Vancouver Arts Guide Jan/Feb 2019

A SECTION OF ®

JAN FEB 2019

FOUNDERS

& MAKERS

W E E K E N D S CRIPT THE A LIST S E E N O N T H E SCENE

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LADIES LEADING:

Where Art Connects Heaven & Earth...

5,000 YEARS OF CIVILIZATION REBORN

Presented by Name of Presenter

“A Must-See!” —Broadway World

MARCH 22–31 • QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE ENTIRELY NEW 2019 PRODUCTION WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA FROM NEW YORK Presented by Falun Dafa Association of Vancouver

Sold Out Last Season. A show you must see at least once in your life.

Don’t miss out - book your seats today! Promo code: ArtsGuide

888.974.3698

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®

JAN FEB 2019

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LAUREN WELLAND Weekend Script

Marketing Consultant Lauren Welland has us sold on her mellow weekend in the city as the perfect plan to recover from the rush of the holidays.

TOP: Kimberly Stevenson, Margo Kane, and Morna Edmundson. BOTTOM LEFT: Tess Degenstein in Blind Date. Photo by Little Blue Lemon Photography.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Jeanine De Bique as Musetta in La Bohème (Scottish Opera, 2017). Photo by Sally Jubb Photography.

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FOUNDERS & MAKERS Ladies Leading

Visionary Vancouver arts company founders Kimberly Stevenson, Margo Kane, and Morna Edmundson are blazing trails for women at the top and creativity at large.

13 JANUARY CALENDAR

Artslandia Vancouver Arts Guide

Resolve to start 2019 by catching a new genre of art from the fabulous selection of music, dance, theatre, and visual arts on offer this month.

20 FEBRUARY CALENDAR

Artslandia Vancouver Arts Guide

Brrrrr! You know where it’s nice and warm this time of year? Theatres! Concert halls! Art museums!

& ART AUCTION! OPENING NIGHT! 28 GALA Seen on the Scene Catch a glimpse of who’s who at fabulous arts events.

30 TOP 10 PLACES TO TAKE ART CLASSES The A List

In keeping with the suggested resolution to try new things, we’ve compiled a list of all the best spots to learn or perfect your fine and performing art skills.

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COVER: Jeanine De Bique as Musetta in La Bohème (Scottish Opera, 2017). Photo by Sally Jubb Photography. Note that Vancouver Opera’s La Bohème features a different cast.

FIND YOUR ART: Anvil Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 21, 23, 25–26 Arts Umbrella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 23 Ballet BC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 25 Contemporary Art Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 26 The Cultch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 16, 25, 26 The Dance Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 DanceHouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Friends of Chamber Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 14, 23 Full Circle: First Nations Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . 24, 26

Gateway Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Kay Meek Arts Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . 13–14, 16, 20, 25–26 Lamondance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Laudate Singers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Massey Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 16, 23 Music on Main. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Pacific Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Presentation House Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 26 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival . . . . . . . 18, 26

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 23, 25 Touchstone Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 25 Théâtre la Seizième. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26–27 Vancouver Art Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 17–18, 26 Vancouver New Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Vancouver Opera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Vancouver Recital Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 20, 23 Vancouver Symphony Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . 13–14, 20, 23 Vancouver TheatreSports League. . . . . . . . . 16–17, 25, 26 ARTSLANDIA.COM

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Erick LichtE Artistic Director

ChOr LEOni mEn’s ChOir

POPCAPELLA People have swooned to chor leoni’s performances of pop and jazz standards for over 25 years. now chor leoni Popcapella explores the intersection of choral, jazz, and pop music in collaboration with one of canada’s best-known jazz artists, Jodi Proznick, and her handpicked band. Join the lions for an unforgettable exploration of fascinating rhythms and treasured melodies.

March 1 | 8pm March 2 | 4pm & 8pm March 3 | 8pm VAncouVer PlAyhouse

chorleoni.org | 1.877.840.0457

st a y i n g connected

WAS HERE INSTAGRAM ARTSLANDIA.COM

Ones to Watch: The Theatre Edition with Melicia Zaini Dec 17, 2018 | Ones to Watch

What a fabulous opening night of It’s a Wonderful Life at @gatewaythtr!

Such a fantastic cast—brilliant performances by all. Bravo!

We’re definitely in a festive mood now!

A big thanks to @rwballet & @balletbc for getting us into the holiday spirit.

Nutcracker was captivating and filled with all the Canadian charm we know & love.

Visit our website to meet our latest up-and-comer, Costume Designer Melicia Zaini.

PODCAST

SUSANNAH

MARS

ARTSLANDIA’S PERFORMING ARTS PODCAST

LA LA LAND IN CONCERT! The @vsorchestra performed to a sold-out audience—the music with the movie.

Absolutely incredible. #saxophone #classical #jazz #hollywood #lalaland

MERRY KISS-MAS! What an amazing opening to the @vantheatresports holiday season—so festive. We’re all about the seasonal romcoms. #hahawithvtsl

In our latest podcast, Adventures in Artslandia host Susannah Mars chats with HEATHER REDFERN, Executive Director of The Cultch.

Do you have an Adventure in Artslandia?

Email smars@artslandia.com.

Follow us on social for more highlights and giveaways. Don’t forget to tag #ArtslandiaYVR and #ArtslandiaWasHere on your event photos for a chance to be featured!

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Artslandia Magazine

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J AN / / F EB 201 9 November 1, 2018 – March 31, 2019

PUBLISHER + FOUNDER Misty Tompoles ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER + MEMBERSHIP MANAGER Katrina Ketchum

MARKING THE INFINITE

MANAGING EDITOR Kristen Seidman MEDIA DIRECTOR Chris Porras SALES DIRECTOR Lindsey Ferguson DESIGNERS Lisa Johnston-Smith Dan Le Jackie Tran

Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia Image: Tjitjiti, Carlene West, 2015.

ARTSLANDIA BOX MANAGER Bella Showerman PUBLISHER’S REPRESENTATIVE Nicole Lane PUBLISHING COORDINATOR Sara Chavis NEW BUSINESS ASSOCIATE Ashley Coates PHOTOGRAPHERS Christine Dong Max McDermott Rob Trendiak PODCAST HOST Susannah Mars

Opus Art Supplies

By All Means Create

opusartsupplies.com Opus Art Supplies

By All Means Create

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artwork by Tara Galuska

Published by Rampant Creative, Inc. ©2019 Rampant Creative, Inc. All rights reserved.

This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.

Rampant Creative, Inc. /Artslandia Magazine 6637 SE Milwaukie Ave. #207 | Portland, OR 97202

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w eekend s cript

explorations for the

MIND & BODY

LAUREN WELLAND Originally from England, Lauren is a marketing consultant for creatives. She works part time at The Regional Assembly of Text and has a passion for plants and calligraphy! @laurenwelland

FRIDAY

THE REGIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TEXT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK A great Saturday starts with a walk to the top of the city to look out upon the mountains. The spectacular view always inspires me to write poetry or sketch.

TERRY SALMAN LIBRARY

HEY KOKOMO

As the weekend rolls in, I enjoy picking up a new book at the library in anticipation of spending rainy days reading at a coffee shop. I’m always inspired to do some writing here, too!

Carrying on with my walk, I make my way along Main Street, past the beautiful murals, and end up at Hey Kokomo for a delicious noodle bowl, whilst indoor forest bathing amongst their plants!

TACOFINO My Sundays usually involve lots of food, and Tacofino’s nachos always hit the spot! As a bonus, some locations give you a beautiful postcard with your bill.

Photos by Lauren Welland.

Most Fridays, you’ll find me working in the city’s best stationery store (if I do say so myself). I love spending time in the ’zine room reading all the self-published books!

APERTURE COFFEE BAR Finding the perfect coffee shop is key when you work online, and I dig the vibe here.

