MOBERLY ARTS & CULTURAL CENTRE
MACC Studio Theatre
PAST PERFORMANCES & EVENTS at MACC

Come & enjoy Community Dance! Moberly Arts Cultural Centre in partnership with Roundhouse Community Arts Centre, the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and the Norman Rothstein Theatre are co-producing the 5th season of LINK. It will be part of Moberly’s Connecting Community Dance Series. LINK’s annual dance concert brings together each of the centre’s distinct resident community dance companies as well as guest contemporary and cultural dance companies.
Fri, Jun 6 & Sat Jun 7, 8:00 pm
Buy tickets at the door. Adults $15; Students/Children $10
Moberly Arts & Culture Centre is located at 7646 Prince Albert Street, Vancouver. Phone: (604) 718 6521
net/maccprograms.htm. These concerts are produced by Dancer/Choreographer Desiree Dunbar in partnership with the Community
Art Centres. For more information also go to www.desireedunbar.com.

photo by Erik Price

Swing by the MACC Studio Theatre for a full day of big band jazz. University and College big bands from the lower mainland will present concerts starting at 12:00 noon until 11:00 pm. There will be bands from UBC, Capilano College, Douglas College, Vancouver Community College, Kwantlen University College and Trinity Western University.

Saturday, March 29th, 2008.
12:00 noon-11:00 pm
Tickets are $10.00 at the door for the whole day.

Proceeds from the festival will go to the Fraser McPherson Scholarship Fund. This project is greatly supported by: The MACC Studio Theatre, The Coastal Jazz Blues Society, UBC School of Music, Northwest Musical Services, Tom Lee Music and Yamaha Canada Music.

OPERA-FEST Opera Appassionata has made a name for itself by presenting rarely-performed operas and unusual concerts throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. An impressive line-up of soloists and musicians have brought well-known and lesser-known music to life. To celebrate this unique creativity, Opera Appassionata will present an evening of "Best of…" taken from its 6 opera productions and 7 concerts including "Pimpinone", "Gardener in the Greenhouse", "Wunschkonzert" and "Serenades at Simmons". This will be an unforgettable evening of Highlights culminating in a true opera-party: Opera-Fest!

June 30, 2007 at 7:00pm at the MACC Studio Theatre
Tickets $20 / Seniors and Students $15
Reservation recommended! Call 604 - 312 - 3510
or check out the web-site at www.operaappassionata.org

An annual showcase of contemporary and cultural dance choreographed by professionals and performed by recreational dancers.

PERFORMANCES BY: Original collaborators: Moberly’s stARTdance, Shadbolt’s Continuum, and The Roundhouse Community Dancers with guest performers this year: Sudnya Dance Academy, FootEdge Bhangra Dance Company, the Lorita Leung Chinese Dance Company, Or Chadash dance group, and the Coast Contemporary Dancers, JCCGV OR Chadash Dancers and Centro Flamenco.

Please join us for these two vibrant performances.

Sunday, May 27, 2007 at 2:00 pm Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre
181 Roundhouse Mews (Pacific Ave. between Drake and Davie)
(604) 713-1800 www.roundhouse.ca

Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 8:00 pm Norman Rothstein Theatre
950 West 41st Ave. (at Oak St.) (604) 257-5111 www.jccgv.com

West Coast Chamber Music and the MACC Studio Theater present Jean Pierre and the Old Witch

Friday, March 30, 2007-10:00 a.m.-Open Dress Rehearsal
Friday, March 30, 7:00 p.m.Community Concert
Saturday March 31, 2:00pm-Community Concert
Tickets: $12 adult, $8 children

Join interdisciplinary artist Angela Brown with musicians Alan Crane & Holly Duff in this fabulous concert blending classical music with theatre, dance and mime. Meet the historical clown character of Harlequin in an enchanting and humorous mime piece, accompanied by classical piano duet. Dance, mime and a little theatre bring this story to life! Bring the whole family. Doors open at 6:15pm, tickets are available at the door and are also available at Sikora's Classical Records, 432 W. Hastings. To reserve tickets please call 604-879-9959
For more information go to www.westcoastchambermusic.org

Photo by: Gerhard von Rosen

Dr. Miracle - comic opera by Bizet Dr. Miracle - comic opera by Bizet – presented by Opera Appassionata

Sung in English and accompanied by orchestra!

Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 7:30 pm at the MACC Studio Theatre

After such spectacular productions as "Gardener in the Greenhouse" and "Pimpinone" Opera Appassionata will present Bizet's Masterpiece "Dr. Miracle" at the MACC Studio Theatre. This fully-staged comic opera is about love, disguise and a poisoned omelette!
Tickets $25 / Seniors and Students $20 Reservations recommended! Call 604-312-3510 Or go to www.operaappassionata.org

MACC's resident opera company, OPERA APPASSIONATA, is proud to return with a comic opera called “Pimpinone“ by G. Ph. Telemann with soloists and orchestra under the inspiring leadership of Artistic Director Frank Klassen and staged by professional actress Riad Klassen. The wealthy bachelor Pimpinone is looking for a maid to hire and Vespetta, just recently unemployed, is looking for a wealthy patron with the prospect of marrying him. Pimpinone falls head over heels in love with Vespetta who agrees to work for him. It turns out that Pimpinone is stingy and Vespetta is not interested in chores. Still, Pimpinone agrees to marry her and that’s when the real misery begins…
Saturday, November 18th, 2006, 8:00 pm, doors open at 7:30 Tickets $25 ($20 seniors & students) Reservations call 604-312-3510
Click here to view full press release PDF

MACC Studio Theatre presents the next Connecting Community Dance Series Fall 2006 performance “STATIC” Thursday, Nov. 2, Friday, Nov. 3, Saturday, Nov. 4. Showtime is 8:00 pm. Tickets are $15.00 at the door. Box office opens at 7:15 pm, seating is limited. Building upon the success of our previous dance productions, this contemporary dance series highlights the vision of community dance, culturally diverse dance, emerging and celebrated professional dance artists. For more information please call the MACC Studio Theatre hotline at (604) 696-1229
Click here to view full press release PDF
View stART Dance Video

MACC Studio Theatre presents the next Connecting Community Dance Series Spring 2006 performance of

“RUSH”

Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10, 2006
Showtime is 8:00 pm. Tickets are $15.00 at the door.

There are no reserve tickets. Box office opens at 7:15 pm, seating is limited. Building upon the success of our 7 previous dance productions, this fresh dance series highlights the vision of community dance, culturally diverse dance, emerging and celebrated professional dance artists. Choregraphers include: Catherine Anderson, Desiree Dunbar, Jessica Fletcher, Judith Garay (dancersdancing), James Gnam, Anthony Morgan and Raakhi Sinha. For more information call the MACC Studio Theatre hotline at (604) 696-1229.
View stART Dance Video

Book your tickets now!
To reserve call 604-312-3510; to purchase email info@operaappassionata.org

Likely the Hottest Show in Town!

Mozart’s Gardener in the Greenhouse

Friday, May 26th, 2006 @ 7:30 pm
Saturday, May 27th, 2006 @ 7:30 pm SOLD OUT
Sunday, May 28th, 2006 @ 2:00 pm

Sunset Nursery Greenhouse 290 East 51st Avenue, Vancouver, BC (1 block East of Main St. on the South side)
“La finta giardiniera”, Fully-staged Opera with Orchestra in a Greenhouse!
Tickets: $25.00 at the door / seniors & students $20.00
To reserve Tickets call (604) 312–3510
To purchase via email, contact info@operaappassionata.org

Vancouver, BC – Opera Appassionata is bringing out an opera production in a Vancouver Nursery! Instead of putting a Tuscan Country Estate Garden on the Queen Elisabeth stage, Artistic Director Frank Klassen is inviting the audience to sit among the plants where Mozart’s comic opera will be sung and acted under the stage direction of Matthew Bissett, who has already made a name for himself with his productions of The Marriage of Figaro, Cosi fan tutte and Cendrillon among others. Mozart's comic opera "La finta giardiniera" is all about a young woman so in love that she disguises herself as a gardener in order to meet the man she loves, Count Belfiore again. Even the count's name translates into English as "beautiful flower", and when all the mixing up of the various couples comes to an end, there is a happy ending for all. With 7 soloists and an orchestra, the Sunset Nursery Greenhouse will provide the ideal setting for this relatively unknown gem.

