Three dance performances to see in Vancouver in February

Danca Sinfonica. Jose Luiz Pederneiras photo.

The return of an internationally renowned Brazilian dance company, a selection of new works by local choreographers and an ambitious work performed by Montreal street dancers are some of the options contemporary dance fans have in Vancouver this month. Scroll down to find out more.

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Three dance performances to see in Vancouver in February

Flamenco v Tap: Dawn of a New Grease

David Cooper photo.

Get ready for a new version of Grease—flamenco-and-tap-style!

The Karen Flamenco dancers are teaming up with Troy McLaughlin’s tap crew for a flamenco vs. tap showdown in a new production of Grease. The show is Nov 1 & 2 at the Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St.. Find out more below.

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Flamenco v Tap: Dawn of a New Grease

2018’s Queen of Burlesque among the guests at this year’s Vancouver Interational Burlesque Festival

Inga performs at the 2019 Vancouver International Burlesque Festival. Max Shaw photo.

The reigning Queen of Burlesque 2018 is among the featured guests at this year’s Vancouver International Burlesque Festival. Taking place at the Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St.), April 3 – 6, the festival features “dazzling dancers, naughty nerds, bawdy drag performers, and satirical stripteasers from around North America.”

Besides Inga, the first Indigenous performer to be crowned the Queen of Burlesque, VIBF also welcomes the “stripping sensation from the Mohawk Nation” Lou Lou la Duchesse de Rière (Montreal, QC). La Ducesse de Rière is currently ranked in the top 20 burlesque performers worldwide.

See what else the festival, now in its 14th year, has in store below.

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2018’s Queen of Burlesque among the guests at this year’s Vancouver Interational Burlesque Festival

Highlights of this year’s Vancouver International Dance Festival

Dairakudan’s Pseudo human Super Human by Hiroyuki Kawashima.

This year’s Vancouver International Dance Festival features a ton of premieres, as well as the return of audience favourite Dairakudakan.

Taking place March 4 – 30, the nearly month-long program features performances by both internationally revered artists and lauded Vancouver performers. See below for some highlights.

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Highlights of this year’s Vancouver International Dance Festival

A Tale of Real Estate Corruption and Family Turmoil Presented at the Vancouver Playhouse

Photo Credit: Don Lee

After the happy flurry of holiday activities, January can feel like an impending quiet time. The solution: plan to take advantage of one of the city’s top-notch arts and culture events.

Coming early next year is the world premiere of The Full Light of Day, a technological marvel that melds film and theatre in order to tell a story of one family’s corruption, despair, and ultimate redemption.

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A Tale of Real Estate Corruption and Family Turmoil Presented at the Vancouver Playhouse

Aussie acrobat troupe’s Backbone is circus on a human scale

Gravity & Other Myths is back. Following a sold-out run here in 2015 with its show A Simple Space, the Aussie troupe returns with a new creation, Backbone.

Running at the Vancouver Playhouse until Nov. 4, Backbone is a mix of thrilling acrobatics, contemporary dance/movement, and live music. Find out more about the 80-minute spectacle, and Gravity & Other Myths, below.

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Aussie acrobat troupe’s Backbone is circus on a human scale

Toronto Dance Theatre brings eclectic, career-spanning program to Vancouver

Vena Cava. Guntar Kravis photo.

Toronto Dance Theatre is one of Canada’s foremost dance companies. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Vancouver’s DanceHouse is bringing a showcase of the company’s work to the Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St.) on Feb. 23 and 24 (details below).

The program draws on three decades to present five works by TDT Artistic Director and choreographer Christopher House. Here are brief descriptions of the pieces.

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Toronto Dance Theatre brings eclectic, career-spanning program to Vancouver