CONCERT
Finally, to unify this diverse season, renowned artist Tiko Kerr has created six vibrantly stunning works of art using a process he called “the musicality of seeing” that will be featured alongside each of the season’s concerts.
VENUES: St. Andrew’s-Wesley United
Church & West Vancouver United Church
VANMAN MALE CHORAL SUMMIT: MYVOICE AT THE CHAN March 12, 2016
VENUE: Chan Centre for the
Performing Arts
March 12, 2016
VENUE: Chan Centre for the
Performing Arts
SEA TO SKY
April 8 & 9, 2016 VENUES: Ryerson United Church & West
Vancouver United Church
CHOR LEONI MANE STAGE: BARD ON THE BEACH June 20 & 27, 2016
VENUE: Vanier Park, MainStage
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR PERFORMANCE TIMES.
WEB CHORLEONI.ORG
TEL. 604.263.7061
TICKETS $10-$45
CHOR LEONI
@CHORLEONI
@CHORLEONI
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MUSIC
JOYFUL. EXPRESSIVE. IMAGINATIVE. UPLIFTING. LIFE-CHANGING.
Coastal Sound Music Academy Diana Clark, artistic director Carrie Tennant, associate artistic director
FOUNDED BY DONNA OTTO, 1989
COMFORT & JOY
Featuring harpist Gillian Skinner
December 13, 2015
VENUE: Evergreen Cultural Centre TIME: 3pm & 7pm
NORTHERN LIGHTS
Featuring all the Coastal Sound choirs, small to tall
February 27th, 2016
VENUE: St. Andrew’s-Wesley
United Church
COQUITLAM SINGS! May 8, 2016
Featuring DeCoro with area community choirs VENUE: Evergreen Cultural Centre TIME: TBA
INDIEKÖR
Coastal Sound Youth Choir with The Salteens. Classical choral music meets indie rock!
June 11, 2016 VENUE: Vogue Theatre TIME: TBA
WE LIVE HERE June 12, 2016
Featuring a new choral work by George Chung VENUE: Evergreen Cultural Centre TIME: 7pm
Choirs. Re-imagined. Coastal Sound is making waves with powerful and inspiring programming that brings together a broad range of traditional choral music, songs from around the world, indie rock, and more. Led by Artistic Director Diana Clark and Associate Artistic Director Carrie Tennant, Coastal Sound Music Academy offers seven outstanding choral music education programs for singers as young as 4 years old to adults of all ages. With an award-winning and nationally celebrated Youth Choir and a professional Children’s Choir, Coastal
“Coastal Sound is a vibrant contributor to the Canadian cultural scene. Through their innovative programming, holistic approach to learning, and high standards of performance, this musical organization has earned the respect and recognition of the nation’s choral leaders and practitioners.”
Sound ensembles have earned a dynamic following over the past 26 years. Audiences have come to expect pleasant surprises at each concert: from singalongs to special guest artists to indie rock tunes complete with indie band accompaniment. Listeners delight in this fresh approach to choral music, while being moved by the passion and honesty of Coastal Sound singers. Guest harpist Gillian Skinner joins the choirs in December to celebrate the winter holidays, because nothing says “Christmas” quite like the sound of harp and angelic voices together! In the stunning St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, Northern Lights will feature ethereal and soul-stirring works. For Coquitlam’s 125th anniversary, the choirs will be collaborating with other artists and singers in the area for spirited musical celebrations, including a world premiere of a new work written especially for the occasion. With performances all over Metro Vancouver, you can be sure to find one close by. Keep in touch online for concert updates. Love to sing? Join us at Coastal Sound!
–DR. MARTA MCCARTHY, PRESIDENT, CHORAL CANADA
WEB COASTALSOUNDMUSIC.COM
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TEL. 604.552.2762
TICKETS $10–$25
COASTAL SOUND MUSIC
@COASTALSOUND
Top: Coastal Sound Children’s Choir. Photo by Don Epp Photography. Bottom: Coastal Sound Youth Choir. Photo courtesy of Coastal Sound Music Academy.
TIME: 7pm
MUSIC
INSPIRING. CREATING. EXCELLING. EXPLORING. CELEBRATING.
Elektra Women’s Choir FOUNDED BY MORNA EDMUNDSON AND DIANE LOOMER, 1987
CHEZ NOUS: CHRISTMAS WITH ELEKTRA November 28, 2015
VENUE: New Westminster Christian
Reformed Church in Burnaby TIME: 2pm
November 28, 2015
VENUE: Ryerson United Church in Vancouver TIME: 7:30pm
YOUR ONE AND ONLY LIFE: THE CHORAL MUSIC OF STEPHEN SMITH March 5, 2016
VENUE: Ryerson United Church TIME: 7:30pm
March 6, 2016
VENUE: Ryerson United Church
Top: Elektra Women’s Choir. Bottom: Co-founding Artistic Director Morna Edmundson. Photos by David Cooper.
TIME: 3pm
Elektra’s 29th season of “creating, exploring, and celebrating” brings a captivating series of three major concerts and beautiful music from the Romantic era to the present day. On November 28, Chez Nous: Christmas with Elektra is the choir’s always fresh, family friendly take on the season. We are thrilled to welcome jazz vocalist extraordinaire, the incomparable Dee Daniels, with Jodi Proznick on bass, for an unforgettable Elektra-style celebration of the season. We are also joined by the Burnaby Central Women’s Choir conducted by Carrie Taylor.
On March 5th and 6th, 2016, we celebrate the choral music of one of Vancouver’s best-loved pianists and composers, our own accompanist Dr. Stephen Smith. Your One and Only Life, named for a song by Nova Scotia’s Susan Crowe, sees Elektra together with The Vancouver Men’s Chorus and their director Willi Zwozdesky. Familiar songs, stunning compositions, and a world premiere are on the program as both choirs celebrate the arrangements and original compositions of our treasured colleague. Starting in April, we present In the Abbey Garden in Victoria and Vancouver. From Holst’s breathtaking Ave Maria for double choir to Rachmaninoff ’s Six Choruses for Women’s Voices and Brahms’ Psalm 13, experience Elektra’s foray into some of Europe’s most beautiful choral music. The artistry of our guest ensemble, the Borealis String Quartet, and Elektra’s celebrated sound combine to deliver a winning combination for audiences in two cities. Elektra Women’s Choir is known and admired around the world for beautiful, moving, and artistically vibrant performances. Join us to experience the 2015– 2016 season of outstanding music!
WEB ELEKTRA.CA
TEL. 604.739.1255
TICKETS $15–$30
ELEKTRA WOMEN’S CHOIR
@ELEKTRAYVR
IN THE ABBEY GARDEN April 30, 2016
VENUE: Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria TIME: 7:30pm
May 7, 2016
VENUE: Ryerson United Church TIME: 7:30pm
“A superb choral blend allied with wonderful musical leadership makes for unforgettable concert experiences. Elektra is truly a national treasure.” –BRAMWELL TOVEY, MUSIC DIRECTOR, VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
@ELEKTRAWOMEN
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MUSIC
AWARD-WINNING. INSPIRING. ECLECTIC. STUNNING. EXPRESSIVE.
Phoenix Chamber Choir FOUNDED BY CHAMBER CHOIR SINGERS, 1983
CHORAL MASTERPIECE: FAURÉ’S REQUIEM With the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
November 21 & 23, 2015 VENUE: Orpheum Theatre TIME: 8pm
THE SINGING HEART December 20, 2015
VENUE: Ryerson United Church TIME: 7:30pm
TO SEE A WORLD March 11, 2016
VENUE: Heritage Hall TIME: 7:30pm
THE CONSERVATIVES: BRAHMS REQUIEM April 16, 2016 VENUE: Orpheum Theatre TIME: 8pm
TELL ME YOU LOVE ME May 7, 2016
VENUE: Oakridge United Church TIME: 7:30pm
The award-winning Phoenix Chamber Choir, and our Artistic Director Graeme Langager, are proud to present Listen, our 33rd concert season. Be delighted and moved by songs that are anything but typical: we will share exquisite human expressions of life, love, joy, and longing through music.
In March, join us for To See A World. Step outside of our normal concert setting and journey with us to the four corners of the earth. More than a collection of songs from different countries, we will take you on a voyage of quest, discovery, and longing.
Phoenix’s annual Christmas concert is a must-see event, warming hearts and ringing in the season. This year, The Singing Heart includes new Christmas music and many old favourites. We also welcome a youth choir for the final inspirational piece that features a mass choir and hand bells.
The final concert of our season is Tell Me You Love Me. We will share with you the devotion, loss, playfulness, trust, and comfort that accompany the many different expressions of love, from the exuberant Voice Dance—originally written and premiered as a light and playful wedding processional—to the grief-stricken And So I Go On. This incredible concert will leave you in tears while filling you with hope. Our season will also include two collaborations with our great friends, Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. We will join them for performances of the Fauré Requiem, Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms and Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem.
“...under the direction of Graeme Langager, the Phoenicians are reinventing themselves as a flexible chamber ensemble with high standards and a particular penchant for recently written repertoire.”
Join us and experience for yourself why Phoenix Chamber Choir is one of the most celebrated amateur choirs in Canada. Listen and be inspired.
–THE VANCOUVER SUN
WEB PHOENIXCHOIR.CA
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TEL. 604.757.0389
TICKETS $0–$25
PHOENIX CHAMBER CHOIR
@PHOENIXCHOIR
Top and Bottom: Phoenix Chamber Choir at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. Photos by Vincent Chan.
With the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
MUSIC
DIVERSE. INNOVATIVE. MULTICULTURAL. VIBRANT. CANADIAN.
Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra FOUNDED BY MOSHE DENBURG, 2001
SOUNDS GLOBAL FEAT. NAOMI SATO November 6, 2015
VENUE: Highlands United Church TIME: 8pm
JUBILANT RED: THE COMPOSERS’ INTERCULTURAL KITCHEN November 14, 2015 VENUE: Pyatt Hall, VSO School of Music TIME: 8pm
NOTES FROM THE ARAXES BASIN: FESTIVAL OF MIDDLE EASTERN MUSIC February 18–28, 2016
Top: VICO with conductor Jin Zhang, 2013. Bottom: Daf and kamanche. Photos by Robin Wong.
VENUE: Vancouver & Victoria TBA
The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra (VICO) is a professional concert orchestra devoted to performing intercultural music on a grand scale. Founded in 2001, it was one of the first such ensembles in the world and is the only one of its kind in Canada. What’s “intercultural music,” you ask? It’s music that transcends boundaries: cultural, social, political, and geographical. The VICO proudly describes itself as the Canadian cultural mosaic in musical form. Violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, and clarinet share the stage with the Chinese erhu,
sanxian, pipa, zheng, sheng, and dizi; the Persian santur and kamanche; the Arabic oud; the Vietnamese dan bau; the Japanese sho, shakuhachi, and koto; and more. The VICO commissions groundbreaking composers to write for unique configurations of these instruments. Since its inception, the ensemble has developed and presented close to 50 new works. The VICO’s 2015–2016 season continues to approach diversity as a fascinating challenge and a creative call to action. The orchestra welcomes internationally acclaimed guest soloists from Japan, Turkey, Armenia, Uzbekistan, and Taiwan for a colourful programme of concerts, chamber recitals, workshops for musicians and composers, free educational presentations, and more. VICO musicians and composers will premiere a dozen new pieces, ranging from intimate chamber works to large-scale concertos. This is fusion music on a global scale— music that draws on the poetic best of many cultures to build bridges of imagination and communication between them. It strives for unity in diversity. It expresses longing for peace and understanding and offers hope for the future.
WEB VI-CO.ORG
EMAIL INFO@VI-CO.ORG
TICKETS $15–$30
VANCOUVER INTER-CULTURAL ORCHESTRA
TIME: 8pm
GOOD DAY SUNSHINE
VICO does the Beatles…and more!
April 10, 2016
VENUE: Performance Works TIME: TBA
SMOOTH AS SILK: VICO AT SOUND OF DRAGON MUSIC FESTIVAL April 22–24, 2016
VENUE: Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre TIME: TBA
“Music that sounds like Vancouver looks.” –THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT
“…hugely inspiring, and a wonderful testament to the glorious places humans can grow toward.” –AUDIENCE MEMBER
@VICORCHESTRA
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MUSIC
OUTSTANDING. ARTISTIC. EMPOWERING. DEDICATED. ENRICHING.
Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra FOUNDED BY KENNETH HSIEH, 2003
VANCOUVER METROPOLITAN ORCHESTRA OPEN HOUSE August 30, 2015
SYMPHONY AT TAIWAN FEST
September 4, 2015
VMO 13 TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON OPENING CONCERT September 13, 2015
FUNDRAISER CONCERT November 20, 2015
MOZART SCHOOL OF MUSIC CONCERTO GALA Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra (VMO) welcomes audiences to experience its vibrant and intimate performances of classical music. Since 2003, VMO has provided young musicians, who desire a steppingstone toward their professional musical careers, opportunities to develop and flourish. VMO is dedicated to the artistic, personal, and professional development of outstanding post graduate musicians, creating unique opportunities for talented young aspirants to perform with the mentorship of seasoned professionals in front of live audiences.
VANCOUVER METROPOLITAN ORCHESTRA SPRING CONCERT March 11, 2016
VANCOUVER CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL: CHERRY JAM April 2016
CLEF CONCERTO COMPETITION May 10–14, 2016
May 27, 2016
LIVE SYMPHONY PERFORMANCE August 2016
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR VENUES AND PERFORMANCE TIMES.