Do your weekend plans make for the perfect arts and culture itinerary?

Visit artslandia.com / YVR /weekend to share your fabulous weekend script.

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ladies leading

FOUNDERS

BY ARIANE FLEISCHMANN. PHOTOS BY ROB TRENDIAK.

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ARTSLANDIA.COM

Kimberly Stevenson, Margo Kane, and Morna Edmundson.

l a d i e s leading

Every endeavour begins with the spark of an idea and the recognition of possibility. For an idea to be realized and a possibility fulfilled, a brave innovator must undertake the work and risk to transform a synaptic crackle into reality. The path of creation is not for the faint of heart.

Meet three pioneering women who’ve founded performing arts companies and are finding their own path in Vancouver. Their vision and drive bring us ever closer to the day when being a woman in their role is unremarkable.

We’ll simply call them: FOUNDERS AND MAKERS.

M

orna Edmundson is the co-founder of Elektra Women’s Choir, a leading Vancouver choral choir with a rich 30-year history. Interdisciplinary artist and arts leader Margo Kane founded Full Circle: First Nations Performance in 1992 as a nonprofit and charity that creates opportunities for Indigenous artists. In 2014, Kimberly Stevenson founded The Happening, a dance studio dedicated to the personal and technical development of young dancers. Artslandia interviewed these three trailblazers to uncover how they found success and gather their advice for emerging founders. The following is excerpted from those interviews.

WHAT LED YOU TO THE PATH OF FOUNDING AND LEADING A COMPANY VERSUS CONTINUING YOUR CAREER AS A PERFORMER? MARGO KANE (MK): There were no plays about our Indigenous peoples onstage and very few on TV or film. I determined I would have to create, produce, and tour my own work. I wanted to reach an Indigenous audience, but there were very few that attended my touring work in non-Indigenous venues, so I decided to create a company that would engage other Indigenous artists and their work.

MORNA EDMUNDSON (ME): In my 20s, I sang in many classical choirs. I was, and still am, very passionate about choral music of all eras. Thirty-three years ago, I went to Stockholm to study conducting at the Royal Conservatory of Music. I wanted to know as much as possible about Sweden’s incredibly beautiful choral music, and I felt that being a conductor and being among conductors was the best way.

That year shaped and launched my career. Shortly after returning home, my friend Diane Loomer and I discovered we had both been thinking about starting a women’s choir in Vancouver. So, in spite of naysayers

who believed that the artistic ego is too big to collaborate, we co-founded Elektra Women’s Choir and co-conducted it for 22 years. (Diane retired from Elektra in 2009, and I’ve been the choir’s sole Artistic Director for 10 years.) Along the way, we shared the podium 50/50. If she opened the concert, I closed it. If I conducted the world premiere of a commissioned work, she got the next one.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE, AND ARE THERE ANY ASPECTS OF YOUR APPROACH THAT YOU CREDIT TO BEING A WOMAN? KIMBERLY STEVENSON (KS): I lead through intention, thought, and relationship building. With staff, I look for people I connect with on a professional level and who share similar teaching values. I work with intuition, blending my knowledge of the dance and business worlds, and using my experience as a dancer, teacher, and business owner to lead.

Sometimes, I have moments of self-conflict in which I struggle to be a boss while maintaining the relationships that I’ve built among my studio staff. I think approaching leadership through empathy and vulnerability is perhaps more readily accessible to women, but I know that is using a broad stroke, as many men readily access these traits too.

I don’t think the work I’m doing has any gender; it’s hard work, no matter. I’m a hard worker, and I lead by example. I roll up my sleeves and work alongside everyone to get the job done.

People might think that to aspire to be a conductor, one has to want to be the centre of attention all the time. For me, it was about wanting to make interesting music happen and having the initiative to take the necessary steps.

Attracting the best singers for Elektra and making the best music required me to develop my leadership skills, and now I’m very comfortable in that role. I think my singers would say I am supportive and encouraging while working clearly toward the musical results I want from them. I’ve known >>> continued on page 10

“ I work with intuition, blending my knowledge of the dance and business worlds and using my experience as a dancer, teacher, and business owner to lead.”

–Kimberly Stevenson ARTSLANDIA.COM

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>>> continued from page 9

KIMBERLY STEVENSON Founder and Owner/Director of The Happening Dance Studio.

>>> male conductors with these qualities as well, so I think it’s more about who you are than what gender you are.

HAVE YOU FACED PARTICULAR CHALLENGES IN YOUR CAREER THAT YOUR MALE CONTEMPORARIES DID NOT? For me, it has always been my athletic body type. I had colleagues tell me that women like me would never dance with certain companies because of my size.

I remember seeing Batsheva in my early 20s, and the company confirmed what I already believed in my heart: All shapes and sizes can dance professionally.

There were no paths for me to follow.

I had to build the company from scratch; there was no company to inherit.

I built it from the ground up, with little funding or support. I felt moved to channel my own energies to create something where there was nothing.

Cambie Location 493 W 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC 604.558.3118 Fraser Location 3588 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC 778.379.5667

Photographer: Rob Trendiak @trendiakphoto Hair: Maegen Vis @hairbymaegen

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WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A FEMALE FOUNDER OF A PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY WHO IS JUST GETTING STARTED? Take the time to define the mandate of your organization. Express it in different ways, and test it until everyone on the team understands and embraces it wholeheartedly. It’s the filter through which you’re going to make your decisions.

It tells you not only what to spend your time doing, but also what not to spend your time doing. Your audience will perceive the clarity of your vision.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU OFFER ARTISTS THAT YOU MENTOR? Be a leader of change. Use your time and energy to come up with new ideas and ways of doing things. I call on my students to be active state changers: They have the power and confidence to change a circumstance, a room, a policy, a system, and to push back against a “we’ve always done it this way” mentality.

I try to listen and help people sort out how their values can direct them to the solution they need. I guide people to consider a multitude of options and find ways to talk about the pros and cons of each. I also find myself helping young professionals figure out how to value their time and to break free of things that demand too much time without adequate compensation.

I’m afraid I’m not quite aware of my mentoring style and what advice I toss out from time to time. I’m driven and try to model someone who can take on a challenge and see it through. I can come out smiling and loving and still rage on about the injustices in the world.

WHAT LEGACY DO YOU HOPE TO LEAVE? I hope to leave a manageable company that has connections to extensive human resources in our community along with a stable funding base—one that can respond to the creative desires of the community; one that might

“We set out to unearth [better repertoire for women’s choirs] and, when it didn’t exist, to commission it.” –Morna Edmundson

MORNA EDMUNDSON Co-founder and Artistic Director of Elektra Women’s Choir.

SEE THE WORK THE HAPPENING DANCE STUDIO Accelerate 2.0

MARGO KANE Founder and Artistic Managing Director of Full Circle: First Nations Performance Society.

not have had the time to flourish in years past, but with the advent of reconciliation activities, might find new soil in which to thrive and the optimism to discover new pathways to artistic expression.

Thirty years ago, being in a women’s choir was not commonly viewed as a point of pride. It was the group in university conducted by the most junior faculty member, the group in high school considered a dumping ground for the sopranos and altos, the group rarely fea-

JANUARY 17 & 18

tured in important concerts. Those were stereotypes, but they affected the morale of singers and conductors. Diane and I discovered that people wanted better repertoire for women’s choirs, and they wanted to take up more space in the choral ecosystem. We set out to unearth that repertoire and, when it didn’t exist, to commission it. Many other choirs have been part of this development, too, but I’m very proud that Elektra has played a significant role in this movement. .

