Small Stage 2.1—Cocktails, Conversation and a Show sees dance artists perform at a Mount Pleasant distillery, October 6

An evening of movement, music, and mixology that’ll leave you shaken and stirred

SPONSORED POST BY Small Stage

Jessica Dawn Keeling. Photo by Richie Lubaton

Vancouver-based nonprofit Small Stage’s popular Dances for a Small Stage series was a mainstay in the city for nearly two decades prior to the pandemic; held in cabaret-like settings, the shows introduced audiences to emerging dance talents with performances on a signature 10-by-12-foot stage.

After a five-year hiatus, Dances for a Small Stage 2.0 launched in July 2024 with two sold-out shows. Audiences were invited to Please! Beverage Co., a distillery in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, for a comeback program which included a diverse ensemble of intergenerational women dance artists. With drinks in hand, viewers sat back, relaxed, and witnessed a rich tapestry of styles—including contemporary, modern, lyrical, and flamenco—all performed in an exhilarating, unconventional venue.

This new and improved format was a resounding success, prompting Small Stage to take things a step further by devising another revamped event with three exciting components: cocktails, conversation, and a show.

Nasiv Kaur Sall. Photo by Mark Klotz

Called Small Stage 2.1—Cocktails, Conversation and a Show, the upcoming experience at Please! Beverage Co. on October 6 and November 3 from 4 pm to 7 pm includes a flight of 5 cocktails with the purchase of each $75 ticket. The cocktail flights prepared by Please! Beverage Co. are specially designed to pair with each artist.

Shows include many of the artists from July 2024 performing reiterations of their works—Cori Caulfield, Jessica Dawn Keeling, Nasiv Kaur Sall—along with Rebecca Margolick and Nicole Rose Bond who are new to the cohort. Audiences can also anticipate singer Krystle Dos Santos with Ben Parker as her accompanist, two exciting Vancouver musicians at the top of their game.

Prior to showtime, community experts are set to discuss various arts issues with the guests, as well as introduce the beverages being served. The conversation panel consists of JA Saroyan, Janet Smith, Dawn Brennan, and Patrick Pennefather, who are also compiling a list of dance-related happenings to read and watch.

To purchase tickets and learn more about the event, visit Small Stage.

Post sponsored by Small Stage.