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TEL. 604.876.9397
Leading members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra regularly provide VMO members with sectional rehearsals and master classes. With a prime focus on young musical talents, VMO presents several young local soloists selected from a yearly open audition. For a remarkable 13th anniversary season, 2015–2016 opens with a VMO Open House at the beautiful BMO Hall at VanDusen Botanical Garden. Notable season highlights include Symphony at Taiwan Fest in September—a lively, cultural event like no other—followed by the exciting Season Opening Concert, featuring remarkable soloists Sara Davis Buechner, Monica Han, and Ryan Zhu. Join the VMO for what promises to be an unforgettable season!
SEASON FINALE CONCERT
WEB VMOCANADA.COM
Led by music director and award-winning conductor Kenneth Hsieh, who is also an internationally renowned guest conductor for orchestras around the world, VMO performs between 8 and 10 concerts annually. With a base of 58 members, the orchestra performs medium- to large-scale works that are commonly asked on professional orchestra auditions.
TICKETS $0–$30
VANCOUVER METROPOLITAN ORCHESTRA
@VMOCANADA
Top: Music Director Kenneth Hsieh. Photo by Etsuke Miyoshi. Bottom: Photo by Mayowill Photography.
February 28, 2016
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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MUSIC
CURIOUS. CREATIVE. PASSIONATE. INSPIRING. ENGAGING.
Vancouver New Music FOUNDED BY A COLLECTIVE OF VANCOUVER MUSICIANS, 1973 FALL & SPRING SOUNDWALKS
September 20 & 27, 2015 April 17 & 24, 2016 VENUE: TBA TIME: 2pm
STEVE RODEN: STRIATIONS September 25–October 22, 2015 VENUE: Canadian Music Centre TIME: Opening night, 5pm–7pm;
Exhibition, M–F 9am–5pm
VANCOUVER ELECTRONIC ENSEMBLE October 17, 2015
VENUE: Vancouver Community College Atrium TIME: 8pm
VANCOUVER NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL October 22–24, 2015 TIME: 9pm
TIM HECKER
November 28, 2015 VENUE: The Annex TIME: 8pm
ONE-PAGE SCORE PROJECT WITH THE PLASTIC ACID ORCHESTRA January 9, 22 & 23, 2016
Each year Vancouver New Music (VNM) brings an inspiring mix of local, national, and international new music artists to Vancouver. With the 2015–2016 season, Artistic Director Giorgio Magnanensi invites everyone to “listen to, move within, and think about sonic territories and ambiences that travel in ever-expanding territories of sound explorations.” Offering a concert series, festival, and free community events, the coming year is chock-full of auditory delights and sonic revelations. This year’s festival, Nomadic Streams (Oct.22–
GARTH KNOX
In November, VNM’s season revs up with four marvelous concerts at The Annex, starting with Tim Hecker’s reimagined sounds for synthesizer, computer, and guitar amplifiers (November 28). The new year brings virtuosic soloist Garth Knox back to Vancouver with a beautiful program of pieces for viola d’amore (February 13). In March, don’t miss a newly commissioned piece for piano and turntables by Nicole Lizée, featuring DJ P-Love and Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa (March 12). Finally, explore the diverse worlds of Hand Eye (April 30), a collaboration between superstar ensemble eighth blackbird and composer collective Sleeping Giant.
February 13, 2016 VENUE: The Annex TIME: 8pm
NICOLE LIZÉE, DJ P-LOVE & RACHEL KIYO IWAASA March 12, 2016 VENUE: The Annex TIME: 8pm
EIGHTH BLACKBIRD & SLEEPING GIANT (US) April 30, 2016
VENUE: The Annex TIME: 8pm
WEB NEWMUSIC.ORG
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TEL. 604.633.0861
24), explores the wide range of sounds encompassed by ambient music. Featuring music that spans from Erik Satie’s Musique d’Ameublement to Lawrence English’s dense electronic drones, the festival will present three days of concerts and talks, culminating in the closing performance of a live ‘remix’ of John Cage’s Variation IV by the FLUX Quartet in collaboration with festival artists. In advance of the festival, be sure to check out Steve Roden’s sound-art installation and a special free performance by the Vancouver Electronic Ensemble.
TICKETS $0–$35
VAN NEW MUSIC
@VANNEWMUSIC
Top: FLUX Quartet. Photo by FLUX Quartet. Bottom: Nicole Lizée. Photo by Murray Lightburn.
VENUE: VIVO Media Arts Centre
MUSIC
UNFORGETTABLE. POWERFUL. BEAUTIFUL. ENTERTAINING. STIMULATING.
Vancouver Opera FOUNDED BY VISIONARY COMMUNITY LEADERS, 1958
RIGOLETTO
By Giuseppe Verdi
September 26 & October 1, 3 & 4, 2015
VENUE: Queen Elizabeth Theatre TIME: Th & Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2pm
DARK SISTERS
By Nico Muhly Libretto by Stephen Karam
Top: Dark Sisters. Photo by Kelly & Massa Photography. Courtesy Opera Philadelphia. Bottom: Soprano Simone Osborne sings Gilda in VO’s Rigoletto. Courtesy CAMI.
November 26–28 & December 3–6 & 10–12, 2015 VENUE: Vancouver Playhouse TIME: Th–Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2pm
MADAMA BUTTERFLY By Giacomo Puccini
March 5–6 & 10–13, 2016 VENUE: Queen Elizabeth Theatre TIME: Th–Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2pm
EVITA Vancouver Opera (VO) was founded in 1958 by a group of community leaders who believed in the power of the performing arts to transform the life of a city. Fifty-six seasons later, VO continues to perform traditional, grand-scale opera, intimate works, new commissions, and family friendly musical activities in venues across Metro Vancouver. VO opens its 2015–2016 season with Giuseppe Verdi’s dark and tragic Rigoletto. Powered by irresistible melodies and heartbreaking drama, Rigoletto introduces some of opera’s most vivid characters: the cruel clown with a hidden heart,
the morally bankrupt duke, the innocent daughter, the sinister assassin, and his voluptuous sister. VO’s production will feature Vancouver’s own international star soprano, Simone Osborne. In November, VO presents the Canadian premiere of Oscar-nominated composer Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters, a thought-provoking exploration of polygamy in a renegade Mormon community. Muhly has written choral works, orchestral pieces, and three film scores, including Joshua and the Oscar-nominated The Reader. March 2016 brings Giacomo Puccini’s heartbreakingly beautiful Madama Butterfly. In Nagasaki at the turn of the 20th century, a pleasure-seeking American naval officer marries a young geisha. He is only briefly enchanted with his “Butterfly,” but she is forever committed. When he abandons her and returns years later to claim their child, Butterfly is devastated. Madama Butterfly is the perfect opera experience for firsttimers and seasoned fans alike: deeply emotional and incomparably gorgeous. VO’s 2015–2016 season closes with a treat for lovers of musical theatre: the company premiere of Evita, by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, in a full-scale production complete with full orchestra.
WEB VANCOUVEROPERA.CA
TEL. 604.683.0222
TICKETS $35-$185
VANCOUVER OPERA
Lyrics by Tim Rice Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
April 30 & May 1, 5–8, 2016 VENUE: Queen Elizabeth Theatre TIME: Th–Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2pm
“What a fantastic opera! And what a wonderful production delivered by our own Vancouver Opera!” –REVIEW VANCOUVER
“Contemporary opera is alive and thriving at Vancouver Opera.” –THE VANCOUVER SUN
“Conductor Leslie Dala mines the score’s emotional heart, and the conversational-yet-melodic duets for the two pairs of lovers merit a pocket full of hankies...If you wear mascara, make it waterproof.” –WHERE VANCOUVER
@VANCOUVEROPERA
@VANCOUVEROPERA
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MUSIC
ENGAGING. INSPIRING. INTIMATE. ILLUMINATING. EXCITING.
Vancouver Recital Society FOUNDED BY LEILA GETZ, 1980 MAXIMILIAN HORNUNG, CELLO & BENJAMIN ENGELI, PIANO September 27, 2015
JEREMY DENK, PIANO October 18, 2015
RAPHAËL SÉVÈRE, CLARINET & PAUL MONTAG, PIANO October 25, 2015
CAROLINE GOULDING, VIOLIN & WENWEN DU, PIANO November 1, 2015
ARCANTO QUARTET November 18, 2015
LEIF OVE ANDSNES, PIANO November 22, 2015
APOLLON MUSAGÈTE QUARTET November 29, 2015
ROMAN RABINOVICH, PIANO January 17, 2016
February 7 & 9, 2016
IGOR LEVIT, PIANO February 14, 2016
TETZLAFF TRIO February 21, 2016
The Vancouver Recital Society (VRS) strives to provide its audiences with intimate and inspiring experiences—the kind that happen when performers and patrons are mutually engaged in enjoying the compelling delivery of great live music. There’s a palpable feeling of connection, and it’s pure musical alchemy. A mainstay in the cultural life of Vancouver since it was founded 36 years ago, the VRS has earned a reputation around the world for innovation and excellence in programming. VRS audiences have access to renowned artists who regularly perform
RICHARD GOODE, PIANO February 28, 2016
SITKOVETSKY TRIO March 20, 2016
MARK PADMORE, TENOR & PAUL LEWIS, PIANO April 10, 2016
SCHUBERTIADE
A festival celebrating Schubert’s late works
April 12, 14 & 15, 2016
BRYN TERFEL, BASS-BARITONE May 4, 2016
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR VENUES AND TIMES.
WEB VANRECITAL.COM
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TEL. 604.602.0363
TICKETS $25–$110
on the world’s most prestigious stages. Throughout the years, the VRS has also demonstrated a track record for presenting the next generation of classical superstars before they achieve fame. Celebrated musicians who have made their Canadian and/or Vancouver debuts on the series include Cecilia Bartoli, Maxim Vengerov, Evgeny Kissin, Lang Lang, Anne Sofie von Otter, Sir András Schiff, Joshua Bell, and Bryn Terfel. The 2015–2016 season is a celebration of the very best talent the classical music world has to offer. There’s a wonderful array of artists coming to the VRS stages at the Vancouver Playhouse, the Chan Centre, and the Orpheum Theatre. The season roster includes six pianists, a cellist, a violinist, a clarinetist, two singers, four chamber ensembles, and a mini chamber music festival. As VRS audiences have come to expect, there are celebrated musical icons, such as bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, and pianists Sir András Schiff, Leif Ove Andsnes, and Richard Goode, alongside exciting emerging talents making their Canadian debuts. Our 36th season promises to be a great one,” says Artistic Director Leila Getz. “We very much hope to see you in the concert hall!”
VANCOUVER RECITAL SOCIETY
@VANRECITAL
Top: Leif Ove Andsnes. Photo by Özgür Albayrak. Bottom: Paul Lewis. Photo by Jack Liebeck.
SIR ANDRÁS SCHIFF, PIANO
MUSIC
BOLD. BRILLIANT. EXCITING. EXTRAORDINARY. WORLD-RENOWNED.
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra FOUNDED BY MRS. B.T. ROGERS, 1919 CLASSICAL HIGHLIGHTS ANGELA CHENG PLAYS BEETHOVEN October 17 & 19, 2015 FAURÉ’S REQUIEM November 21 & 23, 2015 SARAH CHANG & TCHAIKOVSKY’S SYMPHONY NO.4 December 5 & 7, 2015 THE LEGENDARY ITZHAK PERLMAN March 2, 2016 VSO SPRING FESTIVAL: WAR OF THE ROMANTICS April 8–18, 2016 JAMES EHNES IN RECITAL May 9, 2016 JOYCE YANG PLAYS MOZART May 14–16, 2016 NICOLA BENEDETTI PLAYS MOZART May 20 & 21, 2016 VSO SEASON FINALE WITH CHAD HOOPES June 11–13, 2016
Top and Bottom: Bramwell Tovey with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Photos by epixStudios.
HOLIDAY FAVOURITES
Founded in 1919, the Grammy and Juno Awardwinning Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) is one of Canada’s most active and successful performing arts institutions. The VSO, led by Music Director Bramwell Tovey, performs to an annual audience of over 260,000 people and features more than 50 celebrated guest artists each season. Performing downtown at the historic Orpheum Theatre and numerous additional venues throughout Metro Vancouver, the VSO maintains extensive education and community programs experienced
by over 50,000 children each year. These activities were significantly expanded in September 2011 with the opening of VSO School of Music—a 25,000 square foot community music school in downtown Vancouver—and in June 2015 with the opening of the VSO Orchestral Institute at Whistler.
A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS December 10–20, 2015
The 2015–2016 season marks the 97th anniversary for the VSO and promises a rich array of concerts ranging from classical, pops, kids concerts, new music, as well as an exciting lineup of special concerts including the 2016 VSO Spring Festival, which focuses on the War of the Romantics. The season also features many internationally renowned stars, such as the legendary Itzhak Perlman, Nicola Benedetti, Sarah Chang, James Ehnes, Vadim Gluzman, and Chris Hadfield.
FOR EVERY TASTE
Music means so many things to so many people all around the world: it is art, a profound expression of humanity and culture; it can evoke powerful memories and feelings, and it can be just plain fun! And in the world of music, there is nothing like hearing a full symphony orchestra playing live in concert halls like the Orpheum and the Chan Centre; no other music experience really comes close.