Sunset Nursery (Greenhouse) is located at 290 East 51st Ave. (1 block East of Main Street on the South side) there is street parking only, as well as parking at Sunset Rink (390 East 51st) and Sunset Community Center (404 East 51st). For more info contact: Opera Appassionata at 604.321.6674, www.operaappassionata.org
This project is in partnership with Moberly Arts and Cultural Center, Sunset Nursery, Sunset Community Center and Opera Appassionata.

This project is in partnership with Moberly Arts and Cultural Center, Sunset Nursery and Opera Appassionata.

Opera Appassionata brings a one-act Comic Opera to Vancouver, Brackendale and Abbotsford. Bizet’s Dr. Miracle will be presented in a fully-staged production under the musical direction of conductor Frank Klassen and the stage direction of director Riad Klassen.

November 2005
11th, 8 pm, Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre, 7646 Prince Albert St., Vancouver
12th, 8 pm, Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, 32315 S. Fraser Way, Abbotsford
13th, 7 pm, Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia, 801 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
20th, 8 pm, Brackendale Art Gallery, 41950 Government Road, Brackendale

Schmoozing and serenading have helped Sergeant Silvio win the heart of Laurette but not the permission of her father to let him marry her. The scheme the sergeant comes up with to convince her father is nothing short of amazing and very risky.

Imagine drum-banging and loud music outside your window before your alarm goes off in the morning. That will be sure to attract attention and put you in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Of course we want to know who this idiot is and find out that a stranger named Dr. Miracle is using the raucous music to advertise his pills and medicine.

The new servant, Pasquin, serves an omelette which is celebrated at length, but doesn’t taste quite right. The Podestat valiantly eats all of it and takes his wife Veronique out for a walk, leaving Laurette alone with Pasquin, who turns out to be none other than Silvio! The Podestat surprises them, kicks out Silvio, but finds out, that he has been poisoned! Since the nearest doctor lives in the next town, quite far away, the Podestat insists on entrusting himself to Dr. Miracle, who is only willing to help in exchange for the hand of his daughter!

Music Director: Frank Klassen
Stage Director: Riad Klassen
Laurette Katheryn Garden
Veronique Tamara Croft
Silvio David Morrow
Podestat Anthony Roper

Katheryn Garden is a young soprano in her 4th year of vocal performance studies at the Vancouver Academy of Music. Recently she has performed Ida in Die Fledermaus, Prima Cercatrice in Suor Angelica, Noemi in Cendrillon and has been invited as soloist in Mozart’s Requiem by the Regina Symphony Orchestra.

Tamara Croft began singing at the age of 3 and hasn’t stopped since. Past roles include Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, Mme de la Haltiere in Cendrillon, Lady Blanche in Princess Ida, Ella in Mack and Mabel, and Katisha in The Mikado - a role which won her a nomination as Best Female Singer at The 2003 Waterford International Light Opera Festival in Waterford, Ireland.

David Morrow began his performing career in the title role of The Tales of Hoffmann and was invited to sing Rodolfo in Rome last year. Other lead roles he has performed include the Prince in Cendrillon, the title role in Idomeneo, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus and Don Jose in Carmen.

Anthony Roper was nominated Best Male Singer at The Waterford International Festival of Light Opera in Waterford, Ireland for his portayal of Pish-Tush in "The Mikado". Favourite roles in light opera include Jupiter in "Orpheus in the Underworld", Barinkay in "Gypsy Baron", Fritz in "The Grand Duchess", Guiseppe in "The Gondoliers" and Duke of Urbino in "Night in Venice".

