Presented through a cultural partnership with CMHC Granville Island and in partnership with Vancouver Public Library.

Pop Up Dances

Festival 2024

September 20 - 22, 2024 
Various Locations, Vancouver Public Library, Central and Granville Island | Free
Find Pop Up Dances- LIVE LOCATION

In September 2024 Pop Up Dances returns to public stairwells, tunnels, shopfronts and more with an exciting festival of dance in unusual spaces. This fall, the fan-favourite site-specific dance series will expand to a three-day festival, animating unexpected places across Vancouver Public Library and Granville Island! 

Find Pop Up Dances Festival on Friday (September 20) for an exciting noon-hour performance and artist talk at the Vancouver Public Library. On Saturday or Sunday (September 21 or 22) join host, performer extraordinaire, Joylyn Secunda will lead audiences on a route of 5 locations at Granville Island, each featuring a site-specific dance performance, with talented artists from diverse backgrounds - from contemporary Indigenous Powwow Dance to street and contemporary dance and more!

Pop Up Dances happens in a mix of indoor and outdoor public spaces. Rain or shine, this Festival promises to delight audiences of all ages. All presentations are free to attend.

Meet the artists, and learn more about the site-specific works they will be sharing, below!

 

Day 1 on Vancouver Public Library

Friday, Sep 20 @12 - 1pm | VPL Central Branch, 8th Floor

Featuring 2 artists: Kelly McInnes, and Carla Alcántara. 

Followed by a panel conversation on the practice of creating and presenting site-specfic work. The discussion will be hosted by New Works Program Director Amber Barton, in conversation with Kelly McInnes, Carla Alcántara, and Erika Mitsuhashi.

Register HERE

Day 2 & 3 on Granville Island

Day 2 | Saturday, Sep 21 @3:30pm / 4:45pm / 6pm

Day 3 | Sunday, Sep 22 @11:30am / 12:45pm / 2pm

Featuring 6 artists across the Island:
 
Joylyn Secunda (Host) @Ocean Artworks
Cristina Bucci @Future Arts and Innovation HUB Breezeway
Nyla Bedard @Steps at Ron Basford Park
Nasiv Kaur Sall @Railspur Park
Alyssa Favero @IE Creative
Punit @FLEET Studio at Chain & Forge

Audiences are invited to join Pop Up Dances host Joylyn Secunda, who will expertly guide the group across Granville Island to each of the five site-specific performances. If you want to be sure not to miss a show, alongside Joylyn's brilliant commentary, this is the Pop Up style for you!

Hosted performances start from Ocean Artworks at the times listed above. 

Or locate Pop Up Dances in real time and join in. Audiences are welcome to come and go, stay for 1 show, or take in the whole route which lasts approximately 60 minutes and covers 1km. Pop Up Dances on Granville Island is wheelchair and stroller accessible, with very limited seating at each venue. All performances take place outdoors.

*Chocolate lovers, “walk-by surprise -and-delight”... Kasama chocolates will be offering an 10% discount to Pop Up audiences + limited sweet samples in one of the locations! Thank you Kasama Chocolate!

Track real time location HERE

Please reach out to info@newworks.ca, 604.893.8807 or message us on social media if you have further questions about access. 

Day 1 on Vancouver Public Library

Meet the Artists

Kelly McInnes

Artist Bio
Kelly McInnes is a dance artist concerned with embodying care & creating as a way to reconnect with the Earth. Her Craniosacral Therapy practice and passion for collective healing powerfully inspires her artistry. She is grateful to have worked as a choreographer, performer & community-engaged facilitator with many brilliant artists on beautiful projects over the past decade. Kelly delights in sharing dance through community classes & collaborative creative processes with youth, adults & seniors. She currently leads Late Stage Remedy, a collective dance meditation, inviting communities to practice connecting to the land together. Kelly also enjoys supporting the creative work of her colleagues.
About the work
"Broken Clouds" experiences of eco-grief and reconnecting to spirit inspire Kelly McInnes’ poetic dance contemplation.

Creative Support: Jackson Tegu, Maxine Chadburn.

