Shadbolt Centre in Burnaby marks International Dance Day with free event
From ballet to tap, the indoor atrium of the centre will feature various adult and youth-led performances
Continuum is one of the dance companies that will be performing at the International Dance Day event. (Submitted)
In celebration of International Dance Day, the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts in Burnaby will host a free event on April 26, highlighting performances from both youth and adults.
The Shadbolt’s dance program has been celebrating the worldwide event for many years, with the upcoming informal showing set to feature about 20 pieces, Jeannine Miller, the centre’s fine and performing arts programmer of dance, wrote in an email statement to The Runner.
“This is a really special day for the dance program [participants] and instructors,” Miller wrote. “Our atrium is always full of people coming and going throughout the performance, and the energy and excitement from the audience is amazing.”
The show will include works by students in the centre’s dance program, as well as its resident dance companies — Youth in Motion and Continuum. Many of the pieces have been choreographed by the instructors.
“We also have some students who have choreographed their own work and will be performing this work as well,” Miller added.
“This is an opportunity to share our love of dance with the community and to encourage our students to showcase their work.”
Dance styles that will be featured at the showing include ballet, modern, jazz, and tap, she wrote.
Hosting the event a few days before International Dance Day — which lands on April 29, the birthday of modern ballet pioneer Jean-Georges Noverre — will allow students to participate in the show, Miller wrote.
In addition to the performances, the event will have visual artist Thomas Anfield sketch dancers as they perform in real time.
“Dance is art. It’s a way of expressing, exploring, and connecting. This day gives us an opportunity to share that and maybe even introduce some to dance for the first time,” Miller wrote.
“Anyone can dance, and we want to demonstrate that by having all ages and levels participate.”
The free event will take place at 11:00 am inside the atrium of the Shadbolt Centre.
For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.
