3 dance experiences to take in at home during Culture Days, on until October 25

Dance in your living room as if no one is watching

Goh Ballet is bringing its renowned academy to pepole’s homes, virtually. Photo by Goh Balley

CULTURE DAYS IS a month-long nationwide event that encourages people to find their creative place, whether it’s indoors, outdoors, or online. If you’re the type who’s got the moves, who’s gotta move, or who simply enjoys watching others groove, there are plenty of opportunities to discover dance. Below are a few free virtual happenings from Vancouver that will awaken your inner dancer. See Culture Days’ website for info on how to register.

Dance with Goh Ballet from the comfort of your home

Vancouver’s Goh Ballet Academy rivals top ballet companies around the world in terms of high-calibre training. Here, no matter what your age, you can learn to relevé with one of its instructors in your living room via Zoom. These Culture Days sessions will give you a taste of the classes offered at the Main Street school (which recently resumed in studio with COVID-19 practices in place).

On October 4, there’s a creative dance class for aspiring ballet dancers aged three and four as well as a Frozen-themed class for kids. Golden Ballet for those aged 55 and up takes place October 6, and an adult class happens on October 20. No experience necessary—dance as if no one’s watching.

Dezza Dance takes it outdoors and online. Photo by Dezza Dance

Dancing With Trees

Founded by Vancouver dancer and community-builder Desirée Dunbar, Dezza Dance is all about using dance to empower youth, emerging professionals, and older adults to move, collaborate, and connect. And yes, its artists really do dance with trees, in spectacular places like Jericho Beach Park. For this October 15 Zoom session, put your favourite tree image up as a virtual background as they take you through an interactive, creative dance experience suitable for all ages and abilities. Plus, you’ll get to watch a mini live performance by Elan Dance Project Artists.

Discover Dance! Sujit Vaidya

This edition of the Dance Centre’s Discover Dance! series features the South Indian style of bharata natyam by Sujit Vaidya, one of Vancouver’s leading dancers of the form. Vaidya will perform short solo works and talk about how he and other artists are challenging the traditional hierarchies, politics and stereotypes surrounding bharata natyam. This program streams on the Dance Centre’s website and YouTube channel from October 15 to 29.

Featured

Gail Johnson

Gail Johnson is a Vancouver-based journalist who has earned local and national nominations and awards for her work. She is a certified Gladue Report writer via Indigenous Perspectives Society in partnership with Royal Roads University and is a member of a judging panel for top Vancouver restaurants.