Editor's Note

Welcome to the Fall 2023 issue of Dance Central.

Before we know it, the year is coming to a close. The first week of November was jam-packed with dance events, performances and festivals. I attended the season opener of Ballet BC, HERE, featuring among the works, Enemy in the Figure by the legendary Forsythe and BOLERO X, a new take on Maurice Ravel’s iconic work by Shahar Binyamini. The whole audience stood up in ovation after the ensemble piece that featured 50 dancers from Ballet BC and Arts Umbrella. What an epic performance that I will certainly remember for many years to come! I also attended the ensemble by the Carnegie Dance Troupe as part of the Heart of the City festival. This year, Rianne Svelnis takes over from the founder, Karen Jamieson, to lead the dancers through the power of collective artmaking, collaboration and inclusivity.

The theme of lineage and dance writing runs through this last issue of Dance Central in 2023. It added another perspective for me watching Ballet BC and Carnegie Dance Troupe after talking to Sarah Wong and Tessa Perkins Deneault. Both are trained as dancers and seasoned dance writers. Sarah and I had a heartfelt conversation about her days at Arts Umbrella and her journey as an artist. A dancer’s path is not always easy, there is much strength to be found in shared experiences and talking openly about what makes it difficult (to be a dancer). Tessa Perkins Deneault’s Master’s thesis on Iris Garland sheds light on Garland’s lifelong advocacy for dance and the legacy she left behind on the arts scene of Vancouver.

I hope Dance Central continues to be a platform for dance writing, and in a way, a place for archiving dance in Vancouver. We thank all the artists who have contributed, and we welcome new writing and project ideas at any time to make Dance Central a more vital link to the community. Please send materials by email to editor@ thedancecentre.ca. We look forward to many more conversations!

Shanny Rann
Editor