Modern Dance in Vancouver, BC
Kidd Pivot Revives Contemporary Dance Within British Columbia
Modern dance in Vancouver, BC is a continually evolving art. Western Canada is privileged to house some of the best dancers in the country, most of who perform in Vancouver, British Columbia.
This season brought the acclaimed favourite, Crystal Pite and her dance company, Kidd Pivot, to the Vancouver East Cultural Centre (VECC) this November. Her dance troupe included Eric Beauchesne, Francine Liboiron, Malcom Low, Yannick Matthon, Anne Plamondon and Victor Quijada.
Kidd Pivot: After winning the Alcan Performing Arts Award for 2006, Pite handpicked seven dancers to perform in her piece, Lost Action. Pite’s launch into the despair and loss of war began with an idea that flourished into reading her great uncle’s letters from World War II and internalizing their contents.
"It was just scary. I had never experienced war, and I didn't want to trivialize it. I thought I should leave the subject for later, when I had more knowledge. Maybe when I was 60 or 70," she told The Ottawa Citizen this year. "I was about three-quarters the way through, and it was unmistakable- I had a piece about death and conflict."
Lost Action: The production opens with a group dressed in hooded parkas, the dancers moving as though hailing an SOS. As the lights come up, the audience sees the group shifting into the trenches and surviving with the help of their comrades. The vital red stage acts as a stark backdrop to the gloom but is broken up with humour and a gorgeous score.
Pite’s solos are unnerving and powerful to the core. Her body cuts through the space like it will fly out of control, only to be brought back again with utter ease. Each member of the group has their own solo time, revealing a variety of styles and strengths that flow over into the piece as a whole.
Most impressive is the group work, as the dancers mould into each other like putty and repel just as naturally. They are just as comfortable saving each other as they are fighting to the death. With an undecided ending, the lights go down and the audience stays still, not knowing whether to clap or get ready for more. They’ll need to do both: Lost Action is over, but Crystal Pite undoubtedly has more in store.
Upcoming Modern and Contemporary Dance in Vancouver, BC
- Twelve Minutes Max celebrates its 34th year this December 11-12, 2007 at the Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets: $12 CDN. Information: (604) 689-0926.
- Dances for a Small Stage comes to The Legion on the Drive January 31 and February 1, 2008. Except to see work by Crystal Pite and Cori Caulfied, Joe Ink, Science Friction, Alison Denham and more. Tickets: $15 CDN cash at door. Information: (604) 731-6856.
- PuSh International Performing Arts Festival will feature dance in its program, like Chunky Move from Australia. It runs February 1-3, 2008. More information: 1-866-608-8284.
- April 26-29, 2008 brings International Dance Day to the city. Contact the Dance Centre at (604) 606-6400 for events and performances taking place.
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