Welcome to New Works’ 29th season!
Spurred forward by new ideas and new voices, we look to the coming season with excitement as we passionately support this exceptional cohort of artists. Whether you join us as an audience member, workshop participant, mentor, intern, teacher, or artist – we look forward to connecting with you this season!
As I look ahead to the activities planned for our upcoming season, I am filled with awe by the abundant creativity in Vancouver’s dance community. My colleagues and I look forward to strengthening and developing New Works’ programs and opportunities for artists so that they can thrive and feel supported as creators and community leaders.
– Amber Barton, Program Director
Join us in kicking off the season with 003_playback by Chimerik 似不像 / led by Caroline MacCaull, and step into a mesmerizing world of choice and chance. Initially created for online platforms, we’re proud to hold space and offer support as the work expands into a new form; a live, in-person performance. Capacity is limited for this one-night show, so grab your tickets early! (2 October, 5pm, Roundhouse Performance Centre.)
A few weeks later we join Tara Cheyenne Performance to support the presentation of ECDYSIS by Emmalena Fredriksson. The work takes over Progress Lab in a site specific installation and immersive performance experience where, in the not so distant future, the cyborgs awaken. Keep on eye on TCP’s channels as tickets go on sale and don’t miss this powerful work come to life!
As Fall settles in we welcome and celebrate a number of new voices who are leading, questioning, and exploring exceptional projects at New Works. The XR Program returns for its second season, led by Program Director Gemma Crowe and Program Manager Sierra Megas, with the selected team of emerging artists who will dive into their own creative XR practices over the next 6 months. This is an artist-led, process focused project, that grows and shifts each year in response to the creative needs of the community. We can’t wait to see where the XR team takes us this season! (Applications accepted through September 30, public sharing March 2023 TBA.)
We are thrilled to announce a new program this season and hope you will join us throughout the year with Share Dance: In Practice; a professional development workshop + conversation series where dance teachers can gather to learn, investigate and question the creative practice of teaching dance. How does teaching fit into your artistic practice? How does that practice grow? Join community leaders and artists Carolina Bergonzoni, Marco Esccer, and Lisa Mariko Gelley in considering some of these questions and building your teaching toolbox. Passionate about dance education and looking for new skills to build your teaching practice? Let’s chat! Reach out to facilitator Marco Esccer and start a conversation.
And don’t forget, our Share Dance Program will be rolling along throughout the year! Now in its 8th year, we look forward to offering 40+ workshops to underserved and marginalized communities, led by our amazing Share Dance Facilitator.
In the new year we welcome the return of the Cohort Professional Development Program for its third season. Led by a team of experienced performing arts professionals, the Cohort Program is a gathering space for selected artists to grow the management side of their practice through direct mentorship, feedback, and peer based learning. Participants are selected through an application process which will open in November and all program fees are covered for the selected artists.
At the core of New Works is a dedication to serve Vancouver’s dance community across their varied dance journeys. It has been inspiring to discover the many New Works alumni who first connected with us through the cohort program and have gone on to work on Share Dance or who’s creative projects are now being supported by our management team. Or the arts admin student who did her first internship at New Works and 14 years later is a cultural leader who will soon be returning to volunteer on the New Works board. Or the 10 year old Share Dance participant who became a New Works donor, raising money at her school to help us share dance with even more youth. I hope New Works will be part of your dance journey this season and I look forward to meeting you along the way.
– Jason Dubois, Executive Director
January also finds Ana Sosa and Kay Huang Barnes in residence at Q7 + the Roundhouse Performance Centre as they each take time and space to sink into their own creative process. A New Works residency is a safe space for creative risk as led by the artists themselves. We can’t wait to see what blossoms from these opportunities.
As Spring circles round we head back to the theatre in April with a not-to-be-missed mixed program of artists, presented in partnership with The Roundhouse. Toronto-based Naishi Wang presents his celebrated solo work Taking Breath at the Roundhouse on April 14, alongside special guests Nyla Carpentier who will be creating a new, contemporary powwow work. Students from Modus Operandi will round out the program, completing a stunning evening of diverse creative work. (14 April, Roundhouse Performance Centre.)
The following week we return to the theatre in support of The Falling Company’s new work, Family Room, presented in partnership with The Dance Centre. After a week-long technical residency, The Falling Company will invite audiences to view this exciting new collection of solos. Exploring deep family dynamics through a rich onstage world, we look forward to sharing more with you as the work grows and takes shape. (26 April, Faris Family Theatre, The Dance Centre.)
Much of this season, like many of New Work’s activities, have come together directly out of conversations with artists. The New Works team is growing (meet all the new folks HERE), allowing us to be more responsive, connected, and supportive of the known and new communities around us. Has our upcoming season sparked an idea or chance to collaborate? Or just excited to tell us about what tickets you plan to grab this year? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to the New Works team get the conversation started.
We look forward to seeing you in the theatre, studio, classroom, or virtual world this season!
