Canada’s oldest and longest-running contemporary dance festival celebrates its 35th milestone year in 2023, presenting over thirty dance productions in live stage performances showcasing artists from across Canada.
…we are celebrating the waves of motion created by the countless number of creative artists who have been in the festival over its 35 years.
“Named Dancing on the Edge because the festival was located on the Edge of the Pacific and contemporary dance has been seen as an edgy art form, we are celebrating the waves of motion created by the countless number of creative artists who have been in the festival over its 35 years,” say organizers in a media release. “Starting as ripples and returning to the shore as waves in full force, they have helped build and sustain Canada’s oldest professional contemporary dance festival.”
On offer this year are premieres of new choreographies, works-in-progress, and repertory work with guest companies from Quebec, Alberta, Nova Scotia and Ontario, along with some of BC’s finest dancers and dance companies.
Among the highlights this year is Barocco Rave, a collaboration between Wen Wei Wang and Italy-based choreographer Francesca Lettieri and Ecdysis & Soft Palate from Vancouver-based choreographer Emmalena Fredriksson.
In addition, Montreal choreographers Emily Gualtieri and David Albert-Toth present the solo piece À bout de bras, and BC choreographer and dancer Sarah Chase present the autobiographical solo work, The door opened west. From Halifax, Mocean Dance’s Sarah Prosper and Sara Coffin perform in the cross-cultural and cross-generational duet Utawtiwow Kijnaq – Our Mother’s Road.
The 35th annual Dancing on the Edge Festival of Contemporary Dance takes place at venues around Vancouver from July 6 to 15. Visit dancingontheedge.org for tickets and information.