WEB VANCOUVERSYMPHONY.CA
TEL. 604.876.3434
TICKETS $25–$90
VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS December 18 & 19, 2015 SALUTE TO VIENNA January 1, 2016
A HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR October 30 & 31, 2015 BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY II November 7 & 8, 2015 FIFTY YEARS OF BOND…JAMES BOND November 27 & 28, 2015 CLASSICAL KIDS: GERSHWIN’S MAGIC KEY January 10, 2016 THE SOUL OF THE TANGO February 5 & 6, 2016 LUNAR NEW YEAR WITH AVAN YU February 13, 2016 THE GODFATHER LIVE March 30, 2016 ROCKET MAN WITH CHRIS HADFIELD April 1 & 2, 2016 BROADWAY ROCKS May 6 & 7, 2016
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR VENUES AND TIMES.
VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
@VSORCHESTRA
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MUSIC
CREATIVE. PASSIONATE. AUTHENTIC. ARTISTIC. THRIVING.
Vancouver Youth Choir FOUNDED BY CARRIE TENNANT, 2013
CHRISTMAS WITH THE VANCOUVER YOUTH CHOIR
Special guests: VYC Junior
December 6, 2015 VENUE: TBA TIME: 7:30pm
VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR: DYLAN THOMAS CHRISTMAS December 18, 2015
VENUE: Shaughnessy Heights
United Church TIME: 8pm
VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR: CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS December 19, 2015 United Church TIME: 8pm
I AM
Featuring the Vancouver Youth Choir and VYC Junior
April 2, 2016
VENUE: Ryerson United Church TIME: 7:30pm
JUMP!
Featuring the Vancouver Youth Choir, VYC Junior, and the debut performance of VYC Kids
The Vancouver Youth Choir (VYC) is the Lower Mainland’s newest choral ensemble for singers aged 14–23. Founded in 2013 by Carrie Tennant, the choir provides a space for advanced young singers to develop their artistry in a creative and supportive community. Members represent over eight municipalities in the Lower Mainland, including 10 different high schools and five different post-secondary institutions. From engineering students to classical voice students, and from ultimate Frisbee champions to future chefs, the singers of Vancouver Youth Choir
June 4, 2016
VENUE: Ryerson United Church TIME: 7:30pm
“…one of the most important new choral initiatives in this region during the last decade.” -JON WASHBURN, ARTISTIC AND CHAMBER CHOIR
WEB VANCOUVERYOUTHCHOIR.COM
Just entering their third season, VYC is quickly establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with in the Canadian choral community and has become known for heartfelt performances that leave audiences impressed and spellbound. This season, the Vancouver Youth Choir looks forward to three season concerts. Christmas with the Vancouver Youth Choir will feature carols old and new, as well as the debut of VYC Junior—the newest member of the Vancouver Youth Choir family of choirs. At I Am, VYC and VYC Junior will share music that reflects the various aspects of who they are—from age to generation and from geography to culture. The VYC season wraps up with Jump!, celebrating the experience of youth and childhood, and featuring a performance by our spring project choir, VYC Kids. As well, 2015–2016 marks VYC’s second season as an associate choir with the Vancouver Chamber Choir. VYC looks forward to two collaborations with the Vancouver Chamber Choir over the Christmas season. Join the VYC this season as they “sing with heart.”
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VANCOUVER
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are united by their love of the choral art form and their desire to contribute to their communities.
TEL. 604.763.5094
TICKETS $10–$25
VANCOUVER YOUTH CHOIR
@VANYOUTHCHOIR
Top and Bottom: Vancouver Youth Choir. Photos by Nikki Hoshal.
VENUE: Shaughnessy Heights
DID YOU SEE A SHOW? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK OF IT!
Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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FROM THE DESK OF JOHN FLUEVOG John finds freedom in not having a desk. He works at his studio table (or anywhere, really). Design studio moved to Gastown
[Includes those that are seen in stores, in multiple colours]
VANCOUVER ARTS GROUPS DEAR TO YOU: Pacific Theatre & Saint James Music Academy
Est.
08 1970 34
[AVERAGE TIME FROM SHOE DESIGN TO COMPLETION]
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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DANCE
CONTEMPORARY. INNOVATIVE. DISTINCTIVE. COLLABORATIVE. TRANSFORMATIVE.
Ballet BC 30
YEARS
FOUNDED BY JEAN ORR, DAVID Y.H. LUI, AND SHEILA BAGGS, 1986
BALLET BC PROGRAM 1 Choreography Stijn Celis Crystal Pite Cayetano Soto
November 5–7, 2015 VENUE: Queen Elizabeth Theatre TIME: 8pm
BALLET BC PROGRAM 2 Choreography Medhi Walerski
March 17–19, 2016 VENUE: Queen Elizabeth Theatre TIME: 8pm
BALLET BC PROGRAM 3 Choreography Jorma Elo Sharon Eyal Emily Molnar
May 12–14, 2016 VENUE: Queen Elizabeth Theatre TIME: 8pm
Choreography Edmund Stripe
December 29–31, 2015 VENUE: Queen Elizabeth Theatre TIME: T & W 7:30pm; W & Th 2pm
BALLET BC X CAG
Ballet BC teams up with Vancouver’s Contemporary Art Gallery and British visual artists John Wood and Paul Harrison for a unique, cross-disciplinary art and dance work
Ballet BC’s 2015–2016 season marks their 30th anniversary—a milestone of innovation in contemporary dance in Vancouver! Founded in 1986 and thriving under the leadership of Artistic Director Emily Molnar since 2009, Ballet BC is an internationally acclaimed, collaborative, and creation-based contemporary ballet company. Bold and innovative, Ballet BC’s distinctive style and approach make it a unique and valuable contributor to the development of dance in Canada. The company regularly performs at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre and tours
Premieres early 2016
“...where ballet is taking its next great leap.” –THE GLOBE AND MAIL
“Weightless, high-speed, and mind-blowingly difficult dance.” –THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT
WEB BALLETBC.COM
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TEL. 604.732.5003
TICKETS $30–$110
BALLET BC
nationally and internationally. Ballet BC’s season consists of three programs featuring works by highly acclaimed Canadian and international choreographers including Cayetano Soto, Medhi Walerski, Jorma Elo, and Sharon Eyal. For the holidays in December, Ballet BC presents Alberta Ballet’s spectacular retelling of The Nutcracker in an extravagant production with Tchaikovsky’s glorious musical score played live by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. “This coming year we have much to celebrate as our passionate and talented company of artists has earned accolades both at home and on the international stage. With more than 35 new works commissioned since 2009, Ballet BC is stronger than ever,” says Molnar. “As we celebrate this special milestone, we’ll be embarking on a truly collaborative season and partnering with some of Vancouver’s finest artists and arts organizations: vocal ensemble Chor Leoni in a world premiere by Stijn Celis, a Canadian premiere by Crystal Pite, and a dynamic cross-disciplinary commission with the Contemporary Art Gallery, among others. We look forward to celebrating a season of exhilarating dance with our audiences.”
@BALLETBC
@BALLETBC
Top: Artists of Ballet BC. Bottom: Dancers Rachel Meyer and Scott Fowler. Photos by Michael Slobodian.
ADD-ON PERFORMANCE: ALBERTA BALLET THE NUTCRACKER
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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DANCE
FRESH. DYNAMIC. EXCEPTIONAL. GIFTED. PROMISING.
CatchingART Contemporary Ballet Theatre FOUNDED BY ASTRID SHERMAN, 2012
THE CATCHINGART PLATFORM PERFORMANCE SERIES Choreography: Clare Guss-West (Zurich), Candice Michelle Franklin (New York), Stephana Arnold, and Astrid Sherman
November 14 & 15, 2015
VENUE: Kay Meek Centre TIME: Sat 7:30pm; Sun 4:30pm
EDUCATION WITHOUT BORDERS With Anne Mortifee
November 28, 2015 November 29, 2015 VENUE: TBA TIME: 4:30pm
EUROPEAN TOUR March 2016
PRO ARTÉ GALA
Choreography: Astrid Sherman, Stephana Arnold, Tania Brossoit, Alicia Bruce, and Kim Dixon
May 28, 2016
VENUE: Kay Meek Centre TIME: 7:30pm
“I am so proud and honoured to be involved with the group CatchingArt for their commitment in continuing to build the dreams of young artists, making it possible for them to train professionally with superb teachers and giving them the opportunity to nurture and embrace their creativity, qualities essential to sustain the future of dance in Canada!”
Dance is the expression of that for which we hope and long. It is the voice of change, calling us to address injustice in the human condition and reminding us of the beauty in our world. Now, more than ever, society seeks artists that can eloquently communicate these messages. Young Canadian dancers who aspire to become professionals can realize their dreams through the CatchingART Contemporary Ballet Theatre Aspirant Dance Company, one of the few programs of its kind. An organization committed to creating and nurturing leaders within the emerging gen-
Astrid Sherman, artistic director, is excited about working with the artists, guest choreographers, and CatchingART administration and faculty this year: “Art informs life, and as artists and educators, we have a responsibility and obligation to be a catalyst for change by using dance to make positive social comments.” And, with repertoire ranging from classical to modern, to contemporary ballet, this company will enlighten your mind, steal your heart, and make you a lover of dance forever!
–BEVERLEY BAGG, BALLET MISTRESS, ALBERTA BALLET
WEB CATCHINGART.CA
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TEL. 604.984.2783
eration of Canadian dancers, Pro Arté Centre’s CatchingART provides priceless professional learning opportunities. Students develop confidence and proficiency while building their resume performances, taking company classes with professional guest teachers, and working with various choreographers. Eight promising individuals who are committed to a career in dance are selected to be part of CatchingART each year. These young artists train more than 30 hours over six days each week toward the realization of their dream. Former members of this exceptional company are now representing the best Canadian dance talent with numerous renowned professional dance companies domestically and internationally.
TICKETS $15–$25
CATCHINGART CONTEMPORARY BALLET THEATRE
@CATCHINGARTISTS
Top: Choreographer Tania Brossoit, ARAD. Bottom: Choreographer Astrid Sherman, FISTD & Kim Dixon, BFA. All photos by Pam and Scott McFarlane.
VENUE: Kay Meek Centre TIME: 7:30pm
DANCE
INSPIRING. DIVERSE. INNOVATIVE. PASSIONATE. CONNECTED.
The Dance Centre FOUNDED BY DANCE VISIONARIES, 1986
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS GLOBAL DANCE CONNECTIONS CONTEMPORARY DANCE SERIES CO.ERASGA & PICHET KLUNCHUN DANCE COMPANY October 15–17, 2015
VENUE: Scotiabank Dance Centre
JAN MARTENS
October 29–31, 2015
VENUE: Scotiabank Dance Centre
RAVEN SPIRIT DANCE November 26–28, 2015
Top: Ziyian Kwan | dumb instrument Dance. Photo by Chris Randle. Bottom: Marta Marta Productions. Photo by Emily Cooper.
VENUE: Scotiabank Dance Centre
From cutting edge contemporary works to the rich traditions of dances from diverse cultures, The Dance Centre is dedicated to the development of the art of dance in British Columbia in all its expressions and forms. The scope of our work is unparalleled in Canadian dance, encompassing resources and programs supporting the professional development of dance creators, as well as public performances and events that inspire, stimulate, and entertain audiences. Our beautiful building, Scotiabank Dance Centre, is regarded as Canada’s flagship dance facility and is a hub of
activity, drawing thousands of people every year. In our 2015–2016 season, the Global Dance Connections series features boundary-busting contemporary dance from local and international companies. Highlights include Vancouver’s own Co.ERASGA in an exciting new collaboration with Thailand’s Pichet Klunchun; two renowned choreographers from Belgium, Jan Martens and Thierry Smits; Aakash Odedra Company from the U.K., presented in partnership with the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival; and a partnership with contemporary Aboriginal dance company Raven Spirit Dance. Dance In Vancouver, our biennial showcase of British Columbian dance, features some of our brightest local talents in a packed program of performances, studio showings, and discussions. The popular Discover Dance! noon hour series presents dance from many cultures in a fun and accessible format, with a lineup including tap, hip-hop, contemporary, flamenco, bhangra, and more; our annual Scotiabank Dance Centre Open House in September offers further opportunities to explore and experience dance.
WEB THEDANCECENTRE.CA
TEL. 604.606.6400
TICKETS $14-$45
THE DANCE CENTRE
AAKASH ODEDRA COMPANY January 19–20, 2016
VENUE: Vancouver Playhouse
COMPAGNIE THOR– THIERRY SMITS May 5–7, 2016
VENUE: Scotiabank Dance Centre
DISCOVER DANCE! NOON HOUR SERIES
September 2015–April 2016 VENUE: Scotiabank Dance Centre
DANCE IN VANCOUVER
battery opera productions, Shay Kuebler Radical System Art, Starrwind Dance Projects & Raven Spirit Dance, Ziyian Kwan: dumb instrument Dance, The Biting School, MascallDance, MACHiNENOiSY, Vanessa Goodman: Action at a Distance, Marta Marta Productions
November 18–22, 2015
VENUE: Scotiabank Dance Centre
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR PERFORMANCE TIMES.
@DANCECENTRE
@THEDANCECENTREBC
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DANCEHOUSE
SEASON ILLUMINATED Producer Jim Smith sheds light on the planning of a season for Vancouver stages. “My aim is to bring the richness, range, and diversity of the international dance world to the city of Vancouver,” says Smith. “I view it as a personal challenge and hope that experiencing these works is a satisfying challenge for our audiences.”
