The Dance Centre Podcast

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire chats with Wen Wei Wang, dance artist, choreographer and Artistic Director of Wen Wei Dance. Together they discuss Wen Wei's journey in dance, including how it brought him to Canada, transitioning into choreography, starting his company Wen Wei Dance, and his choreographic choices.   Wen Wei also talks about his artistic directorship with...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes back dance artist and choreographer Tasha Faye Evans. Tasha talks about her upcoming performance of Cedar Woman at The Dance Centre and the journey she has taken with this piece over the last few years. She also shares the plans for the accompany exhibit that will take place in the Dance Centre lobby.   Tasha and Claire discuss T...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes back Executive Director of The Dance Centre, Mirna Zagar, for part two of their conversation.    Mirna and Claire get into the details of running a building for dance, supporting dance artists and the dance scene in Vancouver. Mirna also shares how she envisions Vancouver as part of a global dance movement and the changing world...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Executive Director of The Dance Centre, Mirna Zagar, for the first of two conversations this summer.   Part One features discussions of Mirna's past including her life in dance, starting out as an artist, journeying into Artistic Director of the Zagreb Dance Company, plus the creation of the Zagreb Dance Festival. This episode cu...

This month on The Dance Centre Podcast Claire welcomes back dance artist, facilitator, and choreographer Harmanie Rose.     Together they talk about how Harmaine came into dance and how she adapts her dance to the changes in her body. They also discuss the work Harmanie is doing in disability-led arts and movement, the preconceptions found in dance and her work to foster inclusive art practices an...

This month on The Dance Centre Podcast Claire welcomes back dance artist and choreographer Ralph Escamillan (aka Kiki Legend OA Mother Posh Gvasalia and Canadian Mother Posh Basquiat). Together they discuss his journey in ballroom, his new work My House, how it celebrates Ballroom Culture and the structures within it.    Ralph also talks about his evolution in choreography and shares his plans for...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire is joined by Rachel Helten: dance artist, choreographer and Artistic Director of soma anima arts.   Together they discuss Rachel's dance career, her collaborations, her journey to becoming the Artistic Director of soma anima arts and the evolution of the company.   Plus Rachel talks about her creation process and her upcoming studio showi...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes choreographer and Artistic Director of Ne. Sans Opera & Dance, Idan Cohen.   Together they talk about Idan's journey through dance, opera and music including his training in dance and his move into choreography. They also discuss the overlap dance and opera in his work as well as the observation, practice and creation, that g...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month, for our 50th episode, Claire welcomes back dance artist, educator and choreographer Justine A. Chambers.    Together they discuss teaching, fashion, scores, working with galleries, and the origins and family ties in Justine's work, The Brutal Joy. Plus: her time as Association Artist at The Dance Centre and what's to come.   - justineachambers....

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes dance artist and choreographer Eric Cheung. Together they discuss his start in dance, his work and relationship with street dance, how he combines technology and movement, and his work with OURO Collective.   Eric also talks about his new piece, Contra, and his journey of creation. Contra premieres November 28 and 29 at Scotiaban...

Welcome back to the Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Bharatanatyam dance artist Sujit Vaidya.   Sujit and Claire discuss Sujit's dance journey, starting with discovering Bharatanatyam at a young age, his other career choices and finally finding Bharatanatyam again in Vancouver and taking his first dance class in his 30s.   Sujit also shares thoughts on immersing yourself in a dance...

This month on The Dance Centre Podcast, Claire welcomes back dance artist and founder of Co. ERASGA, Alvin Tolentino. In this episode, Alvin shares the motivations behind creating his company, and the journey he and the company have taken over the past 25 years. Plus a look towards the future as a dance artist, choreographer, mentor and founder.   Claire and Alvin also chat about Alvin's new work,...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Andrea Nann, contemporary dance artist, arts educator, and the founding Artistic Director of Dreamwalker Dance.   Together they discuss Andrea's dance journey and career over the last 40+ years, her roots in Vancouver and in the Vancouver dance community, creating new works, community building and the inception of her company, Dr...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire takes on a double role as both host and Artist-in-Residence, and chats with Jeanette Kotowich, Simran Sachar, Virginia Duivenvoorden and Vanessa Goodman – the dance artists who make up re:group, an initiative she conceived for her residency this past season. Join them as they discuss creating and participating in dance communities, how th...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Artistic Co-Directors of Company 605, Lisa Mariko Gelley and Josh Martin. Together they share their dance journeys, their relationship with dance, and the evolution of Company 605 from a collective to where it is today.   Josh and Lisa also discuss the work they do in the Vancouver dance community, their creation process, and how...

Welcome back to the Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire is joined by dance artist, choreographer and Artistic Director of Action at a Distance, Vanessa Goodman.   Together they discuss Vanessa's journey with dance, how she make dance a communal experiences as well as her relationship with music and sound - and how to listen to dance.    Vanessa also speaks about creating dance and sound with h...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire is joined by dance artist and choreographer Gaurav Bhatti. Together they discuss how dance chose him, his journey through dance genres, starting with Bollywood to his current work in Kathak, the relationship between Kathak and Contemporary dance and the evolution of his new piece Bulleh Shah: Seeker of Light.   See Bulleh Shah: Seeker of...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire chats with Jessica Jone, principal and artistic director of the Lorita Leung Dance Academy. Together they discuss Jessica's journey with Chinese and contemporary dance, the different chapters of her life in dance and her relationship with the Dance Centre. Jessica also shares the correlations she sees between Chinese and Contemporary danc...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire chats with interdisciplinary artist, choreographer and performer Erika Mitsuhashi. Together they discuss Erika's journey with dance, evolving from a dance artist to making dance, exploring other disciplines and materiality, as well as her collaborations to create and produce dance Erika also shares about her current project: putting toget...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes dance artist and choreographer Tasha Faye Evans. Together they speak about community engagement, her house posts project In The Presence of Ancestors, and the evolution of her piece Cedar Woman.   Show Notes: Website: tashafayeevans.com Coast Salish Design Elements:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc3K-MyH3xg    

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Anya Saugstad, dancer, choreographer and recipient of the 2023 Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award. Together they discuss Anya's dance and choreography journey, how she is inspired by nature and uses it in her work, and why she enjoys working with a team.  Claire and Anya also talk about her piece, Paper Mountains and it's...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month, Claire sat down with Dance In Vancouver 2024 curator Anthea Lewis and Freddie Opoku-Addaie, who has also been closely involved in the curatorial process. Together they discuss the dance communities in London and Vancouver and the importance of hearing from multiple, different voices when curating. Plus Anthea shares her approach to curating DIV...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire sits down with dance artist, choreographer and Artistic Director of Shakti Dance, Anusha Fernando. Together they discuss her history and career in Bharata Natyam, the creation of Shakti Dance as well as her role in the formation of the Jai Gavinda Dance Academy and Mandala Arts & Culture Society. Plus the evolution of Bharata Natyam a...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire sits down with interdisciplinary artist and scholar Dr. Ayasha Guerin. Together they discuss Ayasha's journey and connection with dance, her current work at UCLA, and the importance of dance and moving the body. Claire and Ayasha also talk about the Liberated Planet Studio, diving into the creation of the project and how it has evolved an...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire is joined by dance artist, choreographer and multidisciplinary artist Sophie Dow. Join them as they discuss how Sophie got started in dance, the many hats they wear in their careers in dance and  bodyworks, plus their new piece Agrimony and it's journey through music and dance.   https://www.sophiedow.com/