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I am pleased to extend my warmest greetings to everyone taking part in the 2021 Vancouver International Dance Festival (VIDF).

Since 2000, the VIDF has celebrated the diversity of contemporary dance expression, offering dancers from across Canada and around the world a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talent. This year’s performances will be live-streamed and I am certain that audiences watching from home will be inspired by the creativity and artistry on display.

It continues to be a difficult time for planning and hosting events. That is why I would like to commend all those associated with the VIDF for their hard work and dedication in ensuring this year’s festival could still take place. You can be proud of your commitment to supporting the art of culturally diverse contemporary dance in Canada.

Please accept my best wishes for a most enjoyable experience.

The Rt. Hon. Justin P. J. Trudeau, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada

April, 2021

A Message from the Mayor

On behalf of my colleagues on City Council and the citizens of Vancouver, I want to welcome everyone to the Vancouver International Dance Festival’s 2021 virtual edition.

The Vancouver International Dance Festival (VIDF) presents exceptional performances by artists of diverse backgrounds who are focused on the body as the instrument of communication. It provides these artists with essential opportunities for exposure and recognition. Since 2000, the VIDF has enhanced the public appreciation for contemporary dance by providing memorable experiences for artists and audiences alike. In 2021, the VIDF continues to advance the art form by presenting contemporary dance as state-ofthe-art livestream events. I would like to send my appreciation to the organizers, volunteers and performers for all the hard work that goes into such a festival, and I am pleased to congratulate the Vancouver International Dance Festival on its innovation and resilience.

I hope everyone enjoys the Festival!

Sincerely,

Mayor Kennedy Stewart

A MESSAGE FROM

PREMIER JOHN HORGAN

As Premier of the Province of British Columbia, it is my pleasure to welcome everyone viewing and participating in the 2021 Vancouver International Dance Festival.

For over 20 years, the Vancouver International Dance Festival has been highlighting the work of a broad range of dancers from across British Columbia and the country. The past year has presented many unique challenges, and it is inspiring to see how the festival has adapted to provide an innovative and impactful livestream experience. The accessible nature of virtual performances, combined with having viewing be by donation, allows this exciting work to be available to a wider audience than ever before.

While the festival may look a little different this year, I have no doubt that it will remain an impressive celebration of diversity within contemporary dance. I want to express my gratitude to the VIDF Society for all your hard work and to the dancers, directors and choreographers for sharing your invaluable artistic expression and talent.

Please accept my best wishes for an unforgettable festival and enjoy the shows!

As the pandemic continues to transform our everyday lives, arts and culture have taken on added significance. They inspire, entertain and comfort us in these challenging times. Canadians need to come together— even virtually—to celebrate the richness and diversity of their culture.

The 2021 Vancouver International Dance Festival is once again providing an unparalleled showcase for culturally diverse contemporary dance in British Columbia, while promising fans many exceptional discoveries. Although the format is different this year, the VIDF has once again put together a bold and captivating lineup of performances that are sure to delight audiences at home.

As Minister of Canadian Heritage, I would like to thank the dedicated organizers, the hard-working volunteers and the talented dancers and choreographers who brought the reinvented 2021 Vancouver International Dance Film Festival to life. Depuis que la pandémie bouleverse notre quotidien, les arts et la culture ont pris une importance accrue dans notre vie. En plus de nous inspirer et de nous divertir, ils nous réconfortent dans les moments difficiles. Les Canadiens et Canadiennes ont besoin de se rassembler, ne serait-ce que virtuellement, pour célébrer la richesse et la diversité de leur culture.

Le Festival international de danse de Vancouver de 2021 ouvre, une fois de plus, une fenêtre incomparable sur la danse contemporaine telle qu’elle s’exprime par les diverses cultures présentes en Colombie-Britannique. De nombreuses découvertes exceptionnelles attendent les amateurs. Bien que le format soit différent cette année, le Festival n’a pas failli à sa tâche; l’équipe a concocté une série de spectacles à la fois captivants et intenses qui raviront les spectateurs dans leur foyer. À titre de ministre du Patrimoine canadien, je remercie les organisateurs dévoués, les bénévoles assidus et les talentueux danseurs, danseuses et chorégraphes qui, en 2021, nous présentent le Festival international de danse de Vancouver sous un nouveau jour.

The Honourable / L’honorable Steven Guilbeault Welcome to the 2021 edition and 21st season of the Vancouver International Dance Festival.

The performing arts have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The necessary health orders that limit our ability to travel and gather are acutely felt with our festivals. The ability for artists to travel and audiences to gather is woven into the soul of an event like VIDF.

I applaud the ingenuity of the organizers to mount the festival, remaining true to its mission—to showcase and share the art of culturally diverse contemporary dance—while keeping audiences and performers safe. This year, the festival will livestream performances from March to June. The festival is also working with Canadian dance artists by providing additional supports to make the necessary adaptations to their practice.

I want to highlight that the VIDF is building on its tradition of providing programming that is accessible to the entire community. By making all the livestream performances by-donation, the festival is ensuring that as many people as possible can experience the connection and inspiration that dance provides. It also means that VIDF—one of British Columbia’s essential cultural events—will this year be able to share their programming with the world.

Congratulations to the organizers and to the artists the for making this happen. Bravo and enjoy the festival!

Sincerely,

Jane E. Brindley

A/Chair BC Arts Council The arts further our understanding of one another, and they bring us together to imagine a better world.

In these unprecedented times, artists and arts organizations are embracing innovative approaches so that they can continue to create their work and share it with audiences. As we grapple with enormous global challenges, the arts offer an endless supply of renewal, inclusion, and resilience.

The Canada Council for the Arts is proud to support the 2021 Vancouver International Dance Festival, which centres on the unifying power of the work it presents.

Simon Brault, O.C., O.Q. Director and CEO