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DANCE
SPECTACULAR. INSPIRING. INTERNATIONAL. COSMOPOLITAN. AUDACIOUS.
DanceHouse FOUNDED BY JIM SMITH AND BARB CLAUSEN, 2008 With its 2015–2016 season, DanceHouse continues its mission to bring to Vancouver the finest dance the world has to offer. Now in its eighth year, DanceHouse has brought such luminaries as Batsheva (Israel), Cedar Lake (New York), and Compagnie Käfig (France/Brazil) to Vancouver stages.
Opposite: Photo by Rob Trendiak. Top: Bettrofenheit. Photo by Michael Slobodian. Bottom: the barbarians in love, Hofesh Shechter Company. Photo by Jake Walters.
In 2009, Hofesh Shechter wowed Vancouver audiences with his pieces Uprising and In your rooms. For the start of its new season, DanceHouse is bringing back the London-based choreographer and his company with barbarians. A trilogy, barbarian’s pieces all have a distinctive feel, while retaining Shechter’s signature seductive, intelligent, and original style, which often makes use of innovative (and sometimes bombastic) music mixes. In the opening piece, baroque music inspires a world in which dancers move with
mathematical precision and reveal Shechter’s choreography at its most elegant and intimate. The second, percussion-driven piece is a volatile explosion of dubstep and hip-hop grooves and urban choreography. The trilogy ends with a quirky duet flavoured with the unique performance styles of each dancer. barbarians premiered this summer to great acclaim at Berliner Festspiele as part of the illustrious international performing arts festival Foreign Affairs. Vancouver companies Kidd Pivot and Electric Company Theatre combine their talents for a hybrid of dance and theatre in Betroffenheit, DanceHouse’s second presentation of the season. Named after a German word used to describe a state of shock and bewilderment that follows in the wake of a disaster, Betroffenheit creates a world that is both familiar and strange, populated by a crisis-management team that ensures an emergency situation is alive and present, a trusted voice that urges coming to terms with the past, and “The Show”—a representation of all the distraction and escape we crave.
HOFESH SHECHTER COMPANY barbarians
November 13 & 14, 2015 VENUE: Vancouver Playhouse TIME: 8pm
KIDD PIVOT AND ELECTRIC COMPANY THEATRE Betroffenheit
February 26 & 27, 2016 VENUE: Vancouver Playhouse TIME: 8pm
COMPANHIA URBANA DE DANÇA ID: Entidades & Na Pista
April 1 & 2, 2016 VENUE: Vancouver Playhouse TIME: 8pm
This marks the Vancouver premiere of this collaboration between Kidd Pivot Artistic Director and choreographer Crystal Pite and Electric Company Theatre Co-artistic Director, writer, and performer Jonathon Young. Finally, Companhia Urbana de Dança will tear up the Vancouver Playhouse stage with two works that feature the Brazilian company’s high-energy fusion of hip-hop, samba, capoeira, and contemporary dance. In ID: Entidades and Na Pista, Sonia Destri Lie’s choreography inspires amazing feats from the eight dancers (seven men and one woman, all from Rio de Janeiro). Stamina-testing solos and jaw-dropping group movement defies the limits of physicality while retaining choreographic rigor. Alternately mesmerizing and rippling with adrenaline and raw energy, these two works promise to bring DanceHouse’s 2015–2016 season to a stunning close.
“This is the cutting edge, folks—proof that dance can speak powerfully to the here and now. And a cheering crowd jumped to its feet to give Shechter, and DanceHouse, a big thank you for bringing us into the international loop.” –THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT
WEB DANCEHOUSE.CA
TEL. 604.801.6225
TICKETS $35–$70
DANCEHOUSE VANCOUVER
DANCEHOUSE_VAN
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DRAMATIC DISHES
Variety in
Every Bite BY A.L. ADAMS. PHOTOS BY ROB TRENDIAK.
“IF YOU’RE GOING TO COOK FOR PEOPLE, IT’S NOT JUST TO FEED THEM, BUT ALSO TO ENTERTAIN THEM,” EXPLAINS NICO SCHUERMANS, CHEF AND PROPRIETOR OF CHAMBAR. “PERSONALITY MUST COME OUT IN EACH DISH.” ocated in a thriving performing arts district, close to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and the Vancouver Playhouse, Chambar certainly makes good on the promise of entertainment. And as for personality, Chef Nico is about to show us the dish that best expresses his multinational tastes. Fattoush is a Lebanese bread salad, and merguez is a sausage that originated in Morocco but has also become popular in Europe and the Middle East. Chef Nico, who was born in Rwanda and raised in Belgium, has a special place in his palate for both: “I grew up eating merguez in Belgium,” he remembers. “They have it at every barbecue.” Of fattoush, he notes, “Because it’s not a tossed salad, every bite is different. All of the flavours are layered on top, and there is a warmness to the salad.” Chambar’s Fattoush et Merguez combines both flavours for a hearty, dynamic meal that manages to split the difference between light and substantial. And because it’s a salad, it’s open to variations. While Nico generally favours seasonal ingredients and finishes this version of the dish with pomegranate molasses, he notes, “You can really add whatever you want to it.” .
Chef Nico Schuermans
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CHAMBAR, 568 Beatty St., Vancouver, BC V6B 2L3 www.chambar.com
YIELDS 4 SERVINGS
CHICKPEAS
YOGURT DRESSING
1 cup dried chickpeas
1 cup plain Greek yogurt (the thicker the better)
½ head garlic, finely chopped
1½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pinch dried chili flakes
1½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 pinch dried fennel seeds
¼ clove garlic, finely chopped
Juice of ½ a lemon
4 fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
Salt to taste
¼ pinch dried sumac
Soak chickpeas overnight and strain all liquid off the next day. In a medium saucepan, place all ingredients listed above and cover with 4 times the amount of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, and cook for approximately 30–45 minutes. Once the chickpeas are tender, remove from heat and allow them to sit in the cooking liquid for 1 hour before straining.
¼ pinch dried chili flakes
CARAMELIZED BEETS
FINAL PLATE
4 medium purple beets, cut into ⅛ pieces
4 merguez sausage
Juice of ½ a lemon
4 large handfuls of baby spinach, washed
1 pinch dried chili flakes
1 medium golden beet
2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
1 medium purple beet
2 pinches salt
1 medium carrot
½ pinch dried fennel seed
1 cup crisp pita chips or croutons
2 cloves garlic, chopped
20 leaves fresh mint
Preheat oven to 375 F.
4 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
Line an oven-friendly baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium-sized bowl, toss all ingredients, and then spread evenly over the baking sheet in a single layer. Cook beets for approximately 30–45 minutes, rotating them every 15 minutes. Remove from oven when tender.
Salt and pepper to taste
SPICED GOAT CHEESE ½ cup goat cheese 2 pinches dried espelette pepper Separate the goat cheese into 12 equal portions and roll into balls. Next, sprinkle with espelette pepper and place into the fridge to chill.
CHAMBAR
Grilled merguez sausage, caramelized beets, chickpea, and spinach salad, spiced goat cheese, pita, and yogurt dressing.
CHEF NIC0 SCHUERMANS
VANCOUVER, BC
FATTOUSH ET MERGUEZ
¼ pinch roasted cumin seed Salt to taste In a medium-sized mixing bowl, pour the Greek yogurt and slowly whisk in the extra-virgin olive oil. Incorporate the finely chopped garlic and mint, followed by the remaining ingredients. Season with salt to taste and balance with more.
Look for pomegranate molasses from Minerva’s Mediterranean Deli on West Broadway or from Jasmine Mediterranean Foods on Main street.
Using a mandoline, carefully julienne the beets and carrot. Cut the purple beets last, as they will stain the carrot and golden beet. In a medium-large skillet, cook the merguez sausage over medium heat. Once cooked, cut each into 4 pieces. Evenly split the baby spinach, julienne vegetables, pita chips or croutons, spiced goat cheese, chickpeas, and fresh mint leaves into four large bowls. Toss with yogurt dressing and add the merguez sausage. Finish with pomegranate molasses and season with salt and pepper to taste. PERFECT PAIRING. With its lingering spice, hops, and toffee aroma, this Belgian-style, full amber Chambar Ale pairs perfectly with the earthy beets and merguez sausage.
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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THEATRE
THEATRE. COMEDY. DANCE. MUSIC. FAMILY.
Evergreen Cultural Centre FOUNDED BY THE CITY OF COQUITLAM, 1996
THE INCOMPLEAT FOLKSINGER
The Other Guys Theatre Company
September 22–26, 2015 TIME: T–Sat 8pm; Sat 4pm
RED ROCK DINER
Arts Club Theatre Company
October 27–November 1, 2015
TIME: T–Sat 8pm; Sat 4pm; Sun 3pm
IN A BLUE MOON
Arts Club Theatre Company
January 26–30, 2016
TIME: T–Sat 8pm; Sat 4pm
4000 MILES
Arts Club Theatre Company
March 1–5, 2016
TIME: T–Sat 8pm; Sat 4pm
Touchstone Theatre
March 29–April 2, 2016 TIME: T–Sat 8pm; Sat 4pm
MOTHERLOAD
May 10–14, 2016 TIME: T–Sat 8pm; Sat 4pm
INDIE SERIES 6 GUITARS
Chase Padgett Productions
November 26–28, 2015 TIME: T–Sat 8pm
Every time you step through the doors of Evergreen’s Studio Theatre, you will experience something special. In putting together the 2015– 2016 season, we strive to create a varied and interesting experience, balancing artistic disciplines and styles and mixing the “tried and true” with the “exciting and new.” Our 19th season is jampacked with incredible performances and experiences from popular international artists to local talent showcasing their work. Our 2015–2016 Theatre Series truly has something for everybody: from Late Company, a
TIL DEATH & NO TWEED TOO TIGHT Monster Theatre
February 25–27, 2016 TIME: T–Sat 8pm
GRIM AND FISCHER Wonderheads
April 7–9, 2016 ALL PERFORMANCES HELD AT EVERGREEN CULTURAL CENTRE.
WEB EVERGREENCULTURALCENTRE.CA
Plus, you’ll encounter old friends: Lorne Elliott, Valdy and Gary Fjellgaard, Quiring Chamber Players, Norman Foote, Lisa Brokop’s The Patsy Cline Project, and so much more. There are also plenty of new discoveries to be made: two new all-female comedy cabarets, an evening of modern dance featuring Dancers Dancing and Danny Nielsen, world music group Guy Mendilow Ensemble, roots music sensation Jayme Stone, and country supertrio Belle Starr. This is only the tip of the iceberg. There’s plenty more for you to discover at Evergreen. Our intimate Studio Theatre is an ideal venue for performers and audiences to truly connect with each other. See you at the theatre!
TIME: Th–Sat 8pm
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riveting and timely drama by Canada’s most promising playwright Jordan Tannahill, to Red Rock Diner, the smash hit musical from the Arts Club Theatre Company. And don’t forget about our fantastic Indie Series of intimate productions with no bells and whistles, including the mega fringe hit 6 Guitars, the double bill of Til Death and No Tweed Too Tight, and the truly wonderful Grim and Fischer.
TEL. 604.927.6555
TICKETS $15–$45
EVERGREEN CULTURAL CENTRE
@EVERGREENARTS
Top: The cast of the Arts Club Theatre Company’s Red Rock Diner. Photo by Emily Cooper. Bottom: Evergreen Cultural Centre.
LATE COMPANY
THEATRE
CREATIVE. ECLECTIC. VIBRANT. INCLUSIVE. AUTHENTIC.
Full Circle: First Nations Performance FOUNDED BY MARGO KANE, 1992
FOR THE PLEASURE OF SEEING HER AGAIN By Michel Tremblay Translated by Linda Gaboriau
October 8–24, 2015
TALKING STICK FESTIVAL
February 18–28, 2016
COMING TO THE FIRE: INDUSTRY SERIES
Dialogue, workshops, and networking sessions: an open invitation to artists, presenters, and communities interested in programming indigenous arts
February 2016
INDIAN ACTS
Pop-up programming
YEAR-ROUND
Top: Janet Rogers and Alex Jacobs. Bottom: Git Hayetsk. All photos by Chris Randle.
Proudly located on the traditional unceded territories of the Coast Salish people, Full Circle: First Nations Performance is the premiere company in Western Canada devoted solely to developing and celebrating the Aboriginal arts. Now in its 15th year, the Talking Stick Festival is the only annual multidisciplinary Aboriginal arts festival in Turtle Island (the Aboriginal name for North America). It features over 300 artists in over 50 performances across 10 days and showcases local, national, and international performances in dance, theatre, visual arts, video and
film, music, storytelling, and any combination thereof. The festival is a gathering place for all nationalities. Don’t miss the opening gala and feast Wax Hoks En Shqalawin (Open Your Hearts) or the intertribal Celebration of Powwow Culture and Aboriginal Artisan Fair! Keep your eye on the website for Indian Acts— year-round pop-up programming that offers a platform for whatever is new and “now,” including staged readings, musical concerts, dance performances, and works in development! Committed to taking arts back into the community, Moccasin Trek: Arts on the Move! brings interactive workshops and storytelling into classrooms, gymnasiums, and community centres across British Columbia. Every year Full Circle jigs, hip-hops, powwows, and slams some poetry with over 10,000 young people. Established 13 years ago, Full Circle’s Aboriginal Ensemble Program offers an apprentice-style approach to learning that is rooted in cultural traditions and encourages artists to speak in their own “voice.” Exploring Aboriginal culture through the arts: truly what you can expect from Full Circle!