“There were no paths for me to follow… I felt moved to channel my own energies to create something where there was nothing.” –Margo Kane

FULL CIRCLE: FIRST NATIONS PERFORMANCE SOCIETY Talking Stick Festival FEBRUARY 19–MARCH 2

ELEKTRA WOMEN’S CHOIR Spring is Born MARCH 9

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JANUARY 29 // VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE

PRAŽÁK & ZEMLINSKY QUARTETS

FEATURED SHOW: PRAŽÁK & ZEMLINSKY QUARTETS The Czech Pražák Quartet joins the first appearance by the Zemlinsky Quartet. In this combined extravaganza, the musicians will perform folk-tinged string sextets by Dvořák and Schulhoff, with Mendelssohn’s glorious masterpiece, his String Octet, as the finale.

friendsofchambermusic.ca

Vlastimil Holek, Jana Vonaskova, Michal Kanka and Josef Kluson. Photo by Monika Navratilova.

Friends of Chamber Music

M U SI C

vancouver M US IC

JANUARY 1

SALUTE TO VIENNA NEW YEAR’S CONCERT

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre Experience the beauty of Vienna’s golden era! A 23-year Vancouver tradition, this concert will feature a brilliant new program of Strauss waltzes and sweeping melodies from beloved operettas performed by singers, ballroom, and ballet dancers, and the Strauss Symphony of Canada featuring the VSO. vancouversymphony.ca JANUARY 9 & 10

THE VSO AT 100

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bell Performing Arts Centre & Orpheum Theatre Celebrate the VSO’s 100 th anniversary in a concert that features the very first piece ever performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra—Schubert’s Rosamunde Overture—and celebrated works important in the VSO’s history. vancouversymphony.ca JANUARY 11 & 12

WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ FROM SWING TO ROCK

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre A tribute to Benny Goodman’s influence on jazz, swing, big band, and popular music! Multiinstrumentalist Dave Bennett and his quartet trace the musical path from the golden age of swing through the early days of rock ‘n’ roll, including chart-topping hits by Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash. vancouversymphony.ca

D AN C E

TH EATR E

VI SUAL ART S

ARTS GUIDE

JANUARY 13

THE HOCKEY SWEATER

The Dustbowl Revival. Photo by Talley Media.

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre Author Roch Carrier’s short story The Hockey Sweater, one of the most famous Canadian stories, set to music by Abigail Richardson, revolves around a childhood memory growing up in Québec. vancouversymphony.ca JANUARY 15

A CELEBRATION OF THE BAND Kay Meek Arts Centre

In celebration of the 50 th anniversary of The Band, two of today’s defining American roots groups come together for an evening of their songs and a special tribute to Music from Big Pink and The Band. Dustbowl Revival blends folk-Americana and Stax-era soul, while Hot Club of Cowtown combines hot jazz with Western swing. kaymeek.com JANUARY 18

LONELY CHILD: NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre The VSO New Music Festival is a celebration of new creations and leading edge works for a modern symphony orchestra. The sixth annual installment of this fest is the first under the baton of Maestro Otto Tausk and features a new commission for VSO Principal Percussion Vern Griffiths written

by Canadian composer Nicole Lizée, as well as Claude Vivier’s Lonely Child, and Henri Dutilleux’s Symphony No. 2, Le Double. vancouversymphony.ca

Zemlinsky Quartet. Photo by Ilona Sochorová.

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calendar january JANUARY 27

ZOLTÁN FEJÉRVÁRI, PIANO Vancouver Recital Society, Vancouver Playhouse

Winner of the 2017 Concours Musical International de Montréal piano edition and a recipient of a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, Hungarian pianist Zoltán Fejérvári has appeared in recitals throughout Europe and the U.S. Fejérvári made a big impression when he performed on this series two seasons ago with cellist István Várdai. vanrecital.com JANUARY 27

KAUMAKAIWA KANAKA’OLE

Company 605. Photo by David Cooper.

JANUARY 19

OCEAN CHILD: NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre In this presentation of the VSO New Music Festival, Maestro Otto Tausk leads the orchestra through a world première commission by Canadian composer Emily Doolittle and the Vancouver premières of Become Ocean by John Luther Adams and Ocean Child by Jan Sandström. Watch the VSO website for more announcements and updates about this exciting festival, including new composers, new venues, pre-concert talks, post-concert lounges, and more artistic collaborations. vancouversymphony.ca JANUARY 22

EHNES QUARTET

Friends of Chamber Music, Vancouver Playhouse Canadian superstar violinist James Ehnes brings his string quartet for his first visit with Friends of Chamber Music. This refined, sensitive, and expressive quartet offers a program of rising passions, from Mozartian elegance to Schubertian lyricism, via the modern dynamism of music by Janáček. friendsofchambermusic.ca

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The Cultch, York Theatre JANUARY 24

INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT Massey Theatre

A new cast of guitar luminaries from around the world! Italy’s Luca Stricagnoli returns as guest host by popular demand and is joined by two of France’s acclaimed young prodigies, swing guitarist Antoine Boyer and flamenco guitarist Samuelito, and the groundbreaking Turkish fretless guitarist Cenk Erdogan. masseytheatre.com JANUARY 23

THE LEGENDARY ITZHAK PERLMAN

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre The legend returns. Simply put, Itzhak Perlman is one of history’s greatest musicians, and we are fortunate to have him return to the VSO stage to perform Mendelssohn’s Romantic Violin Concerto, “the heart’s jewel” of violin concertos, with Maestro Otto Tausk. vancouversymphony.ca JANUARY 27

DUO RENDEZVOUS Kay Meek Arts Centre

Duo Rendezvous unites two leading Canadian performers, violinist Jasper Wood and guitarist Daniel Bolshoy. From the brothels of Buenos Aires to the cafes of Paris, their music comes from everywhere and goes directly into the heart. kaymeek.com

The voice of Hawaii’s new generation. Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole’s impressive vocal range mixes baritone chant and Hawaiian falsetto singing.

Presented as part of the Femme Series that highlights the strength and power of the female voice and experience. thecultch.com JANUARY 28–30

MUTED WITH MONICA GERMINO, VIOLIN Music on Main, The Annex

“I’m going to write you a piece so soft; I don’t care if no one can hear it.” This was composer Michael Gordon’s response to news that Monica Germino would have to protect her hearing by stopping or adapting how she played the violin. Composed by Michael Gordon, Julia Wolfe, David Lang, and Louis Andriessen, this theatrical piece is conceived for small groups of listeners in intimate spaces. musiconmain.ca JANUARY 29

PRAŽÁK & ZEMLINSKY QUARTETS

D A NC E

JANUARY 21–29

COMPANY 605: LOOP, LULL The Dance Centre

Choreographed by Artistic Directors Lisa Gelley and Josh Martin, this new collaboration is their first full-length ensemble work in three years. The dancers navigate a ceaseless flow of dynamic movement in a sublime test of stamina, skill, and the human capacity to cope with change. Presented with PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. thedancecentre.ca JANUARY 24–26

LIU KUAN-HSIANG: KIDS The Dance Centre

Taiwanese choreographer and dancer Kuan-Hsiang Liu is an explosive new talent on the international dance scene whose luminous works often have autobiographical roots. Kids celebrates the exuberance of life in the face of death. Presented with PuSh Festival and TaiwanFest. thedancecentre.ca JANUARY 31–FEBRUARY 2

COPPER PROMISES: HINEMIHI HAKA The Dance Centre

Australian dance artist Victoria Hunt’s spellbinding solo Copper Promises embodies the cultural and physical journey of Hinemihi—a female ancestor but also a ceremonial space connected with her Maori cultural heritage. Hinemihi’s story is interwoven with her own, tracing themes of reconnecting with family and culture, and learning from the land. Presented with PuSh Festival. thedancecentre.ca

Friends of Chamber Music, Vancouver Playhouse

The Czech Pražák Quartet joins the first appearance by the Zemlinsky Quartet. In this combined extravaganza, the musicians will perform folk-tinged string sextets by Dvořák and Schulhoff, and finish with Mendelssohn’s glorious masterpiece, his String Octet. friendsofchambermusic.ca

DOWNLOAD the Artslandia App to have all these listings in the palm of your hand.