Carla Alcántara

Artist Bio
Carla Alcantara is an independent, Mexican, multidisciplinary, artist, dancer, emerging choreographer, photographer, videographer, and educator, gratefully living and working as a guest on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations or so-called Vancouver since 2021. She is the founder and artistic director of TEMPO Dance & Visual Art. Carla has performed and participated in the creative processes of artists, choreographers, and companies, including “Lux Boreal” (Mexico), “8 Proyecto GATO” (Mexico), “ARCOS Dance (USA), "Nohbords" (Mexico), GOU Producciones (Mexico), VLAC, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, and in festivals like "All over the Map" and "POP Up Dances" by New Works, "Indie Fest" re:Naissance Opera, "NextFest", “Without Walls” (USA), 12 Min Max, SIBU International Dance Festival (Malaysia), “Cuerpo al Descubierto” (Mexico), "Trolley Dances" (USA) “Cuerpos en Tránsito” (Mexico), among others. Carla is grateful to be a guest choreographer for the Youth In Motion Dance Company and to teach numerous dance classes at The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. // Photo by Joffrey Middleton-Hope.
About the work
DRIVE is a contemporary dance performance that evocatively explores themes of human resilience, responsibility, and the relentless pursuit of both personal and collective goals. The choreography reflects on the inner drive that compels us to keep moving forward, incorporating motivational practices as symbols of the desire to "hold the reins" and shape one's journey. It delves into the weight of decision-making and the challenges that come with taking responsibility for one's path.

Credits:
Choreography and performance by Carla Alcantara
Outside eyes: Alina Sotskova and Renata Monteón
Music: Federico Albanese, Philip Glass/ Thibault Cauvin/ Adélaïde Ferrière, Dirtwire

Meet the Panelists

Amber Barton (Panel Host)

Panel Host Bio
Amber Barton (she/her) was born and raised in Vancouver and continues to live, work, and play on the unceded and ancestral lands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She has spent the majority of her life working in the arts as a professional contemporary dance artist, performing, choreographing, producing, and teaching dance for 21 years and received her professional dance training with Goh Ballet Academy, Arts Umbrella, Ballet BC’s Mentor Programme, and the Banff Centre for the Arts. Amber is also one of the few Canadians to receive a full danceWEB scholarship to study at the ImPulsTanz festival in Vienna, Austria and the inaugural recipient of the Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award awarded via The Dance Centre in Vancouver, BC. Amber was also the artistic and managing director of her own contemporary dance company, the response. from 2008-2021. As a past client of New Works, she looks forward to applying her experience on behalf of supporting the livelihood and well being of dance artists. | Photo by Carla Alcántara.

Ruhamah Buchanan

Panelist Bio
With over two decades of experience in the performing arts, Ruhamah Buchanan has an extensive background balancing both production and performance. Her performance career began with early theatre and dance training, leading to a five-year touring stint with performance art troupes Omnika & Mousai Entertainment, where she focused on roving and interactive performances. Over 20 years of festival production work has seen her play a pivotal role in developing performing arts programs within the EDM festival scene, particularly at Bass Coast Festival and Shambhala Music Festival. In addition, Ruhamah has spent 10 years as an arts administrator for CMHC-Granville Island, where she supports a variety of year-round cultural and artistic projects, many set in unique and dynamic outdoor spaces.

Erika Mitsuhashi

Panelist Bio
Erika Mitsuhashi (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist based on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Səl̓ílwətaɬ, and Skwxwú7mesh Nations. Her practice spans performance, installation, film, scenography, and projection design. She is ever delighted by contending with the materiality of the present and using the body as the site for conceptual, existential and tender curiosity. Her work has been presented by Surrey Art Gallery, VIVO Media Arts, PushOFF, Ehkä Productions (FIN), La Serre's OFFTA, and the Western Front. Locally, she collaborates with Alexa Mardon (Mardon + Mitsuhashi), Francesca Frewer, and is part of the producing and curatorial team behind Boombox, an underground performance venue in a shipping container. | Photo credit: Michael Kast

www.erikamitsuhashi.com
Instagram: @emitsuhashi
Boombox Instagram: @boombox_vancouver

Day 2 & 3 on Granville Island

Meet the Artists

Joylyn Secunda (Host)

Artist Bio
Joylyn Secunda is an actor, dancer, mime, and puppeteer based in Vancouver. They have performed their solo physical comedy, The Moaning Yoni, 50 times in cities across Canada and most recently debuted their solo mime show, The Routine. They starred as Scrooge in A Wonderheads Christmas Carol (The Wonderheads), as Zephyr in Crisis on Planet Z (Monster Theatre), as Seek in Pop Pop (Presentation House) and also performed as a puppeteer in The Breathing Hole (National Arts Centre), It’s Okay to Be Different (Mermaid Theatre), and Nombre (Théâtre la Seizième). Joylyn was selected for the Startle Reflex Residency with Tara Cheyenne Performance where they were mentored by Crystal Pite and Tiffany Tregarthen. They are a BFA Acting graduate from UBC and have studied clown with John Turner (Mump & Smoot), puppetry with Peter Balkwill (Old Trout) in Banff, mime with Dean Evans (Cirque du Soleil), Corporeal mime at Omnibus, and devised theatre at Dell’Arte International. // Photo by by Mark Halliday.

