Pop Up Dances series by New Works returns to Granville Island, September 23 and 24

In partnership with CMHC Granville Island, a lineup of 30 free performances from 10 talented artists take place at five outdoor venues

SPONSORED POST BY New Works

Lil’wat Nation hoop dancer Alex Wells.

New Works brings their Pop Up Dances series back to Granville Island on September 23 and 24, in celebration of their 30th season. This time in its biggest form yet, the fan-favourite event is presented through a cultural partnership with CMHC Granville Island.

A previous programming main-stay, Pop Up Dances hosts 10 artists over five sites for a lineup of 30 performances. Expect the unexpected as intriguing and exhilarating dances pop up in unusual spaces across Granville Island: Ron Basford Park, Origins Coffee, Arts Umbrella, Ocean Artworks, and Dundarave Print Workshop.

Each of the artists is creating a unique, site-specific work for one of the show locations. The performance on September 23 features five alumni artists—each of whom participated in a past version of Pop Up Dances—returning to share all-new works: Salome Nieto, Kat Single-Dain of The Dusty Flowerpot, Company 605, Alex Wells, and Chengxin Wei.

Kat Single-Dain. Photo by Seamus Sullivan

On September 24, five next-generation artists take to the outdoor stages, making their Pop Up Dances debut: Carla Alcántara, Babyface Brass, Kelly McInnes, Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack), and Raven Grenier.

Guests are invited to take part in a 65-minute guided experience across the island to discover each of the five performances, hosted by award-winning artist Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg. The guided experiences depart from Ron Basford Park at 12 pm, 1:30 pm, and 3 pm each day. Folks can also explore the island on their own to discover the next show.

From Indigenous hoop dance to tap and contemporary, Pop Up Dances is a smorgasbord of creativity that audiences of all ages will enjoy. All venues are outdoors and performances will take place rain or shine, so don’t forget an umbrella and sunglasses.

A free event, Pop Up Dances is part of the Granville Island Culture Days Hub. Be sure to stick around the island after Pop Up Dances and check out all the free events on the go, including reggae and R&B at the Vancity Roots and Culture Experience Festival.

The full Pop Up Dances performance schedule and further details about the artists can be found at www.newworks.ca/pop-up-dances/.

Post sponsored by New Works.

Chengxin Wei.