THROUGH FEBRUARY 3 // VANCOUVER ART GALLERY

DANA CLAXTON: FRINGING THE CUBE

Dana Claxton, Headdress–Jeneen, 2018, LED firebox with transmounted chromogenic transparency, collection of Cathy Zuo.

Vancouver Art Gallery

FEATURED SHOW: DANA CLAXTON: FRINGING THE CUBE This is the first exhibition to survey the formidable career of Vancouver-based Hunkpapa Lakota (Sioux) artist Dana Claxton.

Known for her expansive multidisciplinary approach to art making, Claxton investigates notions of Indigenous identity, beauty, gender, and the body. Comprising photography, video, text-based work, and documentation of her performances, Fringing the Cube presents a body of work that is both visually compelling and thought-provoking.

vanartgallery.bc.ca

calendar january T H E AT R E

JANUARY 2–5

BLIND DATE

Kay Meek Arts Centre Straight from sold-out runs in New York, London’s West End, and Toronto, this fly by the seat of your pants fusion of clown, improv, theatre, and social experiment is sure to make you fall in love with Mimi and celebrate her audience member turned romantic hero! An Arts Club on Tour production. kaymeek.com JANUARY 2–27

THROWDOWN— INTERNATIONAL THEATRESPORTS FESTIVAL

Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre VTSL rocks the laughs with its annual improv celebration, Throwdown. Welcoming TheatreSports teams from other cities, VTSL brings their A-Game and top improvisers to compete in head-to-head matches. vtsl.com JANUARY 3–31

OK TINDER

Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre Join VTSL Thursday nights as VTSL improvisers match up to turn the good, the bad, and the ludicrous of Vancouver’s dating scene into 60 minutes of sidesplitting laughter based on suggestions given by the audience. This show is NC17+. vtsl.com JANUARY 2–FEBRUARY 2

SCARED SCRIPTLESS

Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre Similar to a jazz performance, Scared Scriptless allows VTSL improv virtuosos to jam with one another, riffing on suggestions from the spectators and taking them to unanticipated heights of comedy. There’s no safety net (script or outline) for these performances: Players create the characters, plotline, and dialogue on the spot using audience suggestions. vtsl.com 16

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This is the Point (2017). Photo by Dahlia Katz.

JANUARY 4 & 5

HANSEL, GRETEL, AND THE STROLLING PLAYERS Massey Theatre

The Royal Canadian Theatre Company returns to the Massey Theatre with another traditional British pantomime written and directed by the indomitable Ellie King. Join in the fun by booing the bad guys, cheering the good guys, and adding to your holiday cheer as this feel-good show that will set your feet tapping and lift your heart. masseytheatre.com JANUARY 6–FEBRUARY 24

ROOKIE NIGHT

Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre Rookie Night puts VTSL’s young improvisers (all graduates of their theatre school) to the test in front of a live audience. These are the improv stars of tomorrow. Tickets for this show start at only $8.75. vtsl.com JANUARY 15–19

DAKH DAUGHTERS The Cultch, York Theatre

Seven actresses take musical instruments into their hands to create a life-affirming performance about love, freedom, and beauty that, at the end of the day, will save the world. Dakh Daughters create an atmosphere of a French saloon, where Mireille Mathieu befriends Marilyn Manson. thecultch.com

JANUARY 15–FEBRUARY 3

MRS. KRISHNAN’S PARTY The Cultch, Vancity Culture Lab

Mrs. Krishnan’s boarder, James, has invited a few friends into the back room of the corner shop as a special surprise to celebrate Onam. But when strangers (the audience) turn up and settle in, Mrs. K. has no choice but to throw the party of her life! thecultch.com JANUARY 18–FEBRUARY 9

A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY Pacific Theatre

Owen Meany believes he is an instrument of the divine. As he and his best friend, John, navigate the turbulent America of the 1960s, Owen pulls the strings of a plan invisible to everyone but him and, perhaps, God, in this epic tale of faith, absurdity, and the power of a single voice. A guest production by Ensemble Theatre Company. pacifictheatre.org JANUARY 22–26

POWER BALLAD

Tess Degenstein in Blind Date.

Photo by Little Blue Lemon Photography.

JANUARY 25–27

WHAT IF ROMEO AND JULIET…

Presentation House Theatre Take a new look at Shakespeare’s magnificent and tragic love story.

Do we all have the potential to become a Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt, or Mercutio? Could there be another ending to this beloved and famous tale? What if? Created in collaboration with Dynamo Théâtre. phtheatre.org JANUARY 29

The Cultch, Vancity Culture Lab

BLIND DATE

Part performance lecture and part karaoke party, Power Ballad deconstructs gendered linguistic histories and rips apart contemporary language to find a new articulation of pleasure, anger, and femaleness. With an ’80s soundtrack to rival any school disco, Power Ballad is anarchic and loud, filled with feminist rage and Annie Lennox. thecultch.com

Straight from sold-out runs in New York, London’s West End, and Toronto, this fly by the seat of your pants fusion of clown, improv theatre, and social experiment is sure to make you fall in love with Mimi and celebrate her audience member turned romantic hero! An Arts Club on Tour production. anvilcentre.com

Anvil Centre

j a n u a r y calendar JANUARY 29–FEBRUARY 2

THIS IS THE POINT

The Cultch, Historic Theatre This is the Point is a joyous and unflinching portrait of four individuals whose lives have been shaped, in part, by cerebral palsy.

Through a series of staged conversations and theatrical reenactments, two couples draw from their personal lives to explore questions of representation, the nature of companionship, and whether people of different abilities can ever connect on equal terms. thecultch.com JANUARY 29–FEBRUARY 5

CLASSIC THEATRESPORTS Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre

Relying on razor-sharp wit and lightning-fast reflexes, two teams of performers compete in improv matches. The teams use audience suggestions to fuel scenes and must create totally improvised situations on the spot. vtsl.com

JANUARY 30–FEBRUARY 2

KIINALIK: THESE SHARP TOOLS Touchstone Theatre, Performance Works

Inuk storyteller and dancer Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory and queer theatre-maker Evalyn Parry met on an Arctic expedition from Iqaluit to Greenland. Now sharing a stage, these two powerful storytellers map new territory together in a work that gives voice and body to the histories, culture, and climate we’ve inherited and asks how we reckon with these sharp tools. touchstonetheatre.com V IS U A L A RT S

THROUGH JANUARY 20

GUO PEI: COUTURE BEYOND Vancouver Art Gallery

Guo Pei, Couture Beyond is the first Canadian exhibition devoted to the work of Guo Pei, China’s pre-eminent couturière. This

midcareer survey features more than 40 complete looks from Guo Pei’s most iconic runways from 2006 to 2017. The exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of her evolution as a designer as well as her contribution to global fashion culture. vanartgallery.bc.ca THROUGH FEBRUARY 3

DANA CLAXTON: FRINGING THE CUBE Vancouver Art Gallery

This is the first exhibition to survey the formidable career of Vancouver-based Hunkpapa Lakota (Sioux) artist Dana Claxton. Known for her expansive multidisciplinary approach to art making, Claxton investigates notions of Indigenous identity, beauty, gender, and the body. Comprising photography, video, text-based work, and documentation of her performances, Fringing the Cube presents a body of work that is both visually compelling and thoughtprovoking. vanartgallery.bc.ca

THROUGH MARCH 17

A CURATOR’S VIEW: IAN THOM SELECTS Vancouver Art Gallery

A Curator’s View: Ian Thom Selects unites historical and contemporary works as selected

by Ian M. Thom. Over his 30-year tenure at the Gallery as Senior Curator, Thom has curated more than 80 exhibitions and stewarded hundreds of acquisitions.