Nyla Bedard

Artist Bio
Nyla Bedard (Tahltan, Kaska, French and Scottish) is a multifaceted performing artist currently residing in North Vancouver, BC. Since the age of three, Nyla has been powwow dancing. Over the last 35 years she traveled across Turtle Island dancing at various powwows and festivals. She also teaches the various powwow styles, sharing the dance steps and the history. Since 2011, in partnership with Raven Spirit Dance Company, Nyla started the popular Powwow Bootcamp class which runs during the winter for 6 weeks at the Dance Centre in Vancouver. Nyla is also an actor, writer, and a mom of two. // Photo by Juco Visual Arts.
About the work
My Brief History w/ Fancy Dancing

The Fancy Shawl dance is one of the newest dance styles in the pow-wow circle. This dance is known for its high energy, spins and footwork. Nyla explores her relationship with this dance style from its traditional roots to its current contemporary moves.

Cristina Bucci

Artist Bio
Cristina Bucci has been a dynamic force in the arts community for over two decades, leaving an indelible mark as a choreographer, performer, educator, producer, and mentor. Her commissions include Lamondance Company, Dancing on the Edge, Yarita Yu Ballet, and KMA Dance/Orchestra (Japan). She is a registered holistic nutritionist focusing on dancer wellness and is working on a new solo work and group project entitled Inizi. In 2014, she co-founded OURO Collective to advance the public's appreciation of street dance culture and has spearheaded numerous outreach and youth initiatives. She is the 2023 Jacqueline Lemieux Prize Winner and a Chrystal Dance Prize recipient to work with OURO and international choreographer RubberLegz. Born in Malta and a first-generation Italian immigrant to Canada, she is grateful to reside and work on the unceded territories of the xwm θkw m ə əy̓ ə (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mes (Squamish) and S ílw ta /Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. // Photo by Teppei Tanabe.
About the work
Known for her collaborative work throughout her career, Bucci embarks on a new solo journey as a choreographer and performer. Her work draws from her extensive training in street styles and contemporary dance as she explores her unique aesthetic and creative process. Bucci aims to create captivating and intriguing performances that reflect the diversity and rich experiences she has accumulated over the years.

Nasiv Kaur Sall

Artist Bio
Nasiv Kaur Sall (she/her) is a Canadian-Punjabi dance artist, actor, and creator based in Vancouver, BC. A graduate of the Arts Umbrella Post-Secondary Program, Nasiv has contributed her talents to numerous film, TV, and theatre productions, as well as various Canadian dance companies and institutions. Her solo choreographic work, "Tea,” was showcased by Small Stages in Summer 2024. Nasiv began developing her group piece, "KAUR," in Winter 2023, which has since been presented online. Her choreographic voice has been featured in projects such as Anthony Shim's film "Daughter," Monsoon Festival's theatre production "Dooja Ghar," and Jandrou's music video "Revenge Body." As a contemporary dance artist and performer, Nasiv has collaborated with Kidd Pivot, Out Innerspace Dance Theatre, Anne Plamondon Productions, Furious Grace Dance Theatre, and more. In the film industry, she has worked as an actor and dancer in various feature films and series for Nickelodeon, Disney, The CW, NBC, and Netflix. // Photo by Michael Slobodian.
About the work
Piece Title: Tea
Music sampled from “The Rapper That Came To Tea” by Little Simz
Music/Score Composition by Stefan Nazarevich

"Tea is a solo work conceived and performed by Nasiv Kaur Sall. Through her character, she delves into the nuanced task of "being of service," navigating the shedding, unlearning, and honouring of a predetermined way of existence in favour of the unknown. This 'unknown' is messy, playful, unpredictable, and liberating.

Originally crafted for the stage, Tea remains a work in progress. Nasiv has spent countless hours over her lifetime in the very space where her New Works Pop Up performance will take place. She is eager to explore how adapting the piece to this familiar environment will shape and transform both the character and the performance."