WEB FULLCIRCLE.CA
TEL. 604.683.0497
TICKETS $20-$35
FULL CIRCLE PERFORMANCE
KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Workshops, master classes, and talking circles
YEAR-ROUND
MOCCASIN TREK: ARTS ON THE MOVE!
October 2015–November 2016
ABORIGINAL ENSEMBLE PROGRAM
Professional training for emerging and established artists
YEAR-ROUND
QWUM QWUM SNOW-I-ITH (STRONG TEACHINGS) Workshops and storytelling. Community subsidized tickets program. Field trip program. Poster design and colouring contests.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR VENUES AND TIMES.
@FULLCIRCLEFNP
@TALKINGSTICKFST
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THEATRE
INSPIRING. INCLUSIVE. INNOVATIVE. EXCEPTIONAL. TRANSFORMATIVE.
Gateway Theatre FOUNDED BY RICHMOND GATEWAY THEATRE SOCIETY, 1984
PACIFIC FESTIVAL
In Cantonese with English subtitles
THE WILL TO BUILD September 3–4, 2015
VENUE: Gateway Theatre Outdoor Plaza. Free Event.
COOK YOUR LIFE & MECHAT
September 17–19, 2015 VENUE: Gateway Theatre MainStage
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE September 24–26, 2015
VENUE: Gateway Theatre MainStage
SIGNATURE SERIES FOR THE PLEASURE OF SEEING HER AGAIN VENUE: Gateway Theatre MainStage
…DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING
November 12–21, 2015 VENUE: Gateway Theatre Studio B
THE WIZARD OF OZ December 10, 2015– January 3, 2016
VENUE: Gateway Theatre MainStage
CLOSER THAN EVER
We exist to raise the quality of life in our community. And we do it through theatre.
music, drama, and moments that will take your breath away.
For over 30 years Gateway Theatre has stood for excellence. We champion artists who strive for the extraordinary. All those who search for virtuoso moments, transcendent grace, or an avalanche of laughter will have a home here. Together, we raise our quality of life by searching for what is beautiful and relevant and true.
We start our exciting season with the Pacific Festival—a showcase of world-class contemporary theatre from Hong Kong. This is a festival for everyone. All theatre lovers, regardless of what language they speak, will get a glimpse of what’s new and exciting from Hong Kong’s stages. The star-studded shows represented in this year’s Pacific Festival are filled with warmth and laughter.
This season, click your ruby red slippers together and get whisked away at the Gateway! 2015–2016 is packed full of warmth, laughter, excitement,
February 4–20, 2016
VENUE: Gateway Theatre MainStage
THE LIST.
March 10–19, 2016
VENUE: Gateway Theatre Studio B
DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER
Join us for what our Artistic Director Jovanni Sy joyfully calls, “A year of song and laughter (with a French twist).”
April 7–23, 2016
VENUE: Gateway Theatre MainStage
See you in the theatre!
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR PERFORMANCE TIMES.
WEB GATEWAYTHEATRE.COM
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The Signature Series has something for everyone—from a poignant mother-son comedy, to a delightful and sassy cabaret staring Beverley Elliott of ABC’s Once Upon a Time, a trip down the yellow brick road with Dorothy and friends, a musical for grown-ups, a searing drama about friendship and regret, and a hilariously mischievous farce that will have you laughing and crying (from laughing so much).
TEL. 604.270.1812
TICKETS $20-$48
GATEWAY THEATRE BC
@GATEWAY_THEATRE
@GATEWAY_THEATRE
Top: Crazy For You, 2014. Bottom: The Wizard of Oz. All photos by David Cooper.
October 8–24, 2015
DID YOU KNOW? A 60-minute lunch break during your work day is all you need to intimately experience BC-based dance. [THE DANCE CENTRE PRESENTS DISCOVER DANCE! NOON HOUR SERIES. SELECT NOON HOURS FROM SEPTEMBER–APRIL]
Until 1995, Théâtre la Seizième was known as “Troupe de la Seizième.” The company’s first production brought 15 women together onstage, in addition to the company’s first artistic director, Catherine Colvey. The theatre was naturally named “la seizième” (the sixteenth person).
[SEE THÉÂTRE LA SEIZIÈME’S 2015-2016 SEASON ON PAGE 58]
20 years. 4,000 performances. 400,000 tickets. [SHADBOLT CENTRE FOR THE ARTS TURNS 20 THIS 2015–2016 SEASON]
Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra will feature Middle Eastern instruments this season, such as the kemençe, a Turkish string instrument that looks like a lute but is played with a bow. [VICO presents Notes from the Araxes Basin: Festival of Middle Eastern Music Feb. 18–28]
DARK SISTERS COMPOSER NICO MUHLY HAS ALSO WRITTEN MUSIC FOR NUMEROUS FILMS, INCLUDING THE OSCAR-NOMINATED THE READER. [Vancouver Opera presents Dark Sisters Nov. 26–Dec. 12]
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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PACIFIC THEATRE
COLOURFUL ENSEMBLE From left, Ron Reed (Wit), Kaitlin Williams (Common Grace), Kathy Parsons (A Good Mother), Shauna Johannesen (Common Grace), Peter Church (A Christmas Carol: On the Air), Robert Salvador (Common Grace), and Pippa Johnstone (Gruesome Playground Injuries) all pitch in to enliven the stage where they star this season.
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THEATRE
INTIMATE. REAL. THOUGHT-PROVOKING. CONVERSATION-INDUCING. SOULFUL.
Pacific Theatre FOUNDED BY RON REED, 1984
Opposite: Photo by Rob Trendiak. Top: Kenton Klassen, Pippa Johnstone, Andrew Wheeler, and Ryan Scramstad in The Rainmaker. Photo by Emily Cooper. Bottom: Peter Carlone and John Voth in The Foreigner. Photo by Ron Reed.
Welcome to another season of vivid and memorable stories at Pacific Theatre! When we ask our audiences what they love most about our shows, there’s one thing we always hear about: the conversations they spark. So, we’re wondering if you’re looking for something new to talk about this year? This season we invite you into a wide range of stories that will provide no shortage of things to discuss. From the audacious forgiveness of a school shooter to the potentially lifesaving power of a friendship to the question of whether a good mother always does what is right, we have crafted a season that will bring you through a wealth of new experiences. The season opens with hilarious 1940s-era bluegrass musical Smoke on the Mountain, in which a young, new pastor tries to drag his congregation into the “modern era” by adding electricity and
music to their services. Following on its heels is The Amish Project, a compelling one-woman show reflecting on the 2006 incident in which the Amish of forgave the man who walked into their schoolhouse and shot 10 girls. We’ll celebrate the holidays by transplanting the beloved holiday tale A Christmas Carol to a 1940s live radio broadcast. The new year will bring us to an Abbotsford kitchen where a prodigal daughter must return home and confront her past, along with a few hidden bottles of wine, in the world premiere of Leo Award-winning Shauna Johannesen’s new play Common Grace. Next up is Gruesome Playground Injuries, tracking a 30-year friendship between a corrosive masochist and an accident-prone daredevil that just might save them both. Finally, the season closes with the Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece Wit, a poignant and exquisitely written story of poetry, medicine, and unwitting redemption. Of course, that’s just the Mainstage Series. Our Artistic Director’s Series features a script-in-hand staging of A Good Mother, a brand new story about motherhood set in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, as well as a round of laugh out loud improv comedy in Sideshow. In putting together every season, Artistic Director Ron Reed attempts to touch on as many different lives as possible. “One of the reasons I go to theatre is so that I can experience the stories that, for a couple of hours, lift me out of the familiarities of my day-to-day life and set me down in the lives of people whose worlds are radically different from mine,” says Reed, “and then get surprised by how similar we can be.” Join us this year and find out just how different and similar you are to these people you might have considered strangers, and then have a hearty debate about it on the car ride home. The best way to get in on the action? Subscribe! Subscribers get a host of exclusive benefits such as free ticket exchanges. Some shows sell out before they even open —subscribers don’t miss out.
WEB PACIFICTHEATRE.ORG
TEL. 604.731.5518
TICKETS $22.99-$29.99
PACIFIC THEATRE
MAINSTAGE SERIES SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN
Book by Connie Wray. Conceived by Alan Bailey. Musical arrangements by Mike Craver and Mark Hardwick.
October 10–November 1, 2015
THE AMISH PROJECT By Sarah Dickey
November 6–21, 2015
A CHRISTMAS CAROL: ON THE AIR By Peter Church
December 5, 2015–January 2, 2016
CHRISTMAS PRESENCE December 13–15, 20 & 21, 2015
COMMON GRACE
By Shauna Johannesen
January 29–February 13, 2016
GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES By Rajiv Joseph
April 1–16, 2016
WIT
By Margaret Edson
May 20–June 11, 2016
THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S SERIES A GOOD MOTHER By Kathy Parsons
April 20–23, 2016
SIDESHOW
April 29 & 30, 2016 ALL PERFORMANCES TAKE PLACE AT PACIFIC THEATRE. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR SHOW TIMES.
@PACIFICTHEATRE
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THEATRE
OUTSTANDING. REFRESHING. CAPTIVATING. INNOVATIVE. PROVOCATIVE.
Shadbolt Centre for the Arts FOUNDED BY THE CITY OF BURNABY, 1995 LIVE AT THE ‘BOLT: 20 September 17 & 18, 2015
TOWN CRIERS
September 25 & 26, 2015
SLIPPAGE
October 1–3, 2015
6 GUITARS
October 23 & 24, 2015
I AM THE BASTARD DAUGHTER OF ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK November 4–8, 2015
RED ROCK DINER
November 9 & 10, 2015
SANGJA
November 19–21, 2015
PORNO DEATH CULT November 25–28, 2015
JARVIS CHURCH December 10, 2015
January 11 & 12, 2016
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON? SORRY. January 30, 2016
INSIDE/OUT
February 3–6, 2016
MG3/CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO February 12, 2016
LA BOHÈME
February 20, 22, 24, 25 & 27, 2016
TO COLOUR THOUGHT March 2–5, 2016
There’s celebration in the air at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts! The numbers tell the story: 20 years, 4,000 performances, 400,000 tickets. One big “thank you” to all our loyal patrons. We couldn’t have done it without you. And we’re just getting started! Since 1995, the award-winning Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, located in Burnaby’s beautiful Deer Lake Park, has offered year-round arts classes, performances, festivals, exhibitions, and special events, bringing close to 300,000 people to the Centre annually.
4000 MILES
March 10 & 11, 2016
CAROL WELSMAN April 8, 2016
This season, we have 20 new reasons to love live performance. Whether you’re a music lover, a theatre fan, or a dance maven, we have something for you in our 20th anniversary season. From La Bohème to Jarvis Church and Ballet BC to Tara Cheyenne Performance, it’s all waiting for you to experience.
April 20–23, 2016
THREE LECTURES ON THE NORTH May 18–21, 2016
LIVE AT THE ‘BOLT: SMALL STAGE WITH BALLET BC June 23–25, 2016
ALL PERFORMANCES TAKE PLACE AT SHADBOLT CENTRE FOR THE ARTS. WEB SHADBOLTCENTRE.COM
Looking for a venue for your special event? The Shadbolt offers world-class facilities in an idyllic surrounding perfect for everything from small gatherings to the wedding of your dreams. But there’s more.
TIES THAT BIND
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We host a vibrant and busy Artist-in-Residence program that has mentored hundreds of artists and has produced over 30 world premieres that have toured nationally and internationally. The Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival in Deer Lake Park has become a beloved signature event over the past 16 years, and we have partnered with Live Nation Canada for the past 10 years to bring you Summer Concerts in Deer Lake Park, with artists as diverse as Michael Bublé, Björk, and The Tragically Hip.
There’s a party at the ‘Bolt, and you’re all invited!
TEL. 604.205.3000
TICKETS $10–$49
SHADBOLT CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
@SHADBOLT CENTRE
Top: Photography by Derek Stevens Photography. Bottom: Photo by Pierre La Rue.
IN A BLUE MOON
THEATRE
REFRESHING. FORWARD. VIBRANT. DARING. PASSIONATE.
Single Line Theatre FOUNDED BY SINZIANA COROZEL AND DARRYL AHYE, 2014
THE SLEEPING REGIME Workshop performance. Created by Katherine Krampol.
WINTER 2015
MATA HARI
World premiere. Created by Rachel Peake and Sinziana Corozel. Directed by Rachel Peake.
APRIL 1–10, 2016
TIME: April 1–9 8pm; April 3 & 10 2pm VENUE: Studio 16
OLD CLOWN WANTED
Top: Sinziana Corozel as MATA HARI. Photo by Emily Cooper. Bottom: Al Dales and Raresh Dimofte, Old Clown Wanted. Photo by Darryl Ahye.
Film adaptation from theatre. Written by Matei Visniec. Directed by Sinziana Corozel.
SUMMER 2016
VOICE AND MOVEMENT ACTOR TRAINING Single Line Theatre is an independent, nonprofit, forward-thinking arts organization that found its niche at the intersection of theatre and film. Our inaugural production of The Body of a Woman as a Battlefield in the Bosnian War was presented last year at The Cultch as part of the Fringe’s Dramatic Works Series. This year, we produced the pilot episode of Hunt for Joy —a TV/Web drama series directed by co-founder Darryl Ahye, now airing on Telus Optik TV On Demand.