Deliberately personal, this exhibition focuses on one curator’s selection of highlights from the more than 12,000 works in the Gallery’s collection. vanartgallery.bc.ca

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Anne Low January 18 to March 24, 2019

Aslan Gaisumov January 18 to March 24, 2019

Kameelah Janan Rasheed Until March 24, 2019

How far do you travel?

Diyan Achjadi, Patrick Cruz, Rolande Souliere, Erdem Taşdelen, Anna Torma January to December, 2019

ON VIEW AT

In Partnership with

Exhibition Opening Thursday, January 17, 7-9pm, free 1100 Chestnut Street in Vanier Park, Kitsilano | 604-736-4431 museumofvancouver.ca

ARTSLANDIA.COM

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calendar january THROUGH MARCH 17

THE METAMORPHOSIS Vancouver Art Gallery

The Metamorphosis brings together contemporary art from the Vancouver Art Gallery’s permanent collection that addresses the notion of transformation—whether it be physical, spiritual, or cultural.

Many of the works in this exhibition have been acquired within the past five years, and several of them will be on view at the Gallery for the first time. vanartgallery.bc.ca THROUGH MARCH 24

AN ALPHABETICAL ARRANGEMENT & HOW TO SUFFER POLITELY (AND OTHER ETIQUETTE)

Contemporary Art Gallery, Faç ade & Yaletown Roundhouse Station American artist, writer, and educator Kameelah Janan Rasheed’s exhibition will continue

SALT. PHOTO: BRYONY JACKSON

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ARTSLANDIA.COM

her ongoing examinations of conflicting histories, visual culture, being Black in America, unearthing buried narratives, and the complexity of memory. An Alphabetical Arrangement is on view at Façade and How To Suffer Politely (And Other Etiquette) is on view at Yaletown Roundhouse Station. contemporaryartgallery.ca JANUARY 17–FEBRUARY 3

PUSH FESTIVAL

PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Various Venues PuSh celebrates its milestone 15th anniversary with a mesmerizing lineup of contemporary performance, startling theatre, innovative dance, and genre-defying music. Featuring 24 companies from 13 countries and six world premieres, the festival is an extraordinary showcase of visionary collaboration and risk-taking. pushfestival.ca

JANUARY 17–DECEMBER 31

HOW FAR DO YOU TRAVEL?

Contemporary Art Gallery, Select TransLink Buses Five Canadian artists were commissioned to graphically wrap the exterior of a series of articulated buses traveling on major routes in Metro Vancouver throughout 2019. This new project invites the public to consider the ability that visual language has to transport ideas and meaning from one place to another. contemporaryartgallery.ca JANUARY 18–MARCH 24

ANNE LOW: CHAIR FOR A WOMAN

Contemporary Art Gallery Low’s artistic practice offers an intense look at historical objects, materials, and surfaces. Her sculptural work unpins these objects from their historical time and place in an imaginative

process of extraction, distortion, and translation, so that her forms hover somewhere between the recognizable and the mysterious. contemporaryartgallery.ca JANUARY 18–MARCH 24

ASLAN GAISUMOV

Contemporary Art Gallery Aslan Gaisumov’s work considers events that remain largely unacknowledged in official Western histories. The exhibition brings together two works that have never before been shown with one another and, in doing so, offers a reconsideration of many of the concerns that have shaped the artist’s practice over the past eight years. contemporaryartgallery.ca

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FEBRUARY 3 // ROUNDHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE

SUNDAY PERFORMANCE SERIES

Arts Umbrella Dance Company

SUNDAY PERFORMANCE SERIES AUDC performs new and innovative works-in-progress by leading Canadian choreographers and featured special guest artists, such as Emily Molnar, Amos Ben Tal, Sidra Bell, and Jonathan Alsberry. This intimate series provides a glimpse of what’s to come at AUDC’s Season Finale in June, with performances by some of the dance world’s top emerging artists.

artsumbrella.com

Photo by Chris Randle.

FEATURED SHOW:

M U SI C

D AN C E

TH EATR E

VI S UAL ART S

vancouver ARTS GUIDE M US IC

FEBRUARY 1 & 2

TOVEY CONDUCTS BRUCKNER & DEBUSSY

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre Maestro Bramwell Tovey makes his return as VSO Music Director Emeritus to conduct a piece by the first composer he commissioned as Music Director that features the VSO’s former Principal Cello Ariel Barnes. This concert also features the towering sonic architecture of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6. vancouversymphony.ca FEBRUARY 7 & 8

RICK SCOTT & NICO RHODES: ROOTS & GROOVES Kay Meek Arts Centre

Hillbilly concertos, Appalachian grooves, ferocious folk fun, and many moves. Rick and Nico blur all boundaries–in a word, they cook! kaymeek.com FEBRUARY 7 & 9

THE MOLDAU & GRIEG’S PIANO CONCERTO Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bell Performing Arts Centre & Orpheum Theatre

One of the most lyrical pianists of his generation, Andrew Von Oeyen tackles Grieg’s much-loved Piano Concerto in a concert that also features one of Dvorak’s greatest works and the famous melodies of The Moldau—all under the direction of conductor Brett Mitchell. vancouversymphony.ca 20

ARTSLANDIA.COM

FEBRUARY 8

CZECH BEAUTY: THE MOLDAU

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre

FEBRUARY 14

MARY STALLINGS

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

As part of the John Fluevog Inside the Symphony series, Conductor Brett Mitchell leads the VSO through The Moldau by Smetana and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 in G major. This program is a must! vancouversymphony.ca

Mary Stallings brings a lifetime of emotional intelligence that enables her to inhabit a lyric. With a career spanning seven decades and sharing the stage with such luminaries as Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, and Ella Fitzgerald, Stallings’ appearance is one not to miss! shadboltcentre.com

FEBRUARY 10

FEBRUARY 14–24

BEHZOD ABDURAIMOV, PIANO

Vancouver Recital Society, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts Behzod Abduraimov’s electrifying pianism, with its range of great delicacy and thundering power, makes the “Abduraimov experience” impossible to describe in words. If you heard him bring the house down at the Chan Centre with Balakirev’s Islamey, you’d be at the front of the line for tickets to this concert! vanrecital.com FEBRUARY 13–17

STRINGS, SONATAS & SEXTET

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Pyatt Hall The Chamber Players shine a spotlight on strings with Gorecki’s highly virtuosic, Bartók-inspired Sonata for Two Violins, Ravel’s strikingly spare Sonata for Violin and Cello, and Dvořák’s energetic Sextet for Strings, written during the composer’s Slavic period. vancouversymphony.ca

LA BOHÈME

Vancouver Opera, Queen Elizabeth Theatre This new production of La Bohème is literally an enormous vintage picture postcard of Paris.

Set in the interwar years, when artists and writers flocked to Paris to live the bohemian life, Café Momus is full of flamboyant jazz-era figures, including a glamorously exotic Musetta. A refreshing look at a much-loved opera. vancouveropera.ca FEBRUARY 15 & 16

FEBRUARY 16

MARK TAKESHI MCGREGOR & LIAM HOCKLEY Vancouver New Music, The Annex

Flutist Mark Takeshi McGregor has been praised for his “mind-blowing” performances of “huge physical energy” (Times Colonist). Clarinetist Liam Hockley is emerging as a musical talent to watch. For this concert, the two will collaborate to perform a selection of new and recent works for flute, clarinet, and electronics. newmusic.org FEBRUARY 17

FILIPPO GORINI, PIANO Vancouver Recital Society, Vancouver Playhouse

The 22-year-old pianist Filippo Gorini is praised for his rare intellect, temperament, and vivid imagination.

