Welcome to Dance Central
Collaborations A Conversation with Kokoro Dance
Barbara Bourget (BB) needs no introduction as the Artistic Director
of Kokoro Dance and a leading figure in the dance scene of Vancou-
ver. On October 6, 2020, just a few days short of her 70th birthday, I had the honour of speaking to the matriarch and her dancers-
-Deanna Peters (DP), Molly McDermott (MM) and Salome Nieto Welcome to the Fall 2020 issue of Dance Central. I am
(SN).We talked about how COVID-19 has affected their practice
excited to be sharing my first issue with you as the
as dance artists and their latest work Reading the Bones which was
new editor. What an honour it is for me to be inherit-
livestreamed on September 25, 2020. Throughout our conversation,
ing this position from a lineage of dedicated editors:
it was heartwarming for me to witness moments of tenderness that
Fran Brafman (1987), Kaija Pepper (1995), Eury Chang
speak of Barbara's relationship with her dancers over the years.
(2004) and Andreas Kahre (2011). I am humbled by this opportunity and I look forward to making known
SR: How has the pandemic changed the way you work as
the stories of our amazing dance artists spread across
artists?
British Columbia, more importantly, to expand the definition of what we have come to label as dance.
BB: Well, just living, as a human being. It is completely altered. We are social creatures and it has been quite difficult, you just
In the spirit of tracing a lineage, it is only befitting to
remove yourself from what you would normally do. You can't
celebrate this new beginning with the matriarch of
hug anybody...it’s quite isolating. It’s very hard but at the
contemporary dance in Vancouver, Barbara Bourget,
same time, it will be over at some point and we will survive it
and her longtime dancers of Kokoro Dance. Our pre-
because artists always survive, don’t they, ladies?
vious editor, Andreas Kahre, has been a bright light in showing me the way. I share my conversation with
DP: I feel I am really supported during this time by processes
him and Mirna Zagar, the Executive Director of The
that I have established before the pandemic so I sympathize
Dance Centre. To have them both as my mentors is
with younger artists who might be trying to establish them-
such a gift, especially for it to manifest during this
selves as I feel that would be really difficult right now. Being
challenging time of COVID-19.
able to fall back on my routine has contributed to a sense of normalcy during the pandemic for me.
2020 is a special year to say the least. It's nonetheless game-changing and the performing arts is trans-
SR: Can you tell me more about the processes you have
forming as we speak. Artists continue to be resilient
established?
as well as resourceful in the wake of a global pandemic. I believe we will survive and emerge stronger,
DP: Just having a movement practice. I’m lucky to have ac-
kinder and maybe a little wiser too!
cess to a studio space. Being in the studio is a different sense of time, it's like a drug trip, you're in a different world or a
As always, we thank all the artists who have agreed
dimension and when you leave, it's like you are back in that
to contribute and we welcome new writing and
other time or dimension. I feel like I could forget about almost
project ideas at any time, in order to continue to
anything when I'm dancing. That hasn't changed.
make Dance Central a more vital link to the community. Please send material by e-mail to
MM: It was really wonderful to be in the process with every-
editor@thedancecentre.ca. We look forward to many
one over the last few weeks working towards Reading the
more conversations!
Bones. It did feel a bit like we are in this bubble away from
COVID. It felt like a little oasis where we could dance, work and perform. That felt like I got to step away from the panShanny Rann, Editor 2
D a n c e C e n t r a l Fa l l 2 0 2 0
demic, I felt very fortunate.