Frank Klassen has been a professional opera conductor throughout Europe for more than 15 years with a vast repertoire of over 50 operas. He has recently returned to his native Vancouver where he is in high demand as conductor, coach and clinician at the Vancouver Academy of Music, UBC, the West Coast Symphony, the Prince George Symphony and other institutions.

Riad Klassen has extensive experience as a professional actress throughout Germany and other parts of Europe as well as prompting, coaching and directing opera. She is currently the President of the Opera Appassionata Society.

Opera Appassionata Society is a new registered charitable organization based in Vancouver which provides audiences in different localities with opera and opera related events accessible to all ages and backgrounds. These productions are aimed at reaching audience members who might otherwise not come in contact with opera. It is both a service to the community as well as a service to the artists involved.

Opera Appassionata focuses on creating a unique environment in which young artists can gain practical experience by working with established professionals. Operas, concerts and workshops will give opportunities to perform and develop skills. Opera Appassionata is open to working with costume designers, set designers, pianists, musicians, lighting designers, stage managers and persons of other professions necessary for the success of each production. All participants are selected carefully by the artistic direction through auditions and/or competitions to insure a high level of quality.

Productions are designed for performance in multiple locations to reach audiences in different places. These will be financed through ticket sales, private and corporate donations and fundraising events. In addition to performances for the general public, there will be periodical concerts at no charge for seniors’ homes, the Canadian Institute for the Blind and other benevolent institutions. Fundraising events will also benefit various charitable organizations.

The society is run by a volunteer board of directors, which has appointed Frank Klassen as its Artistic Director. Maestro Klassen recently returned to Vancouver from an extensive conducting career in Europe and is rapidly making a name for himself in Canada. Alone in the past 6 months he conducted Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” as a fully-staged fundraising production for the Magdalene Recovery Society, Gilbert & Sullivan’s rarely performed “Princess Ida” for the Fraser Valley Stage Production Society, Massenet’s exquisite jewel “Cendrillon” for the Vancouver Academy of Music, and Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” for the Okanagan Vocal Arts Festival. www.maestroklassen.com

The Fall Program for 2005 includes one main-stage production each month, each performed in more than one location.

In September the inaugural concert event was entitled “Wunschkonzert” in which 12 soloists accompanied by Karen Lee-Morlang sang highlights and hits from operas and operettas and also featured folksongs from the multiethnic background of the singers.

In October, a fully-staged production combined J. S. Bach’s “Coffee Cantata” with G. Ph. Telemann’s “Pimpinone” into a delightful evening of Baroque opera. The two one-act operas were performed in the original German and Italian, accompanied by a chamber orchestra and led by Maestro Frank Klassen.

November will see Bizet’s comic opera “Dr. Miracle” in another fully-staged production directed by Riad Klassen. Whereas the “Coffee Cantata” will include real coffee, the omelette, which plays a central role in “Dr. Miracle” will also be made by a master chef in each performance.

In December, a Fundraising Concert entitled “Oratorio for Aids” will be performed on and around World Aids Day, December 1st. Opera singers will present highlights from many different oratorios, climaxing with the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah”.

Workshops for singers at various stages in their development will focus on the Techniques of Learning and Memorizing, Audition Training and Repertoire Development. These will be led by professional coaches under the artistic direction of Frank Klassen.

Opera Appassionata needs the support of patrons and donors in order to implement its programs and welcomes individuals, businesses and corporations to help achieve its goals.