Punit

Artist Bio
Punit is a first-generation Indo-Canadian dance artist residing in Surrey, BC. He has performed in productions such as "Plunge" with the Falling Company in 2023. Additionally, he has showcased his talent with the street dance company Higher Ground, led by Natasha Gorrie, at festivals in Surrey and Vancouver. He has also been a performing artist in the show "Sound in a Dark Room," curated by Christopher Bonus, in 2024. Recently, Punit led a comprehensive dance research project involving dancers and AI animation, collaborating with mentors like Erin Lum and Marissa Wong, and supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. In February 2024, he debuted his first duet, "Office Playground," alongside Sarah U at the Chalk Festival. He also performed his solo piece, "Human," as part of the "Collabor8" show curated by Kylah Powell. This piece is now being further developed during his residency with the Dance West Network under the mentorship of Arash Khakpour and Deanna Peters. Punit’s work focuses on mental health in contemporary society, integrating theatre, movement, and technology to create original works.. // Photo by Vitantonio Spinelli.
About the work
'I know'

"I Know" is a piece that explores the awareness of one’s own habits and the choice to remain stuck in them, caught in a loop of self-pity and self-deprecation. Through a blend of character work, theatre, and dance, it tells the story of a man living in a trailer who is grappling with a deep heartbreak while lounging on his patio. "I Know" is a section of a larger piece titled "Sub-Human," which will be performed in October as part of Dance West' Network's Re-Centering/Margins residency.

Alyssa Favero

Artist Bio
Alyssa Favero, also known as Lyzah is a dancer, choreographer, director, facilitator who aims to enter spaces with curiosity and love. They primarily create on Coast Salish lands but are grateful to have worked professionally within Montreal / Tiohtià:ke, Philippines and Singapore. Their work has received support from The Dance Centre, What Lab, Co. ERASGA, and The Canada Council for the Arts. In 2023, their solo work "Vibrate" earned an honorary mention from the Louise Bentall Biennial Award for Emerging British Columbia Choreographers, was performed at Dancing on the Edge, and will be performed in Berlin November 2024. Alyssa delves into the multiplicities within an individual's experience within their creations. They are invested in exploring street dance culture and creating works that harness their physical theatre and contemporary dance history. Alyssa is interested in nurturing the expansion of individual expression and intimacy within performance/collaboration. // Photo by Emily Wells
About the work
we break the dawn
created by Alyssa "Lyzah" Favero
performed by Alyssa / Lyzah & Rhythm
previous research by Reed Jackson and Paolo Askia

we break the dawn is a live indoor/outdoor performance piece that meets sound looping and whacking/waacking freestyling, featuring performers and creators Alyssa “Lyzah” Favero and Rhythm. Set in the industrial space of ie creative artworks—a studio specializing in large sculptural works—the performance uses embodied practices of sacred singing and street/club dance to create a site for grounding and transformation. The fluid artists explore the balance of feminine and masculine energy and the potential for healing through their performance.

Popping Up through the Years 

Pop Up Dances was first presented in partnership with CMHC Granville Island in 2007. Since then the series has returned through the seasons under different names, animated different venues from a metal working shop on Granville Island to a park in Port Coquitlam, and featured many different artists. Pop Up Dance has featured the experimental work of so many celebrated Vancouver-based artists, and we love hearing treasured memories from past staff, volunteers, and artists about their first wild and wacky Pop Up experience! 

Thanks to the prompt of a request from past Pop Up artist Salome Neito, we are especially excited to renew our presenting relationship with the Vancouver Public Library this fall, having last worked together in 2018 on a World Poetry Day pop up series. 

Salome Nieto performs at Pop Up Dances: World Poetry Day 2019 at VPL Central Library. 

Kat Single-Dain performs at the Arts Club Scene Shop at Pop Up Dances 2014. Photo by Yvone Chew. 

Bloco Energia leads the way across Granville Island at Pop Up Dances 2017. Photo by Juan Contreras. 

Host by Nick Gold (Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg) addresses the audience at Pop Up Dances 2023. Photo by Joffrey Middleton-Hope. 

Granville Island Performance Site Partners

IE Creative 

FLEET Studio: Granville Island by Other Sights

Presented in Partnership with

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

Top Photo: Carla Alcántara Pop Up Dances 2023.  Photo by Joffrey Middleton-Hope.