This season, we are thrilled to bring you MATA HARI—a nonlinear, narrative-based physical theatre piece examining identity and sexuality through the prism of Mata Hari’s iconic life. Created by prolific Vancouver-based director Rachel Peake and Lecoq-trained performer Sinziana Corozel, MATA HARI employs techniques of physical theatre and dance theatre, in which stakes and passions pass through movement and the necessity of text springs from the body. Next, we are embarking on a most ambitious endeavour: adapting Matei Visniec’s acclaimed stage play Old Clown Wanted into our first feature-length art film. Old Clown Wanted is the tale of three clowns waiting their turn to fame in a run-down audition room. Hilarious, heartbreaking, and often absurd, this film adaptation exposes the generational cycle of life and human nature in all its peculiarity. We’ve partnered with Vancouver’s voice pedagogue Mark Downey to offer unique actor training opportunities throughout the year. Our Voice and Movement Intensive is informed by Jacques Lecoq and Patsy Rodenburg’s pedagogy, and is designed for actors and performers of all disciplines.
WEB SINGLELINETHEATRE.COM
TEL. 604.670.7796
TICKETS $20–$30
SINGLE LINE THEATRE
With Mark Downey and Sinziana Corozel. Rodenburg and Lecoq Weekend Intensives.
YEAR-ROUND
VENUE: PAL Studio Theatre
“At once poetic, harrowing, compelling, and horrifying.” –PLANK MAGAZINE
“A serious, professional take on an important subject.” –BEYOND YVR
“Amazing performance! Profoundly touching work! I look forward to seeing more shows from your company.” –PATRON
@SINGLELINECO
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STUDIO 58
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Studio 58 reaches a five decade milestone of remarkable theatre training for future professionals. Theatre students Lucy McNulty, Zack Currie, Bronwyn Carradine, Sean Sonier, Conor Stinson O’Gorman, Amanda Testini, and Lillian DoucetRoche prepare with Artistic Director Kathryn Shaw for a celebratory 50th anniversary season.
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THEATRE
DYNAMIC. INSPIRING. CHALLENGING. FULFILLING. COMMUNITY.
Studio 58 50
YEARS
FOUNDED BY ANTONY HOLLAND, 1965 From humble beginnings housed in a portable behind Vancouver Community College’s King Edward Campus in 1965 to one of the top professional theatre training programs in the country, Studio 58 has come a long way. Led by two dynamic artistic directors in its fifty year history, the program was founded by Antony Holland (Order of Canada). In 1985, Kathryn Shaw (Sam Payne Award, GVPTA Career Achievement Award, ACCC Bronze Medal for Excellence in Teaching, BC Entertainment Hall of Fame) took the reigns and built it into the remarkable program we know today.
performing arts. The Production Program is a two-year, full-time course for those who want a career in the technical side.
With two complimentary streams inside one exciting program, Studio 58 offers a choice for future professionals. The Acting Program is a threeyear, full-time course for those who want a career as a professional actor in theatre and the other
The Studio 58 family extends far and wide, spans five decades, and includes hundreds of students who have trained there. The talented, disciplined, and experienced Studio 58 alumni are part of the community of professionals we see in the performing arts today. More than 90 percent of graduates find professional work in the theatre or the related arts within six months of graduating.
Opposite: Photo by Rob Trendiak. Top: Oklahoma!, 2015. Bottom: Innocence Lost, 2014. Photos by David Cooper.
With an additional year of training after Studio 58’s Acting Program, Langara College is pleased to offer the Bachelor of Performing Arts (B.P.A.) in conjunction with Capilano College and Douglas College. Nowhere else in the country have three academic arts institutions partnered to offer a cross-disciplinary performing arts degree that has, at its heart, a commitment to collaboration and self-generation—elements which are crucial to young artists’ future success.
TEL. 604.323.5227
TICKETS $10-$27.75
In association with Chop Theatre
OCTOBER 1–18, 2015 VENUE: Studio 58, Langara College TIME: T–Sat 8pm; Sat & Sun 3pm
FLEE
Produced by Electric Company Theatre and Studio 58
NOVEMBER 26– DECEMBER 6, 2015 VENUE: The Fox Cabaret TIME: TBA
FOURPLAY: NEW WORK BY EXCITED WRITERS February 3–14, 2016
VENUE: Studio 58, Langara College TIME: T–Sat 8pm; Sat & Sun 3pm
Studio 58 grads can be seen working coast to coast for organizations such as Belfry, Arts Club, Bard on the Beach, Théâtre la Seizième, Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Citadel, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Soulpepper, Canadian Stage, Centaur, and Mermaid Theatre, to name a few. They appear in countless films and commercials globally. They create independent film and theatre companies; write plays, screenplays, and television shows; design lights, costumes, videos, and sets; stage manage at theatres across Canada; and tour internationally.
THE CROWD
The school operates its own theatre and presents four full-length and two indie-style productions annually. Professional directors and designers are hired to work on each production.
Presented with AnimalParts
As The Georgia Straight observed, Studio 58 is the “Best Place to Catch Great Big Shows Cheap.” Beyond the price, the quality and talent on display is so often the talk of the town and was nominated this year for a Jessie award by a panel of local critics. Watching the artistic risk-taking at the school is always exciting and inspiring. Catch the stars of tomorrow at Studio 58 today.
WEB STUDIO58.CA
ROMEO AND JULIET REIMAGINED
STUDIO 58 LANGARA COLLEGE
By George F. Walker. In association with Green Thumb Theatre.
March 17–April 3, 2016 VENUE: Studio 58, Langara College TIME: T–Sat 8pm; Sat & Sun 3pm
RISKY NIGHTS SERIES
Sponsored by the Jane Heyman Fund for Creative Collaboration
MADAME BOVARY November 30– December 6, 2015
VENUE: Studio 58, Langara College TIME: T–Sat 8:15 pm; Sun 3:15pm
RISKY NIGHTS #2 Directed by Studio 58 alumnus Sharon Bajer
March 29–April 3, 2016 VENUE: Studio 58, Langara College TIME: T–Sat 8:15 pm; Sun 3:15pm
@STUDIO58THEATRE
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THEATRE
SOCIAL. ENTERTAINING. FRIENDLY. EXPRESSIVE. FUN.
Surrey Civic Theatres: Surrey Arts Centre FOUNDED BY THE CITY OF SURREY, 1967 CLASSICAL COFFEE CONCERTS Six concerts, various dates TIME: Thursday mornings
RED ROCK DINER
Arts Club Theatre Company
October 14–24, 2015
LISA BROKOP: THE PATSY CLINE PROJECT November 7, 2015
VANCOUVER WELSH MEN’S CHOIR: SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS December 8, 2015
IN A BLUE MOON
Arts Club Theatre Company
January 13–23, 2016
SEEDS
NASHVILLE HURRICANE February 6, 2016
JOHN MANN IN CONCERT: THE WAITING ROOM February 13, 2016
4000 MILES
Arts Club Theatre Company
February 17–27, 2016
BOO!
Welcome to the Surrey Spectacular Series, a full season of exciting performances in the fastest growing, most dynamic city in the region. Theatre buffs live everywhere, not just in Vancouver. Our mission is to entertain you close to home! We are known for our friendly staff—you’ll feel comfortable and welcome at every visit. And with many individual preferences and tastes to satisfy, we put the spice in our season with a rich, eclectic menu of captivating performances with a broad appeal. Share the theatre experience with your friends and family—it’s the number one reason
February 28, 2016
I AM WOMAN! HEAR ME LAFF! March 9, 2016
The Main Stage handles the big shows at the Surrey Arts Centre. It’s the longest stop on the Arts Club On Tour itinerary, with the curtain rising on three productions each season. Kicking off with Red Rock Diner in October, this series extends into the new year with Lucia Frangione’s stunning new play In A Blue Moon and wraps up with the hilarious and touching 4000 Miles, starring Nicola Cavendish. Another season highlight is Porte Parole’s production of SEEDS. Why on earth would a huge multinational company like Monsanto sue an ordinary Saskatchewan farmer? Eric Peterson, known for Street Legal and Corner Gas, stars as the wily farmer who fought back against the infamous biotech corporation.
PETER N’ CHRIS: THE MYSTERY OF THE HUNGRY HEART MOTEL
Some of our shows are small and perfectly suited to the intimate space of the Studio Theatre. Music, theatre, comedy, and dance—everything is up close and personal in this ‘black box’ space.
ALL PERFORMANCES HELD AT THE SURREY ARTS CENTRE. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR SHOW TIMES.
Come see for yourself—you’ll be in good company. More than 12,000 patrons attend our shows each season, but we still have lots of room for you!
March 17–19, 2016
WEB SURREY.CA/THEATRE
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people enjoy attending so much!
TEL. 604.501.5566
TICKETS $25–$52
SURREY ARTS CENTRE
@SURREYARTSCTRE
Top: It’s Fun To Go Out! Photo by Glen Chua. Bottom: Scene from SEEDS. Photo by Maxime Côté.
January 28 & 29, 2016
THEATRE
ENTERTAINING. COMPELLING. INVITING. INTIMATE. INSPIRING.
Surrey Civic Theatres: Centre Stage at Surrey City Hall FOUNDED BY THE CITY OF SURREY, 2014
PECHAKUCHA SERIES VOLUME 4: HEALTHY SURREY September 24, 2015 Top: Presentation by Operative Agency (Bryan Lemos Beça and Steve DiPasquale) for The Space of Difference artwork at UrbanScreen, PechaKucha Night Surrey Vol. 1: Public Art. Photo by Edward Westerhuis. Bottom: Joëlle Rabu.
VENUE: Centre Stage at
Surrey City Hall TIME: Live music, 6:30pm;
Presentations, 7pm
BEVERLEY ELLIOTT …DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING October 17, 2015
VENUE: Centre Stage at
Surrey City Hall TIME: 8pm
THE NAUTICAL MILES November 5, 2015
VENUE: Centre Stage at
Surrey City Hall TIME: 8pm
Centre Stage at Surrey City Hall is the newest member of the Surrey Civic Theatres family. Serving as Council Chambers every second Monday and as a performance space the rest of the year, this innovative 200-seat venue has an unexpected intimacy, astounding acoustics, and is conveniently located beside the Surrey Central SkyTrain station. The new season opens with the first of four interesting and energetic presentations in the popular PechaKucha Surrey series. These evenings start with live music followed by the engaging
20x20 format that makes PechaKucha (Japanese for chit chat) what it is. Feed your head! On to the music, magic, and powerhouse voices of the new season! You won’t want to miss Beverley Elliott (Granny on the hit TV series Once Upon a Time) in …didn’t see that coming this fall, and Joëlle Rabu’s spine-tingling stage presence in Piaf & so much more will leave you spellbound. Local favourites The Nautical Miles bring it with a seven-piece band complete with rhythm section and horns. Vitaly Beckman’s An Evening of Wonders will restore your belief in the impossible with mind-bending magic for the whole family. All of these shows are part of the Surrey Spectacular series. With state of the art sound, lighting, audio-visual equipment, and the experienced staff from the Surrey Arts Centre, Centre Stage is perfect for film screenings, live music, theatre, and dance performances, as well as meetings, conferences, and seminars. This unique venue is also available for community presentations and events. Clearly, this is not your typical City Hall.
VITALY: AN EVENING OF WONDERS Feburary 20, 2016
VENUE: Centre Stage at
Surrey City Hall TIME: 8pm
PIAF & SO MUCH MORE: JOËLLE RABU IN CONCERT March 12, 2016
VENUE: Centre Stage at
Surrey City Hall TIME: 8pm
“Amazing acoustics.”-PATRON “Leg room enough to keep the tallest folks happy.” -PATRON
“An unexpected jewel.” -PATRON
WEB SURREY.CA/THEATRE
TEL. 604.501.5566
TICKETS $10–$28
SURREY ARTS CENTRE
@SURREYARTSCTRE
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TAG.YOU’RE IT.
And in our version of the timeless chasing game, this is great news. We start by complimenting a member of the Vancouver performing arts community who, in turn, must write kind things about another community member. On and on it shall go throughout each issue of Artslandia to ensure that plenty of positivity is generated. And there’s only one rule: if you’ve been tagged, we can’t tell you who’s responsible. You’ll find out for the first time right here in print.
KATRINA KETCHUM ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER
EMILY MOLNAR OMER ARBEL CREATIVE DIRECTOR, BOCCI
ERICK LICHTE When you meet someone who is changing the world, you absolutely know it. Erick Lichte is one of these people. Dedicated to the artistic excellence of Chor Leoni and to the choir’s community spirit, Erick’s character and his deep passion for chorale music are magnetic. A vocal genius, a brilliant artistic director, and an articulate conversationalist, both on and off the stage. Not only is he a great collaborator (with a fantastic sense of humour), but he’s also a positive instigator and risk-taker. He truly thinks big, bold, and brave.
It is not an unusual feat for international designer and Creative Director of Bocci, Omer Arbel, to think outside the box; it is his daily practice. This daring creative force has a uniquely multidisciplinary voice that intimately combines the fields of industrial design, architecture, manufacturing, and materials research into a poetic experience. Dreamer, collaborator, instigator, excavator...Omer is a deeply reflective and committed artist whose inventions provoke the impossible toward the sublime. He is a remarkable human being who is gifting our local and global city with provocative acts of the imagination.