Upon hearing him perform Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations, Alfred Brendel invited this gifted young Italian to study with him. In 2017, Filippo’s debut album—his recording of the Diabelli Variations— was released. vanrecital.com

MOZART: THE MAGIC FLUTE

FEBRUARY 21–23

Praised worldwide for his exceptional virtuosity, poetic playing, and intellectual depth, Chad Hoopes is violinist well on his way to the very top of his profession. He performs Dvořák’s masterpiece Violin Concerto in a concert that also features Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 4. vancouversymphony.ca

Extraordinary violinist Henning Kraggerud leads from the violin in a program that includes Grieg’s brilliant Holberg Suite, as well as a new arrangement of Bach’s watershed Goldberg Variations. vancouversymphony.ca

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre

GOLDBERG & HOLBERG

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Various Venues

FEBRUARY 20–24 // ANVIL CENTRE

COASTAL DANCE FESTIVAL Dancers of Damelahamid

COASTAL DANCE FESTIVAL The Dancers of Damelahamid produce this annual event, a celebration of the stories, songs, and dances of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America. The festival demonstrates that the rich artistic practices of artists from British Columbia, the Yukon, Alaska, and Washington are very much alive, vibrant, and relevant.

anvilcentre.com

Jo Clancy. Photo by Derek Dix.

FEATURED SHOW:

FEBRUARY 28–MARCH 2 // QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE

PROGRAM 2 Ballet BC

Nicole Ward. Photo by Michael Slobodian.

FEATURED SHOW:

22

PROGRAM 2 Ballet BC returns to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage after thrilling audiences from Madrid to Tel Aviv. Sure to be an evocative dance experience, the evening will kick off with the return of Jorma Elo’s gripping 1st Flash, followed by a world premiere from the fresh choreographic voice of Adi Salant. The evening ends with the poetic Solo Echo, choreographed

by Canada’s internationally celebrated Crystal Pite.

balletbc.com ARTSLANDIA.COM

c a l e n d a r f e b r u a ry FEBRUARY 22

FEBRUARY 26

Massey Theatre

Friends of Chamber Music, Vancouver Playhouse

THE REAL GROUP

SMETANA TRIO

This professional Swedish a cappella ensemble has been in constant development since its formation in 1984. Their perfection, personal touch, and wide repertoire have made it possible for the group to collaborate with symphony orchestras, jazz groups, pop bands, and international artists throughout their career. masseytheatre.com

This Czech group makes its second appearance for the Friends with a program that is both melodious and relatively modern: The folk-dance dynamism of Dvořák’s “Dumky” trio, Martinů’s “Bergerettes,” and an early Romantic work by Rachmaninoff. friendsofchambermusic.ca

FEBRUARY 23

FEBRUARY 28

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, The Annex

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre

THE RESOUNDING EARTH

This concert includes Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Henry Brant’s luxuriantly beautiful On the Nature of Things, world premieres of works by JUNO-award winning composers Jordan Nobles and Jocelyn Morlock, and music from Antoine Brumel’s monumental Earthquake Mass. vancouversymphony.ca FEBRUARY 23

MUSIC AT QUEENS CONCERT

Laudate Singers, Queens Avenue United Church Laudate Singers joins forces with organist Edward Norman for a performance of powerful sonority. This program features selections from Organic Voices and a new commission by Composer-in-Residence Marco Del Rio, as well as other works by Canadian and international composers. laudatesingers.com FEBRUARY 23–MARCH 2

FROM THE NEW WORLD

Revel in the epic music of one of Europe’s greatest composers, concluding with excerpts from his famous New World Symphony. vancouversymphony.ca D A NC E

FEBRUARY 2–7

MACHINENOISY—FRAGILE FORMS Anvil Centre

Inspired by world-renowned Finnish theorist and architect Juhani Pallasmaa’s writings on architecture and the sensing body, MACHiNENOiSY’s most ambitious work to date is a site-specific, 360-degree contemporary dance performance. anvilcentre.com

L’ELISIR D’AMORE (THE ELIXIR OF LOVE)

FEBRUARY 3

This is a delightful tale of lovers’ quarrels and reconciliations, magic love potions, and romantic confusions. The opera is by Gaetano Donizetti and is a Burnaby Lyric Opera production. shadboltcentre.com

AUDC performs new and innovative works-in-progress by leading Canadian choreographers and featured special guest artists, such as Emily Molnar, Amos Ben Tal, Sidra Bell, and Jonathan Alsberry. This intimate series provides a glimpse of what’s to come at AUDC’s Season Finale in June, with performances by some of the dance world’s top emerging artists. artsumbrella.com

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

FEBRUARY 24

DANISH STRING QUARTET

Vancouver Recital Society, Vancouver Playhouse The Danish String Quartet has established a reputation for their integrated sound, impeccable intonation, and judicious balance.

With their technical and interpretive talents matched by an infectious joy for music making, the quartet is in demand worldwide by concert and festival presenters alike. vanrecital.com

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the Artslandia App to have all these listings in the palm of your hand.

Music by Women Experience the richness of choral music by women composers and arrangers as Elektra celebrates International Women’s Day 2019.

March 9, 2019 | 7:30 pm 6:45 pm | Pre-concert talk

SUNDAY PERFORMANCE SERIES Arts Umbrella Dance Company, Roundhouse Community Centre

FEBRUARY 6–9

ACTION AT A DISTANCE— IN FICTION Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

This new work blurs the lines between the real and the imagined. It’s a visceral solo that strikes a balance between cognitive understanding and phantasmal imagination with engaging, highly physical results. Created and performed by Vanessa Goodman in collaboration with lighting designer James Proudfoot. shadboltcentre.com

I am in Need of Music With soprano, Suzie LeBlanc Elektra Women’s Choir is delighted to collaborate for the first time with soprano Suzie LeBlanc in a program of music about music.

May 4, 2019 | 7:30 pm Both concerts take place at: Shaughnessy Heights United Church, 1550 West 33rd Avenue, Vancouver More info at elektra.ca/concerts-events

Tickets at ticketstonight.ca ARTSLANDIA.COM

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FEBRUARY 19–MARCH 2 // VARIOUS VENUES

TALKING STICK FESTIVAL Full Circle: First Nations Performance

TALKING STICK FESTIVAL North America’s premiere multidisciplinary Indigenous arts festival, Talking Stick showcases and celebrates Indigenous art and performance for a wider audience.

This unique and exciting two-week event is held annually in February at locations across Vancouver. Attracting over 18,000 attendees each year, Talking Stick focuses on the diversity of visual arts, dance, theatre, music, powwow, and film in both traditional and contemporary formats.

fullcircle.ca

Rhonda Doxtator. Photo by Chris Randle.

FEATURED SHOW:

f eb r u a r y calendar FEBRUARY 6–9

ILBIJERRI THEATRE COMPANY/ JACOB BOEHME (AUSTRALIA)

DanceHouse, SFU Woodwards A descendant of the Narangga and Kaurna nations of South Australia, choreographer/ performer Jacob Boehme was diagnosed with HIV in 1998. After receiving his diagnosis, he turned to his traditional culture as a means to deal not only with his own life but also that of his community. Blood on the Dance Floor incorporates activism, autobiography, and performance into an incendiary work of raw and radical emotion. dancehouse.ca

practices of artists from British Columbia, the Yukon, Alaska, and Washington are very much alive, vibrant, and relevant. anvilcentre.com FEBRUARY 21–23

COMPANY 605

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts Company 605 brings to life a new ensemble of work with virtuosic performers, powerful movement, and driving beats. This collaborative piece is built upon shared desires: to keep the conversation moving, to change what feels stuck or stagnant, to practice empathy and become better listeners, and to keep an authentic autonomy and group intention at play. shadboltcentre.com

THROUGH FEBRUARY 2

THIS IS THE POINT

The Cultch, Historic Theatre SEE PAGE 17 for full description.