More information as well as details regarding dates, times and venues can be found on the website at www.operaappassionata.org or by calling 604–321–6674. www.operaappassionata.org

INAUGURAL CONCERT OF OPERA
presents
Wunschkonzert

September 24th, 2005 @ 7:30 pm
MACC Studio Theatre (Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre)
7646 Prince Albert Street, Vancouver, BC

September 25th, 2005 @ 7pm
Unitarian Church, 949 West 49th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

12 exceptional opera singers from Vancouver present an exciting program of Hits and Highlights from Opera, Operetta and Folksong

Vancouver, BC – Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre and Opera Appassionata present a new chapter in vocal arts concerts, Saturday, Sept. 24 at 8 pm at the MACC and Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Unitarian Church on 49th & Oak. Tickets cost $20 ($15 for Students and Seniors) and can be reserved by calling 604.312.3510 or purchased at the door. For more info contact

Opera Appassionata at 604.321.6674, www.operaappassionata.org
or MACC Studio Theatre at 604.696.1229, www.mysunset.net

Opera Appassionata is a newly formed non-profit society with the goal to present performances of high quality which are appealing and affordable to everyone in the community.

The Wunschkonzert is the inaugural event of the very first season of Opera Appassionata. Twelve soloists will present highlights and hit from various operas an operettas including “O sole mio”, “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” and Carmen’s famous “Habanera”. This classical pops concert will also feature folksongs from the diverse backgrounds of the soloists. It will be more of a theatrical event than a traditional concert with singers entering and leaving the stage, creating a visual flow that corresponds to the ever changing musical numbers.

Artistic Director Frank Klassen, who is in charge of the musical direction, comes with an extensive experience of more than 15 years working as a professional opera conductor in Europe. He is highly in demand throughout BC and has been invited to work with such established groups as the Vancouver Academy of Music, the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, the West Coast Symphony, the Fraser Valley Stage Production Society and the Okanagan Vocal Arts Festival.

The well-known pianist Karen Lee-Morlang will accompany the soloists in each of the concerts. Karen has performed for many distinguished organisations including CBC Radio, Festival Vancouver, UBC and is lauded for her "exquisite interpretations" and "passionate piano playing".

For more information call Frank Klassen at 604.321.6674 or email info@operaappassionata.org

June 19th, 2005
11:00 am to 7:00 pm

Plaza of Nations
750 Pacific Blvd., Vancouver, BC
Info at: www.safa.ca or (604) 696-1230

Vancouver, BC – South Asian Family Association (SAFA), presents the 3rd Annual Sawan Mela festival to promote cultural harmony. “Through sharing and understanding each others cultural practices and traditions we learn to live in harmony. “

The stage performances will include: folk dance Giddha, Shiamak’s Indo-Jazz Movement, ICCA Men’s Bhangra, women and girl’s Bhangra, and classical Bharat Natyam, Surry Arts club, Viva bhangra, UBC girlz, gurba girls, Insane dholis, yoga, rangoli, martial art.
There will be a Punjabi bazaar where jewellery, saris, silks; traditional costumes and arts & crafts items, scarves and much more will be for sale. There will also be mendhi henna art, face painting, craft and games for children and Indian food and snacks. There is no charge for this family event welcoming all cultural groups.

For more information or to rent a stall please contact:
Safa at www.safa.ca or call the event info line (604) 696-1230.
Media Contact: Suki Grewal, Phone: 778-688-3996

This was project was greatly supported by a Celebrations Grant from City of Vancouver Cultural Affairs Office, BC Gaming, SAFA, Moberly Arts & Cultural Center, CTV, CBC radio, Vancity, Plaza of Nations, Naz Pharmacy, Vancity printers, Music-Waves, Iris Media and Viacom JC Decaux.

“Fresh, unrestrained vitality”- Laura Murray, The Georgia Straight

Vancouver, BC – Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre and INSIGHT Performance present a new chapter of the

Connecting Community Dance Series - FRISK, Wednesday- Friday
June 8-11 at 8 pm.


Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at the door one hour prior to show time.

For more info contact MACC Studio Theatre at 604.696.1229, 7646 Prince Albert St, Vancouver, V5X 3Z4, (one block East of Fraser at 60th ) www.mysunset.net.

Building upon the success of previous dance productions, this fresh contemporary dance series provides an opportunity for Vancouver audiences to experience an eclectic collection of contemporary dance works by prominent artists.