ERICK LICHTE EMILY MOLNAR
OMER ARBEL AVAN YU
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CHOR LEONI MEN’S CHOIR
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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, BALLET BC
PIANIST
Dancers. To me they always seem like they came from some other planet— one populated with creatures of the impossible poise, limitless grace, unending strength, and absurdly hot bodies. I usually feel very awkward and inadequate in their presence. But not Ballet BC’s Emily Molnar. Of course, she is a woman of great poise, grace, and beauty, but she is also an impassioned empathizer, a boulder of conviction about her art, and a faithful lover of the community in which she works. She is excitable and exciting, independent and collaborative, relieves my awkwardness, and makes me happy that I, like her, am an artist.
I saw Avan perform for the first time when he was a teenager, in Vancouver, at an intimate gathering of friends. I remember being completely blown away by the wildness he brought to the music, the speed and flickering of his hands, almost dripping with light, and above all the way he was able to imbue so much emotion into the music. I remember perceiving (or thinking I was perceiving) the raw, powerful emotion we can only have in our teens, expressed through perfect technique, and contrasting with the rigorous order of classical music. The juxtaposition was a sublime experience. Since then I’ve followed Avan, and his performances have gotten better, richer,
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
stronger…always with a similar powerful juxtaposition between the emotions of the pianist and the rigors of the music.
AVAN YU DALE BARLTROP VIOLINIST AND CONCERTMASTER, VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Can a person be a master of all trades? Yes, if one is Dale Barltrop. Besides inspiring his colleagues with his wonderful musicianship, he is also a consummate chamber musician (member of several chamber ensembles) and a fearless soloist (fantastic recent performances of the Violin Concertos of Britten and Bartok with the VSO, for example). Did I mention he also teaches? Perhaps we need to bring in other versions of him from alternate universes just so that he can do more of everything.
DALE BARLTROP JODI PROZNICK JAZZ BASSIST, COMPOSER, AND EDUCATOR
Jodi Proznick, award-winning jazz bassist extraordinaire, is a rare gem in the Vancouver musical community. She combines wicked technique and versatility on the bass with a personality that is utterly irresistible. Jodi is one of those people who instantly inspire you to be a better person. I am a huge admirer of her work, her playing, and perhaps most of all, her outlook. I think she is a very special person with boundless positivity and energy, whether she is performing onstage, in the classroom or out in the community. .
THEATRE
INTIMATE. INNOVATIVE. ENGAGING. DIVERSE. CONTEMPORARY.
The Cultch FOUNDED BY CHRISTOPHER WOOTTEN, 1973
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS A SIMPLE SPACE Gravity and Other Myths
October 13–24, 2015 VENUE: York Theatre
NIRBHAYA
Assembly/Riverside Studios in partnership with Diwali Fest
November 3–14, 2015 VENUE: York Theatre
THE DAISY THEATRE Ronnie Burkett
December 1–20, 2015 VENUE: Historic Theatre
Top: The Daisy Theatre. Photo by Alejandro Santiago. Bottom: Winners and Losers. Marcus Youssef and James Long. Photo by Pavel Antonov.
HANSEL AND GRETEL: AN EAST VAN PANTO Theatre Replacement
December 2, 2015– January 3, 2016 VENUE: York Theatre
For over four decades, The Cultch has offered dynamic programming in theatre, dance, and music by local, national, and international artists. We’re so much more than just a theatre in the physical sense; we’re looked upon as one of the foremost performing arts presenters in the province. Along with the Historic Theatre and Vancity Culture Lab, we also operate the York Theatre—a 100-year-old, fully renovated historical jewel. Highlights of our 2015–2016 season include A Simple Space, the international circus hit from Australia; Nirbhaya, one of the most important
theatrical works currently touring the world; the third edition of the holiday hit An East Van Panto, this time with a weird and wonderful take on Hansel and Gretel; the third return of Ronnie Burkett’s The Daisy Theatre; and BigMouth, the sellout hit of the Edinburgh Fringe from one of Europe’s hottest theatre companies. In addition to seven other local theatre company productions, we will also present three plays from Neworld Theatre (including off-Broadway hit Winners and Losers) in recognition of the venerable theatre company’s long-standing partnership with The Cultch. Celebrating its 20th anniversary season, Neworld Theatre is one of Vancouver’s leading independent theatre/performance companies and an integral part of a collaborative community that has evolved in Vancouver. “East Van and The Cultch are our neighborhood… where we, and the majority of our audience, live and call home,” says Neworld Artistic Director Marcus Youssef. With 19 explosively entertaining productions, this season will keep our venues—the Historic Theatre, the Vancity Culture Lab, and the York Theatre—buzzing with live performance all year long!
WEB THECULTCH.COM / NEWORLDTHEATRE.COM
TEL. 604.251.1363
TICKETS $20-UP
THE CULTCH
BIGMOUTH
SKaGeN and Richard Jordan Productions
February 11–21, 2016 VENUE: York Theatre
LEFTOVERS
Neworld Theatre Presented with the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival
January 26–30, 2016 VENUE : York Theatre
WINNERS & LOSERS
Theatre Replacement/Neworld Theatre
February 16–27, 2016 VENUE: Historic Theatre
DOOST
Neworld Theatre
March 22–26, 2016 VENUE : Historic Theatre
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR PERFORMANCE TIMES.
@THECULTCH
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THEATRE
ENGAGING. PASSIONATE. ENTERTAINING. THOUGHT-PROVOKING.
Théâtre la Seizième FOUNDED BY A GROUP OF SIXTEEN WOMEN, 1974
DEUX ANS DE VOTRE VIE Written by Rébecca Déraspe. Produced by Théâtre la Seizième.
OCTOBER 13–24, 2015 VENUE: Studio 16 TIME: T–Sat 8pm;
English surtitles, T, Th & Sat
LAPIN BLANC, LAPIN ROUGE
Written by Nassim Soleimanpour. Translated by Paul Lefebvre. Produced by Théâtre la Seizième.
JANUARY 26–30, 2016 VENUE: Studio 16 TIME: T–Sat 8pm;
English surtitles, T, Th & Sat
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FEBRUARY 11–21, 2016 FEBRUARY 21, 2016 French Performance
VENUE: Goldcorp Centre for the Arts TIME: T–Sun 7:30pm
TU TE SOUVIENDRAS DE MOI
Written by François Archambault. Produced by Théâtre de la Manufacture.
MARCH 8–12, 2016 VENUE: Studio 16 TIME: T–Sat 8pm;
Founded in 1974, Théâtre la Seizième brings some of the most exciting Canadian French plays to Vancouver every year. Your French isn’t parfait? It’s not a reason to miss out on its award-winning shows. There are English surtitles on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Bienvenue to a whole new world of theatre! Our 2015–2016 season starts with Deux ans de votre vie by Rebecca Déraspe. Part romance, part comedy, part drama, this quirky tale takes an honest deep look at our unquenchable thirst for love in a society where the satisfaction of every
English surtitles, T, Th & Sat
TEL. 604.736.2616
On the occasion of SFU’s 50th anniversary, we are co-presenting with SFU Woodward’s 887, the latest creation by Robert Lepage, one of Canada’s most significant interdisciplinary theatre artists. Inspired by Lepage’s childhood recollections, 887 questions the relevance of memory in this digital era.
Come discover Vancouver’s French twist on theatre. On vous attend!
–VANCITYBUZZ.COM
WEB SEIZIEME.CA
In January, we will produce Lapin Blanc, Lapin Rouge by Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour. This thought provoking and unpredictable monologue is performed each night by a different actor discovering the content of the script at the same time as the audience does. From there, you’re up for a wild ride that will bring you to explore the borders of conformism and liberty.
Théâtre la Seizième’s 41st season comes to a close with Tu te souviendras de moi, a play on memory and loss by hit playwright François Archambault. Playing a charismatic history professor battling Alzheimer’s, Guy Nadon gives a moving and unforgettable acting performance.
“The set was gorgeous. Absolutely breathtaking, and a great use of the limited space inside Studio 16. The actors were all on-par, sharing the stage while shining in their own unique moments.”
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need has a price.
TICKETS $21–$69
SEIZIEME
@SEIZIEME
Top: Robert Lepage in 887. Photo by Eric Labbé. Bottom: À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou. Photo by Emily Cooper.
Created by Robert Lepage. Produced by Ex Machina. Presented with SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs.
THEATRE
PROVOCATIVE. DYNAMIC. ESSENTIAL. CATCHY. CANADIAN.
Touchstone Theatre 40
YEARS
FOUNDED BY A GROUP OF UBC THEATRE GRADUATES, 1975
Top: Late Company, Gerry Mackay and Katharine Venour. Photo by Tim Matheson. Bottom: The Best Laid Plans: a Musical, Nick Fontaine and Andrew Wheeler. Photo by David Cooper. Background Photo: Courtesy of The City of Ottawa.
THE BEST LAID PLANS: A MUSICAL
Based on the novel by Terry Fallis. Book by Vern Thiessen. Music and lyrics by Benjamin Elliott and Anton Lipovetsky. Co-produced with Patrick Street Productions.
September 17–October 3, 2015 VENUE: York Theatre TIME: T–Sat 8pm; September 20 &
27, October 3 2pm
LATE COMPANY By Jordan Tannahill
March 29–April 9, 2016 VENUES: Evergreen Cultural Centre & Vancity Culture Lab TIME: T–Sat 8pm; Sat matinees
HOW TO SURVIVE AN APOCALYPSE Touchstone Theatre was founded in 1975 by a bunch of motley rebels who met in the UBC Theatre program. Our 40th anniversary season celebrates our distinctive mark on Canadian culture and the legacy of exuberant experimentation that still energizes the company right into our established middle years. Fittingly, the season features two world premieres, as well as the remount of a much-lauded hit from 2014–2015.
Lipovetsky. Based on Terry Fallis’ award-winning novel, this new musical is the largest and most ambitious production Touchstone has ever mounted. The show follows a speechwriter who convinces a crusty old Scot to let his name stand in an election he’s sure to lose. But their best laid plans go hilariously awry, as Fallis’ unforgettable characters sing us right off the stage and into Canada’s real federal election.
We open in September with The Best Laid Plans: a Musical, written by Vern Thiessen with music and lyrics by Benjamin Elliott and Anton
In March and April, we re-animate last season’s production of Jordan Tannahill’s Late Company. This moving and beautifully acted exploration of a hot button issue finds two couples sitting down to dinner one year after a tragedy, seeking closure. Throughout this celebratory year, we will be bringing youth to local shows through our goPLAY Youth Theatre Club. The season finishes in June with a romantic comedy about the end of days, How to Survive an Apocalypse by Jordan Hall. The culmination of our Flying Start program, which develops and produces a promising script by a new playwright, Apocalypse continues Touchstone’s brand of essential Canadian plays and musicals right into our fifth fantastic decade.
WEB TOUCHSTONETHEATRE.COM
TEL. 604.709.9973
TICKETS $15-$39
TOUCHSTONE THEATRE
By Jordan Hall. Produced in association with the Playwrights Theatre Centre and the Firehall Arts Centre.
June 2–11, 2016
VENUE: Firehall Arts Centre TIME: T–Sat 8pm;
Sat, Sun & Wed matinees
“...excruciatingly good theatre: it feels like open heart surgery.” –VANCOUVER COURIER
“...[for] anyone who likes to think as well as feel at the theatre.”
–PLANK MAGAZINE
@TOUCHSTONEINVAN
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THEATRE
FUN. HILARIOUS. ENERGETIC. INNOVATIVE. SIDESPLITTING.
Vancouver TheatreSports League FOUNDED BY A CO-OP OF ACTORS, 1980
ON-GOING SHOWS THEATRESPORTS
TIME: W 7:30pm; F & Sat 9:30pm
TIME: W & Th 9:15pm
IMPROV AFTER DARK TIME: F & Sat 11:15pm
ROOKIE NIGHT TIME: Sun 7:30pm
FEATURE SHOWS THEATRESPORTS
September 2–October 10, 2015 TIME: W–Sat 7:30pm
35 TH ANNIVERSARY THROWBACK THEATRESPORTS
October 15–November 21, 2015 TIME: Th–Sat 7:30pm
CHRISTMAS QUEEN 2
November 26–December 19, 2015 TIME: Th–Sat 7:30pm
YEAR IN REVIEW
December 26–31, 2015 TIME: Sat–Th 7:30pm
JANUARY FEATURE SHOW TBA
Improv actors are the daredevils of the theatre world—brainstorming ideas, directing themselves, and acting in character all at once without the safety net of a predetermined script or prior rehearsal. They are play-making on the spot, much like a jazz musician riffs on a musical theme. The results are always high-energy and entertaining. Improv comedy falls into two basic styles—short form and long form. Both rely on audience suggestions to move the action forward, ensuring that no two performances are ever the same. Audiences at Vancouver TheatreSports League (VTSL) are
treated to both varieties. Short form can be configured as nonconnected scenes or short improvised sketches. Our iconic TheatreSports format features two teams of improvisers competing head-to-head, alternating scenes based on suggestions from the audience. Judges score the scenes, and the team with the most points at the end of the match reigns supreme. There is no through line in short form improv, so each scene is a stand-alone unit not connected to the ones before or after. It is the quick-witted, face-paced sprint race of the comedy world.
TIME: Th–Sat 7:30pm
In long form improv, performers create shows that more closely resemble traditional theatre forms, such as a two-act play, in which scenes are interrelated by story, characters, or themes. Long form can also be a montage, in which the action moves back and forth through the narrative but is still connected by the one unifying theme or storyline.
