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New Works brings Pop Up Dances Festival to Granville Island and Vancouver Public Library, September 20 to 22

The outdoor site-specific series offers dance in unconventional spaces like public stairwells and storefronts

By Gail Johnson

New Works presents Pop Up Dances Festival at Vancouver Public Library and Granville Island, September 20 to 22

NEW WORKS IS BRINGING back its Pop Up Dances Festival this year for a three-day outdoor event across Granville Island and at Vancouver Public Library’s downtown location. The popular series features dance in all sorts of atypical locations like stairwells, tunnels, shopfronts, and more.

Day One, on September 20, stars Kelly McInnes and Carla Alcántara on the eighth floor of the Vancouver Public Library. That’s followed by a panel discussion with the two artists as well as Erika Mitsuhashi and New Works’ program director Amber Funk Barton.

Performances take place across Granville Island on September 21 at 3:30 pm, 4:45 pm, and 6 pm and on September 22 at 11:30 am, 12:45 pm, and 2 pm. The shows feature six artists at six different venues in a roving performance: host Joylyn Secunda at Ocean Artworks; Cristina Bucci at the future Arts and Innovation Hub breezeway; Nyla Bedard on the steps at Ron Basford Park; Nasiv Kaur Sall at Railspur Park; Alyssa Favero at IE Creative; and Punit at Chain & Forge’s FLEET Studio.

Secunda will guide viewers throughout Granville Island to each of the sites; the entire route takes about 60 minutes and covers one kilometre. Audiences can also attend single shows or come and go as they please. The Granville Island production is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, and there is very limited seating at each venue.

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Gail Johnson

Gail Johnson is cofounder and associate editor of Stir. She 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.

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