Dance West Network’s Creative Collaborations brings emerging dance to rural B.C. this spring
Project features seven artists using performances and workshops to engage with local communities
SPONSORED POST BY Dance West Network
The artists of Dance West Network’s Creative Collaborations: L-R, T-B: Simran Sachar photo: Richie Lubaton; Eric Cheung, photo: courtesy of the artist; Sophia Sosa photo: Richie Lubaton; AJ Kule Kambere photo: courtesy of the artist; Tunde Jegede photo: courtesy of the artist; Jessica McMann, photo: courtesy of the artist; Daniel Bhattacharya photo: courtesy of the artist.
This spring, Dance West Network began a new initiative, Creative Collaborations: Emerging Artists with Local Communities, to strengthen relationships between BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ emerging contemporary dance artists and network partners in remote and rural areas of the province.
There are seven artists participating in the project: Simran Sachar, Eric Cheung, Sophia Sosa, AJ Kule Kambere, Tunde Jegede, Jessica McMann, and Daniel Bhattacharya. Presenters were given opportunities to exercise their creativity by producing unique projects with the artists for their community.
Daniel Bhattacharya, executive director of Arts Revelstoke and an accomplished classical violinist, collaborated with hoop-dancer and flautist Jessica McMann, who is Two-Spirit and Cree from Cowessess First Nation; and with renowned Kora and African Classical composer Tunde Jegede for Fusion, incorporating both a performance and community workshops in Revelstoke and with the Capitol Theatre in Nelson.
“I found that there was a deeper connection between the music written for Kora and that long history and my own dance steps of which have been danced for thousands of years. My favourite part of travelling to different communities is the opportunity to teach workshops to local Indigenous people and to share during a talk-back at the performance, offering a chance for a deeper and more personal connection.” - Jessica McMann
“The truly magical thing to witness was two artists bringing their individual and seemingly diametrically opposed forms of expression together, identifying the challenges, then listening and watching each other intently to find the common ground on which to grow something completely new and exciting.” - Allison Girvan
“To fuse African Classical music and Indigenous Hoop-dancing produced an event that truly embraced the concept of diversity and unity. This project was made possible by the belief in reimagining performances along with commitments to integrate styles and genres.” Daniel Bhattacharya
Jessica McMann, a Two-Spirit and Cree artist from Cowessess First Nation offering a hoop dance workshop in Nelson, B.C. Photo courtesy of Capitol Theatre
On Salt Spring Island, Robbyn Scott of Antler Ridge Dance Studio worked with Vancouver-based dance artists Simran Sachar and Sophia Sosa to bring their workshop, “The Lunacy Phase,” to a group of community dancers of all ages, experiences and abilities.
“A successful and truly joyful experience, smiling faces and non-stop dancing gave witness to the obvious passion and love for dance that emanated from both Simran and Sophia, inspiring all who danced with them.” - Robbyn Scott
“We talk about how important it is for larger communities to bring their work to smaller communities, but in our time on SSI we learnt so much more from them. Time & space to slow down, open up, and indulge in the pleasure of dance. Being far away from the rules and politics within dance, different communities remind us to hold on to the magic of dance, which is the moment. The lessons. The honest, learning. And most importantly the people.” - Simran Sachar
Simran Sachar leading “The Lunacy Phase” workshop on Salt Spring Island. Photo by Robbyn Scott
Also part of the Creative Collaborations Crimson Coast Dance (Nanaimo) collaborated with Hip Hop artist AJ Megaman to create a performance with Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, and in May, Eric Cheung of the Ouro Collective will visit Smithers to offer workshops to community members that will share interactive and technological elements learned from his experience as a street dance artist.
The Creative Collaborations project included opportunities for artists and community presenters to meet with Indigenous consultants and speak about how their work relates to their personal relationship with reconciliation, and to meet online with an accessibility consultant to consider how to continue working toward greater accessibility in the creation and presentation of their work.
The Creative Collaborations project was funded through the Government of Canada’s Re-engaging Audiences Fund for Professional Arts Presentation Organizations.
Sophia Sosa offers a hip hop workshop to an enthusiastic group of Salt Spring Island dancers. Photo by Robbyn Scott