THE MASSACRE: INTERNATIONAL THEATRESPORTS FESTIVAL February 9–14, 2016 TIME: T–Sun 7:30pm
FEATURE SHOWS TBA March–September 2016
VTSL is based out of our own theatre, The Improv Centre, a fully licensed venue with a bar and lounge overlooking the adjacent marina. As a patron, you have the option enjoying your beverages in the theatre.
TIME: Th–Sat 7:30pm
ALL SHOWS TAKE PLACE AT THE IMPROV CENTRE ON GRANVILLE ISLAND.
WEB VTSL.COM
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TEL. 604.738.7013
TICKETS $8–$22
VANCOUVER THEATRESPORTS LEAGUE
@VANTHEATRESPORT
Top: Traditional TheatreSports with Graeme Duffy, Michael Teigen, and Margret Nyfors. Bottom: Audience members get in on the act by scoring their favourite team. All photos by Tim Matheson.
OFF LEASH
VENUES ANNEX, THE
823 Seymour St. 2nd Floor Vancouver, BC V6B 3L4 604.665.3050
BMO GREAT HALL
[AT VANDUSEN BOTANICAL GARDEN]
5251 Oak St. Vancouver, BC V6M 4H1 604.257.8335
BURRARD STATION
635 Burrard St. Vancouver, BC V6C 3L1 604.953.3333
CABARET, FOX THE
2321 Main St. Vancouver, BC V76 1L3
CANADIAN MUSIC CENTRE 837 Davie St. Vancouver, BC V6Z 1B7 604.734.4622
CASA MIA
1920 SW Marine Dr. Vancouver, BC V6P 6B2
CENTRE STAGE AT SURREY CITY HALL
[SURREY CIVIC THEATRE]
13450 104th Ave. Surrey, BC V3T 1V8 604.501.5566
CHAN CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS [AT UBC]
6265 Crescent Rd. Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 604.822.2697
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
930 Burdett Ave. Victoria, BC V8V 3G8 250.383.2714
FIND YOUR ART
CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY
555 Nelson St. Vancouver, BC V6B 6R5 604.681.2700
EVERGREEN CULTURAL CENTRE 1205 Pinetree Way Coquitlam, BC V3B 7Y3 604.927.6550
FIREHALL ARTS CENTRE
JACK POOLE PLAZA [AT BURRARD LANDING]
1085 Canada Pl. Vancouver, BC V6C 3C1
KAY MEEK CENTRE
1700 Mathers Ave. West Vancouver, BC V7V 2G7 604.981.6335
MICHAEL J FOX THEATRE 7373 Macpherson Ave. Burnaby, BC V5J 2B7 604.664.8875
NEW WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
280 E Cordova St. Vancouver, BC V6A 1L3 604.689.0926
8255–13th Ave. Burnaby, BC V3N 2G6 604.521.0111
GATEWAY THEATRE
OAKRIDGE UNITED CHURCH
[MAINSTAGE AND STUDIO B]
6500 Gilbert Rd. Richmond, BC V7C 3V4 604.270.1812
GOLDCORP CENTRE FOR THE ARTS [AT SFU WOODWARD’S]
149 W Hastings St. Vancouver, BC V6B 1H4 778.782.9286
HERITAGE HALL
3102 Main St. Vancouver, BC V5T 3G7 604.879.4816
HIGHLANDS UNITED CHURCH
3255 Edgemont Blvd. North Vancouver, BC V7R 2P1 604.980.6071
HISTORIC THEATRE [AT THE CULTCH]
1895 Venables St. Vancouver, BC V5L 2H6 604.251.1363
IMPROV CENTRE, THE
1502 Duranleau St. Vancouver, BC V6H 3W7 604.738.7013
305 W 41st Ave. Vancouver, BC V5Y 2S5 604.324.7444
ORPHEUM THEATRE
601 Smithe St. Vancouver, BC V6B 5G1 604.684.9264
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
300–581 Cardero St. Vancouver, BC V6G 3L3 604.255.4313
PACIFIC THEATRE
1440 W 12th Ave. Vancouver, BC V6H 1M8 604.731.5518
PERFORMANCE WORKS
ROUNDHOUSE COMMUNITY ARTS & RECREATION CENTRE
181 Roundhouse Mews Vancouver, BC V6Z 2W3 604.713.1800
RYERSON UNITED CHURCH
2195 W 45th Ave. Vancouver, BC V6M 2J4 604.266.5377
SCOTIABANK DANCE CENTRE
677 Davie St. Vancouver, BC V6B 2G6 604.606.6400
SHADBOLT CENTRE FOR THE ARTS 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Burnaby, BC V5G 2J3 604.204.3000
SHAUGHNESSY HEIGHTS UNITED CHURCH
1895 Venables St. Vancouver, BC V5L 2H6 604.251.1363
VANCOUVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATRIUM 1155 E Broadway Vancouver, BC V5T 4V5
VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE 600 Hamilton St. Vancouver, BC V6B 2R1 604.665.3050
VANIER PARK
1695 Whyte Ave. Vancouver, BC V6J 5C3 604.257.8400
VIVO MEDIA ARTS CENTRE
2625 Kaslo St. Vancouver, BC V5M 3G9 604.872.8337
VOGUE THEATRE 918 Granville St. Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L2 604.569.1144
ST. ANDREW’S-WESLEY UNITED CHURCH
WEST VANCOUVER UNITED CHURCH
100–1022 Nelson St. Vancouver, BC V6E 4S7 604.683.4574
STUDIO 16
1555 W 7th Ave. Vancouver, BC V6J 1S1 604.736.6979
STUDIO 58 THEATRE [AT LANGARA COLLEGE]
100 W 49th Ave. Vancouver, BC V5Y 2Z6 604.323.5227
PYATT HALL
SURREY ARTS CENTRE [SURREY CIVIC THEATRE]
843 Seymour St. Vancouver, BC V6B 3L4 604.915.9300 x114
13750–88th Ave. Surrey, BC V3W 3L1 604.501.5566
QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
TOM LEE MUSIC RECITAL HALL
650 Hamilton St. Vancouver, BC V6B 2R1 604.665.3050
[AT THE CULTCH]
1550 33rd Ave. Vancouver, BC V6M 1A7 604.261.6377
1218 Cartwright St. Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8 604.687.3020 [AT VSO SCHOOL OF MUSIC]
VANCITY CULTURE LAB
2062 Esquimalt Ave. West Vancouver, BC V7V 1S4 604.922.9171
WESTSIDE CHURCH
[THE CENTRE IN VANCOUVER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS]
777 Homer St. Vancouver, BC V6B 2W1 604.263.2314
YORK THEATRE [AT THE CULTCH]
639 Commercial Dr. Vancouver, BC V5L 3W3 604.251.1363
929 Granville St. Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L3 604.685.8471
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BE IN THE NOW. BE IN THE KNOW.
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER ENGAGING STORIES, NEWS AND PREVIEWS.
WWW.ARTSLANDIAVANCOUVER.COM
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ARTSLANDIA’S COMMON SENSE GUIDE TO PERFORMANCE ETIQUETTE
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While Artslandia embraces the free spirit in all of us, we acknowledge that there’s an unspoken level of decorum expected at a live performance. Whether it’s dressing properly for the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park or knowing when it’s okay to snap a photo, navigating attendance etiquette can be a persnickety pursuit. Here are a few general guidelines. The specifics depend on the venue, time of day, and type of show. When in doubt, contact the venue box office or call that friend of yours who always knows about this kind of stuff.
ARRIVE EARLY. Performance art waits for no one, and (believe me) nothing spoils the joy of anticipation like running late. Some venues will not seat you immediately once the curtain has risen, and many performances do not include an intermission. Arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before showtime. Trick yourself if you have to. Perks include: people watching, getting your drink on, and using the loo before the ensuing spectacle.
DRESS FOR THE OCCASION. Perhaps it goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway. Consider the venue when you go to your closet before the show. While there’s nothing stopping you from wearing the same outfit to Theatre Under the Stars as to the Chan Centre, your Vancouverite fashion sensibilities (or your memory of this article) should tell you otherwise.
TALK ABOUT IT. …but not during the show. The whole point of acoustics is to help carry voices. Instead, hang on to that thought morsel for postshow digestion. Crystallize your thoughts in silence, and you’ll be the most articulate participant in postperformance chatter.
BE PHOTO SMART. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, whatever emerges as the latest and greatest while this magazine is at the printer. Great! Just be aware that taking photos during the show is distracting to everyone, especially with a flash. Best to take your selfies before you take your seat.
TURN OFF YOUR PHONE.
STAY SEATED UNTIL INTERMISSION.
Alarms still ring when your phone is on silent. A vibration at the bottom of your bag still makes a noise. The safest bet is to turn your device all the way off, and savour your arts experience unplugged.
Treat yourself like a 5-yearold. Are you hungry? Do you need to go to the bathroom? Do you have tissues and water? For sake of politeness to those around you and out of respect for the performers, know thyself. Take your seat with a full belly, empty bladder, and everything you need to be still for the duration.
APPLAUD WITH THOUGHTFULNESS. Sometimes the best way to demonstrate appreciation of awesomeness is to let it continue without interruption. When in doubt, hold your applause until the end or take a cue from those around you. At the appropriate time, go wild with adoration!
WATCH NOW, SNACK LATER. Good thing you arrived at the venue early. Plenty of time to have a snack before the show! While many outdoor arts experiences are enhanced by a picnic, many indoor venues outright forbid food consumption during performances. You can probably get away with discreetly popping a peppermint if you tend to mouth breathe when in awe, but be sure to unwrap it before the show.
by Zöe Forsyth
DARKNESS ≠ NAPTIME. We denizens of Vancouver love to carpe diem, especially when it comes to art, but sometimes all that community gardening and biking has you wiped. Paying a small exchange fee for another night can be well worth the gains you’ll receive by being focused and present.
UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF A STANDING OVATION. A standing-o is the highest form of praise from an audience. As people around you start to rise, you don’t need to follow suit if you don’t truly feel it is warranted. If you are so moved, then by all means, raise your voice, leap to your feet, and even fist pump if you must.
ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
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At Chor Leoni Idol 2015; Bruce Hoffman & Erick Lichte
At Coastal City Ballet’s Cinderella (World Premiere); Irene Schneider, Andrea Allan & Patti Cross-Bishop
Elena Flory-Barnes & Carl Kennedy
Richard Wolfe & Christine Quintana
Brian Cochrane & Claire Hesselgrave
VANCOUVER, BC
Kyle Jespersen & Lindsey Angell Jespersen
At Tara Cheyenne Performance Vancouver Arts Lip Sync Battle; Bonnie Sun, Minna Schendlinger, Roxanne Duncan & Joyce Rosario
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ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
Christopher Gaze
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PAST PERFORMANCES
IN THE MIDDLE, SOMEWHAT ELEVATED
Artists of Ballet BC in Ballet BC’s 1990 production of William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated. Photo by David Cooper. Interview by Rebecca Karpus.
Ballet BC, 1990
Q&A WITH EMILY MOLNAR
PAST PERFORMANCE DANCE // BALLET BC, 1990.
Can you talk about the work shown in this photo and the type of ballet it represents?
How do you think Ballet BC has evolved since this photo was captured? We are still doing work by Forsythe. Last season the Company performed workwithinwork, which is about pushing the art form of ballet forward, something that I pay close attention to as artistic director. Since the photo was taken, we have created an enormous amount of new work and the focus on innovation, collaboration, and creation keeps getting stronger. We are now 30 years old, which is very different from being 5 years old as we were at the time of the photo. At 30, we have a
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ARTSLANDIA VANCOUVER 2015–2016
The photo is from In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated by William Forsythe, performed in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s. The photographer is David Cooper, and it was Reid Anderson who brought in the work when he was the artistic director of Ballet BC. Reid is now the artistic director of the Stuttgart Ballet. Forsythe is one of the leading choreographers of the 20th century and this work, created originally for the Paris Opera Ballet, is one of his signature works. It is actually the middle of a longer programme, Impressing the Czar. Ballet BC danced this work very well—I saw them perform it at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto when I was in The National Ballet School. I remember being blown away by the courage of the dancers and thinking, “Wow, that’s a really exciting company.” This sticks out in my memory as one of the reasons I came to work with Ballet BC a number of years later. The show is a masterwork of 20th century contemporary ballet, revolutionary in the ballet world at the time. It was a significant coup for Ballet BC to bring into their repertoire at that period of time. The Company may have been the first to bring Forsythe’s work to Canada, which is thrilling! We do a tremendous amount of new work and, although this was not a new work for us, it illustrated that the essence of the Company’s mission—to spark an international conversation on contemporary ballet—was alive even way back then. history behind us but just as much desire to continue to go forward; we are not comfortable; we are not settling. Our history is helping us cultivate and define new ideas of where dance is going and how we can participate in it. We’re able to now think bigger, broader, and deeper.
How has Ballet BC shaped Vancouver and vice versa? Our dancers engage in a very detailed conversation around craft and art making each day, and I think that professionalism creates a strong cultural conversation for the city. I also think Vancouver and the
Company work off each other. The nature around us gives this sense of grandeur that allows us to think above, beyond, and greater than ourselves. It is a creative environment, and I believe many artists gravitate toward this area because they feel it gives them the space to create. We couldn’t be doing what we are doing if we weren’t living in this city… I can’t imagine a better city than Vancouver to host this type of creative outlet. .
For tickets to Ballet BC’s 30th anniversary season, visit www.balletbc.com or call 604.732.5003.