Choreographers include Desirée Dunbar (INSIGHT Performance), James Gnam, Natasha Lutz, Emily Molnar, Anthony Morgan, Cheryl Prophet, Sharon Wehner, Chengxin Wei, Michelle Olsen and Kimberly Tuson (Raven Spirit Dance Co.). Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre’s community dance company stARTdance and the Ballet BC Mentor students share the program with local professional dancers.

Connecting Community Dance Series is a project of Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre and INSIGHT Performance, and is committed to the presentation of contemporary dance which reflects diverse cultures and highlights the vision of professional, emerging and community dance artists. This series provides a venue for local choreographers to present their work in the Vancouver community in a collaborative performance.

For more information:
Desirée Dunbar, Media Relations (604) 696.1229 or by e-mail at desireedunbar@shaw.ca

Catherine Andersen, Marla Eist, Christopher Duban, Desirée Dunbar, Amber Funk Barton, Judith Garay, James Gnam, and Natasha Lutz. Featured on the program are dancers from Ballet BC, Dancers Dancing, and Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre's community dance company stARTdance. SHIFT November 18-20, 2004 @ 8 pm MACC Studio Theatre 7646 Prince Albert Street Celebrated professional and community dance artists come together in a dynamic mixed programme of highly energetic, compelling and contrasting new works "…thought-provoking, fresh, and colourful new works…" - Laura Murray, The Georgia Straight Vancouver, BC - MACC Studio Theatre and Insight Performance present a new chapter of the Connecting Community Dance Series - SHIFT, Thursday - Friday November 18 - 20 at 8 pm. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at the door one hour prior to show time. For more info contact MACC Studio Theatre at 604.696.1229, 7646 Prince Albert St, Vancouver, V5X 3Z4 Dancers Dancing, Vancouver's contemporary dance repertory company, performs excerpts from Artistic Director Judith Garay's new work in progress, Notions of Two. Juxtaposing diverse images sourced from media photos of two people, the piece strives to find meaning, relief and reflection in these troubled times. For more information contact Desirée Dunbar, CCDS Media Relations, at (604) 696.1229 or by e-mail at desireedunbar@shaw.ca

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Vancouver's most compelling established, emerging and Community dance artists come together in EAST, a dynamic display of diverse cultural expression. EAST May 27- 29, 2004 @ 8 pm MACC Studio Theatre 7646 Prince Albert St. V5X 3Z4 Vancouver, BC - Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre (MACC) and INSIGHT performance present the second installment of the Connecting Community Dance Series. EAST, a showcase of contemporary dance repertory launches at the MACC Studio Theatre May 27 - 29 at 8 pm. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at the door one hour prior to show time or reserved in advance by contacting the MACC Studio Theatre at 604.718.6521, 7646 Prince Albert St., Vancouver, V5X 3Z4, www.mysunset.net. From the distinct gestures of India's Bharat Natyam and the passion of Chinese classical dance to the technical prowess of ballet and the intelligence of modern dance, Eastern and Western cultures merge in a potent display of astonishing virtuosity. On the program are dancers from Ballet BC, dancersdancing, Lorita Leung Dance Company, INSIGHT performance, Continuum Dance Company and stARTdance. Choreographers featured include Desirée Dunbar, Judith Garay, James Gnam, Anthony Morgan, Sudnya Naik, Simone Orlando, Donna Redlick and Chengxin Wei. Media Contact Desirée Dunbar 604.718.6521 or desireedunbar@shaw.ca MACC Contact Hardeep Sahota 604.718.6521 or hardeep.sahota@vancouver.ca Tickets & Reservations MACC Studio Theatre 604.718.6521 For information on the Connecting Community Dance Series go to www.mysunset.net

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"LINK" Community Dancers come together to present TWO afternoon dance presentations , the beginning of a great new series of community dance in Vancouver. In this series, community dancers from other centres will come together to present dance works. After each performance refreshments will be served and there will be an informal question and answer session. Tickets by donation. This series starts on Saturday, May 8 from 2:00 - 4:00 at MACC Studio Theatre and with a second part on Sunday, June 13 from 2:00 - 4:00 at the Roundhouse Community Arts Centre. For more information about these performances please call, (604)718-6521

