Dance West Network

Dance West Network works with multiple artists and a network of presenters around the province, and to start off this new 22-23 season, we turn to the artists to hear from them about the impact of our programs:

Re-Centering/Margins Residency: an eight-month residency that increases opportunities and professional development for emerging contemporary dance artists of colour to create contemporary works with mentoring support

Residency Artists 21/22: 

To have the autonomy to choose a mentor, delve into a solo process as well as collaborate with a writer to support the work, exponentially pushed my work and personal practice into forward motion. Jennifer Aoki

Having a place to go and work on a piece over 8-months, created a ritual in the creative process to uncover, discover, and play. I identified what I need to thrive in a creative process. I expanded what it means to be an artist. Sophie Dow

I think it worked as a lab to explore elements of performance that I wouldn't of had the chance to. It impacted my trajectory for the better and I feel a sense of clarity in projects moving forward. Nick Miami Benz

PIVOT Digital Collaborations supported dance artists of colour to discover and engage digitally with their work and connect with more BC residents, 21-22.   

Creating "The Kiln Project" through the PIVOT program was a valuable opportunity for me to dive further into creating dance for digital spaces, and to create our project on beautiful Galiano Island, BC. I'm grateful to have been able to share pieces of Japanese Canadian history on this island”  Shion Skye Carter

The PIVOT project has changed the trajectory of my practice. Grounding deeper into dance, theatre and film is opening up new relationships and ways of viewing and creating art. The intersectionality of conversations and the different positionalities people bring is incredible!  Lindsay Katsitsakatste Delaronde 

Northern BC Re-Centering/Margins Residency increased opportunities for BIPOC  and/or LGBTQ2S+ emerging dance artists in Northern BC to more fully realize their artistic visions, 21-22. 

“The most impactful part of the residency for me has been to have the opportunity; it gave me the permission to explore my creative process which I may not have granted myself.  Fior Saoirse 

Dance West Network encourages cooperation, dialogue, and network development among B.C. presenters, artists, other partners and collaborators; increases awareness and appreciation of contemporary dance within the province and; works towards greater equity for historically excluded/equity-seeking dance artists and audiences.