THROUGH FEBRUARY 2

KIINALIK: THESE SHARP TOOLS Touchstone Theatre, Performance Works

SEE PAGE 17 for full description.

THROUGH FEBRUARY 3

MRS. KRISHNAN’S PARTY The Cultch, Vancity Culture Lab

SEE PAGE 16 for full description.

THROUGH FEBRUARY 5, 15–28

CLASSIC THEATRESPORTS Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre

SEE PAGE 16 for full description.

FEBRUARY 10

FEBRUARY 24

THROUGH FEBRUARY 9

Kay Meek Arts Centre

Lamondance, BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts

Pacific Theatre

LMF & Friends is Lamondance’s seventh annual gala in celebration of Vancouver’s extraordinary dance community. Dance schools and companies come together to share the stage to show their work. The event also includes a silent auction! lamondance.com

THROUGH FEBRUARY 24

BALLET JÖRGEN: COPPÉLIA Coppélia takes us into the mysterious mind of Dr. Coppélius, a lonely and disillusioned toymaker who wishes he could bring his dolls to life to find his perfect wife. This comedic love story is told through the vibrant contemporary choreography of the award-winning Bengt Jörgen. kaymeek.com FEBRUARY 20–23

KIDD PIVOT (VANCOUVER) DanceHouse, Vancouver Playhouse From choreographer Crystal Pite and writer/director Jonathon Young, the creators of the internationally acclaimed Betroffenheit comes Revisor, a new dance/theatre hybrid that uses the classical tropes of satire and subversion to examine the relationship between people and politics with eviscerating wit and bold physicality. dancehouse.ca FEBRUARY 20–24

COASTAL DANCE FESTIVAL Anvil Centre

The Dancers of Damelahamid produce this annual event, a celebration of the stories, songs, and dances of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America. The festival demonstrates that the rich artistic

LMD & FRIENDS DANCE GALA VOL. VII

FEBRUARY 28–MARCH 2

PROGRAM 2

Ballet BC, Queen Elizabeth Theatre

A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY

SEE PAGE 17 for full description.

ROOKIE NIGHT

Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre SEE PAGE 16 for full description.

FEBRUARY 2 & 3

BLIND DATE

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts Experience the exhilaration of new love as Mimi goes on a blind date

with a different man—plucked right out of the audience—every night!

This fusion of clown, improv, theatre, and social experiment is sure to make you fall in love with Mimi and celebrate her audience member turned romantic hero. An Arts Club on Tour production. shadboltcentre.com FEBRUARY 5–16

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING The Cultch, Historic Theatre

Set in a mesmerizing theatrical world evoking Colonial North Africa, this deadly serious and sublimely ridiculous story is a bold and playful romp through the extremes of desire and ambition, loyalty and redemption. Join Classic Chic Productions’ signature all-female identifying cast for an evening of Shakespeare, unlike anything you’ve experienced before. thecultch.com FEBRUARY 6–14

ROMANCE WEEK

Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre This year, forget the boring box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day! Instead, bring your special someone in for a week of “improv and chill,” as VTSL celebrates the fun and funny of romance with three special shows. Improvisers will tickle your funny bone and put the ha-ha in Happy Valentine’s. vtsl.com

Ballet BC returns to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage after thrilling audiences from Madrid to Tel Aviv. Sure to be an evocative dance experience, the evening will kick off with the return of Jorma Elo’s gripping 1st Flash, followed by a world premiere from the fresh choreographic voice of Adi Salant. The evening ends with the poetic Solo Echo, choreographed by Canada’s internationally celebrated Crystal Pite. balletbc.com T H E AT R E

THROUGH FEBRUARY 2,16–27

SCARED SCRIPTLESS

Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre SEE PAGE 17 for full description.

Christine Quintana and Chirag Naik in Yoga Play.

Photo by David Cooper.

ARTSLANDIA.COM

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c a l e n d a r f e b r u a ry FEBRUARY 7–16

YOGA PLAY

Gateway Theatre Joan has been hired to stabilize Jojomon, a yoga apparel giant after its CEO is brought down by a fat-shaming scandal. But just as she finds her footing, more trouble surfaces, and the sales freefall.

Jojomon needs an image makeover—and fast. This hilarious satire asks what it takes to find authenticity in a world determined to sell enlightenment. gatewaytheatre.com FEBRUARY 15 & 16

CIRCLE GAME

Kay Meek Arts Centre The enduring music of one of the most influential female recording artists of the late 20 th century, Joni Mitchell, is reimagined in this energetic musical experience.

Circle Game reinterprets Mitchell’s iconic songs, such as Big Yellow Taxi, River, and California, through the ears and eyes of a new generation. An Arts Club on Tour production. kaymeek.com FEBRUARY 16

F IS FOR FUNNY TOO Anvil Centre

Eight Women. One Man. All funny.

Because it’s 2019, and funny has no gender. Laughter Zone 101 presents an incredible standup show featuring some funny, fabulous people. anvilcentre.com

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FEBRUARY 17

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR AND OTHER ERIC CARLE FAVOURITES II Kay Meek Arts Centre

Three beloved stories by Eric Carle, award-winning children’s book illustrator and author, are retold onstage through the magic of black light and fanciful puppets. This hourlong production

by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia features an imaginative approach to storytelling. kaymeek.com FEBRUARY 19–MARCH 2

TALKING STICK FESTIVAL Full Circle: First Nations Performance, Various Venues

North America’s premiere, multidisciplinary Indigenous arts festival, Talking Stick showcases and celebrates Indigenous art and performance to a wider audience.

This unique and exciting two-week event is held annually in February at locations across Vancouver. Attracting over 18,000 attendees each year, Talking Stick focuses on the diversity of visual arts, dance, theatre, music, powwow, and film in both traditional and contemporary formats. fullcircle.ca FEBRUARY 20–MARCH 10

CHILDREN OF GOD The Cultch, York Theatre

In this powerful musical, the children of an Oji-Cree family are sent to a residential school in Northern Ontario. It is a story of redemption—for a mother, who

was never let past the school’s gate, and her kids, who never knew she came. Children of God offers a thrilling blend of ancient traditions and contemporary realities, celebrating resilience and the power of the Indigenous cultural spirit. thecultch.com FEBRUARY 21 & 28

OK TINDER

Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre SEE PAGE 17 for full description.

FEBRUARY 26–28

PETER AND THE WOLF Presentation House Theatre

Iceland’s national master puppeteer, Bernd Ogrodnik, brings this classic tale to life with exquisite handcarved wooden puppets in the Russian/European tradition. Guided

by Prokofiev’s original score, this award-winning production draws young audiences into the wonderful world of music. phtheatre.org

THROUGH MARCH 24

ASLAN GAISUMOV

Contemporary Art Gallery SEE PAGE 18 for full description.

THROUGH MARCH 24

AN ALPHABETICAL ARRANGEMENT & HOW TO SUFFER POLITELY (AND OTHER ETIQUETTE)

Contemporary Art Gallery, Façade & Yaletown Roundhouse Station SEE PAGE 18 for full description.

THROUGH MARCH 17

THE METAMORPHOSIS Vancouver Art Gallery

SEE PAGE 18 for full description.

THROUGH DECEMBER 31

HOW FAR DO YOU TRAVEL?

Théâtre la Seizième, Studio 16

SEE PAGE 18 for full description.

Benoit, age 8, has a pain that won’t go away, so his mother Melanie takes him to the dentist. Once in the dentist’s chair, it turns out that her son’s problems are much larger than a simple toothache. Le Soulier, a multifaceted comedy by multiple award-winning author David Paquet, is a hilarious and unsettling play in which empathy triumphs over illness. seizieme.ca

FEBRUARY 16–MAY 20

LE SOULIER

V IS U A L A RT S

THROUGH FEBRUARY 3

SEE PAGE 17 for full description.