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SHIVER, the inaugural chapter of the Connecting Community Dance Series 03/04, promises to ignite the mind with a creative, artistic and cultural exchange between seasoned, emerging and community dance artists. December 5th & 6th, 2003 8:00 PM MACC Studio Theatre, 7646 Prince Albert St. (one block East of Fraser & 60th.) Tickets cost $12.00 at the door and available one hour prior to show-time. Limited seating. Free parking. SHIVER's harmonious blend of Contemporary, Tap, Chinese and Indian dance forms highlights some of Vancouver's most compelling companies, choreographers and dancers. On the program are dancers from Time-Step Productions, Dancers Dancing, Insight Performance, stARTdance and Lorita Leung Dance Academy. Choreographers featured include Santa Aloi, Desirée Dunbar, Judith Garay, James Gnam, Sudnya Naik and Chengxin Wei.

Santa Aloi is known for her poignant storytelling through tap, music and contemporary dance. Originally from New York, where she danced with Gus Solomons Jr, she was a founding member of what is now the School for the Contemporary Arts at SFU. Her company Time-Step Productions' creation "Finding My Way: A Tale in Taps," a fusion of stories, tap, contemporary dance, live interactive music and visuals can be seen in March 2004 at the Evergreen Comedy Festival. Judith Garay, formerly a Principal Dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company, is a professor at Simon Fraser University and Artistic Director of Dancers Dancing. Ms. Garay offers a glimpse into the company's full evening work by four choreographers entitled 4 WINDS: The Winter Project. Desirée Dunbar performs the solo with a commissioned score by Patrick Pennefather. Frost exploits the elemental nature of winter as embodied by woman. This is a creature of darkness and frozen, blinding light – a being without human frailty. Sudnya Naik started learning Bharata Natyam, a precise style of dance with stylized hand gestures, facial expressions and footwork, at the age of five and performed in many cultural events in India. She holds a MFA in dance in choreography from the University of Bombay and has been choreographing, performing and teaching in Vancouver for over six years. The choreographer and Artistic Director of the unique community dance company stARTdance Desirée Dunbar, provides a sampling from WEST, a touching celebration of her spirited grandmothers as well as the premiere of THIRST the newest creation which explores the quest for calm amidst a storm of distraction. The stARTdancers are Vivian Chan, Kymm Girgulis, Jennifer Harwood, Marnie Maretic and Joanne Shadbolt. James Gnam and Natalie LeFebvre- Gnam having danced previously with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens have recently been seen gracing stages throughout British Columbia. James created the solo 17 Yellow Balloons (Jim on the Phone) for Natalie earlier this year. The youthful, popular duo Chengxin Wei and Jessica Jone team up to perform both Contemporary and Classical Chinese works entitled Feng Qing Variations (choreography, by Gao Bo) and Interplay (choreography, Chengxin Wei). More information supporting this story idea can be sent to you via e-mail or can be communicated by telephone or in person. Please contact Desirée Dunbar, Media Contact and Artistic Director of stARTdance at (604) 325-7462, desireedunbar@telus.net, or Danita Noyes, Arts & Cultural Programmer, Project Coordinator at MACC, Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre, (604) 718-6521

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An evening of contemporary dance with performances by stARTdance and Continuum Dance Co., both non-professional dance companies; along with professional dancers Desiree Dunbar, Meghan Goodman and Tanya Podlozniuk, and musicians Larry Pierre Davids and Anny-Jane Lin. June 6-7, 8:00pm Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre (7646 Prince Albert near Fraser and 60th) Tix $12 at the door (seating is limited.) stARTdance and special guests present WEST, an evening of contemporary dance VANCOUVER, B.C. - stARTdance, a non-professional dance company under the artistic direction of Desiree Dunbar, is pleased to present WEST, showcasing the creations of the company's third season including a collaborative piece in celebration of each of the dancers' grandmothers, at the Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre on June 6-7 at 8 p.m.

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