THROUGH FEBRUARY 3

PUSH FESTIVAL

PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Various Venues SEE PAGE 18 for full description.

THROUGH MARCH 17

A CURATOR’S VIEW: IAN THOM SELECTS Vancouver Art Gallery

ARTSLANDIA.COM

SEE PAGE 18 for full description.

Contemporary Art Gallery, Select TransLink buses

Vancouver Art Gallery

26

Contemporary Art Gallery

FEBRUARY 27–MARCH 9

DANA CLAXTON: FRINGING THE CUBE

Circle Game. Photo by Tyler Branston.

THROUGH MARCH 24

ANNE LOW: CHAIR FOR A WOMAN

SEE PAGE 17 for full description.

FRENCH MODERNS: MONET TO MATISSE, 1850–1950 Vancouver Art Gallery

Comprising 60 paintings, drawings, and sculptures from the Brooklyn Museum’s permanent and long-term loan collections, this exhibition focuses on France as a centre of modernism. It includes a range of works from a century of art making, including landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and nudes. vanartgallery.bc.ca FEBRUARY 16–MAY 20

AFFINITIES: CANADIAN ARTISTS AND FRANCE Vancouver Art Gallery

Looking at the significance that French art and culture has held for Canadian artists over the past 120 years, this exhibition of works from the Vancouver Art Gallery’s collection focused on influences on impressionism, postimpressionism, and surrealism on Canadian artists during the first half of the 20 th century. vanartgallery.bc.ca

FEBRUARY 27–MARCH 9 // STUDIO 16

LE SOULIER Théâtre la Seizième

Photo by Hugo B. Lefort.

FEATURED SHOW: LE SOULIER Benoit, age 8, has a pain that won’t go away, so his mother Melanie takes him to the dentist. Once in the dentist’s chair, it turns out that her son’s problems are much larger than a simple toothache. Le Soulier, a multifaceted comedy by multiple award-winning author David Paquet, is a hilarious and unsettling play in which empathy triumphs over illness.

seizieme.ca

SEEN on the scene GALA & ART AUCTION! OPENING NIGHT! View more photos at A R T S L A N D I AY V R . C O M

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PAUL FAIBISH, Contemporary Art Gallery (CAG) Board Member & MYFANWY MACLEOD, artist at CAG’s 30th Annual Gala & Art Auction.

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CURTIS COLLINS, Director of Audain Art Museum.

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CHARISSA HURT, Patron Services Manager & JULIA LANK, Publicist at Pacific Theatre.

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KULWANT SIDHU & ANTHONY MCDOUGALL, CAG Board Members at the 30th Annual Gala & Art Auction.

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ALISON CHISHOLM, Executive Director & ANDREA LOEWEN, Associate Manager & PHIL MIGUEL, Production Manager at Pacific Theatre.

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REBECCA DEBOER & JOHN VOTH, stars of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at Pacific Theatre.

Thanks for capturing this, Artslandia Vancouver, and for adding some extra glam to my girls’ first opening night experience! @RebeccaDeBoer #pacifictheatre #openingnight #narnia #yvrtheatre

We’d like to express a HUGE heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported and attended our 30 th Annual Gala & Art Auction!

@CAGVancouver #gala #art

#grateful #celebrate #gratitude #greatart #generosity

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t o p 1 0 a r t c l a s s es

TOP 10 PLACES TO TAKE ART CLASSES you’re an emerging professional or eager beginner, what better way to explore music than under the guidance of leading worldclass teachers and musicians. Their offerings include everything from guitar and vocal technique to pipa and erhu.

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1548 W 2ND AVE, VANCOUVER (604) 221-1580 // LUMINOUSELEPHANT.COM

843 SEYMOUR ST, VANCOUVER (604) 915-9300 // VSOSCHOOLOFMUSIC.CA EMILY CARR UNIVERSITY It’s hard

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to beat an original, and Emily Carr University has that spot locked down. Named for the vanguard, iconic Canadian female artist and writer, the University was founded in 1925 and offers individual courses and workshops in addition to their degree programs.

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VANCOUVER PERFORMING STARS

It’s your time to shine. While most of the classes offered are for children, the Adult Musical Theatre class is open to every level of experience and not to be missed. Learn proper technique to sing and dance simultaneously, which is significantly harder than it looks!

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VANCOUVER FINE-ART ATELIER

Learn from passionate, classically trained artists to master the techniques of the traditional fine art––watercolour, oil, acrylic, pencil, and charcoal––in intimate classes and workshops.

Offerings include classical drawing, art history, human anatomy, portraiture, and plein air.

the leap to professional acting? The proof is in the pudding at VADA, with over 80% of their students achieving placement as a professional actor on an agent’s roster within three months of graduation.

THE DANCE CENTRE Choose from classes,

workshops, and intensives at the gorgeous Scotiabank Dance Centre by members of the renowned training ground. Their offerings run the gamut from traditional dance style to Bollywood, Ukrainian Folk, and Baroque.

677 DAVIE ST, VANCOUVER (604) 606-6400 // THEDANCECENTRE.CA

3994 FRASER ST, VANCOUVER (604) 564-8663 // PERFORMINGSTARS.CA

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VANCOUVER ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS Looking to make

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LUMINOUS ELEPHANT Set your inner artist free and find your bliss at this happy, quirky art studio with a mission of inspiring joy through the creation of art. From printmaking to piñatas, their classes are sure to draw art from the heart of all who walk through the door.

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SPENCER WELCH VOCAL STUDIO

Find your voice or reach your full vocal potential with private or small-group classes conducted by teachers with certifications from the Institute for Vocal Advancement.

933 SEYMOUR ST, VANCOUVER (604) 692-0955 // SPENCERWELCH.COM

2414 MAIN ST, VANCOUVER (778) 239-2922 // VANCOUVERATELIER.COM VANCOUVER THEATRESPORTS LEAGUE This award-winning improv

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company has been teaching the art of making people laugh until they cry for 40 years. Learn from the best of the best at their series workshops, drop-in classes, or performance programs.

1502 DURANLEAU ST, VANCOUVER (604) 738-7013 // VTSL.COM 30

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iDANCE VANCOUVER A fixture on

Georgia Straight ’s Best Of lists year after year, this inclusive dance studio encourages, empowers, and entertains the dancer in all of us with beginner-friendly and fun adult drop-in classes.

119 W BROADWAY, VANCOUVER (604) 558-4622 // IDANCEVANCOUVER.COM

1: Photo by Louise Ironside. 2: Photo courtesy of Sara McPherson. 3: Photo by Katy Schroeder. 4: Photo by Timothy McLeod. 5: Photo by Chloe Numbers.

6: Photo by Madelyn Mulvaney. 7: Photo by Todd Duncan. 8: Photo by Gerry Kopelow. 9: Photo courtsey of SWVS. 10. Photo courtsey of iDance Vancouver.

VSO SCHOOL OF MUSIC Whether

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“Provocative, beautiful and...cleverly and boldly reclaims narratives around Indigenous culture.�

- GLOBE & MAIL

THROUGH FEB 3, 2019

Dana Claxton: Fringing The Cube is organized by the Vancouver Art Gallery and curated by Grant Arnold, Audain Curator of British Columbia Art Visionary Partners for Photography Exhibitions:

Miles, Maureen and Larry Lunn Major support provided by:

Cathy Zuo

Supporting Sponsor:

Dana Claxton, Cultural Belongings, 2016, LED firebox with transmounted chromogenic transparency, Collection of Rosalind and Amir Adnani

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your cultural concierge Photos (left to right): Davida Monk, photo by Tim Nguyen (Citrus Photography); Jonathan Roozeman, photo courtesy of Vancouver Recital Society; Desiree Bortolussi and Valentin Chou of Ballet Kelowna, photo by Emily Cooper; Jens Lindemann, photo courtesy of Kay Meek Arts Centre.