Dance Reviews

It's a jungle in the 605 Collective’s New Animal

It's a jungle in the 605 Collective’s New Animal

By Janet Smith | February 9, 2012
The aftermath of the production looked a bit like a couple of moulting grizzlies had just finished a food fight.
After Trio A and Beginning are a pair of unorthodox dance experiments

After Trio A and Beginning are a pair of unorthodox dance experiments

By Janet Smith | February 3, 2012
Who are the bravest two dancers in the city right now?
Dances for a Small Stage 25 proves the series' longevity is entirely justified

Dances for a Small Stage 25 proves the series' longevity is entirely justified

By Alexander Varty | February 2, 2012
Things were grim, then Grimm, then grim again. And intermittently goofy.
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La La La Human Steps's New Work travels at a lightning pace

La La La Human Steps's New Work travels at a lightning pace

By Janet Smith | January 23, 2012
In Edouard Lock’s New Work, the female dancers are almost always on their tippy-toes, but the way he uses pointe, they never look like frail music-box ballerinas.
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The Contingency Plan's latest program shows off the troupe's versatility

The Contingency Plan's latest program shows off the troupe's versatility

By Janet Smith | January 13, 2012
The Contingency Plan proved this week that it isn’t just versatile; it’s verging on a split personality.
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Out Innerspace’s Me So You So Me is unlike anything you've ever seen

Out Innerspace’s Me So You So Me is unlike anything you've ever seen

By Janet Smith | January 12, 2012
Out Innerspace’s warped new hot pot of Japanese pop culture and contemporary dance is as much fun as a Saturday-morning anime marathon.
Goh Ballet's The Nutcracker is family fun

Goh Ballet's The Nutcracker is family fun

By Janet Smith | December 16, 2011
Choreographer Anna-Marie Holmes' version of the beloved Christmas ballet may be one of the most child-friendly versions out there.
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Portraits and Scenes of Female Creatures conjures an eerie atmosphere

Portraits and Scenes of Female Creatures conjures an eerie atmosphere

By Janet Smith | December 9, 2011
Portraits and Scenes of Female Creatures starts out promisingly, conjuring an oceanscape so real that you can almost smell the salty sea air.
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MOVE: the company's The Red Nocturnal taps into synchronicity

MOVE: the company's The Red Nocturnal taps into synchronicity

By Gail Johnson | November 28, 2011
In his earnest welcoming comments at his recent show held at the Vogue, Josh Beamish explained that the evening was a departure for his five-year-old contemporary-dance troupe, MOVE: the company.
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Humour comes in many forms at Dance in Vancouver

Humour comes in many forms at Dance in Vancouver

By Janet Smith | November 25, 2011
From Plastic orchid factory's James to Shay Kuebler's excerpt from Karoshi, this year's programming showed dance in Vancouver is alive and well.
Ballet B.C.'s 3 Fold is an adrenaline rush

Ballet B.C.'s 3 Fold is an adrenaline rush

By Janet Smith | November 18, 2011
Bodies hurtle out of the darkness and lurch around like busted dolls and spiders at Ballet B.C.'s season opener.
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Louise Lecavalier pulls off a tireless, physically pummelling evening

Louise Lecavalier pulls off a tireless, physically pummelling evening

By Janet Smith | November 5, 2011
The La La La Human Steps alumnus can still barrel jump with the best of them.
Love Lies Bleeding is an undeniable blast

Love Lies Bleeding is an undeniable blast

By Janet Smith | October 14, 2011
No one is going to argue that Love Lies Bleeding is tremendously deep. But you would also have to work extremely hard not to like this fun, fast little ride into la-la land.
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Animals of Distinction's Heart as Arena conjures eerie world of sights and sounds

Animals of Distinction's Heart as Arena conjures eerie world of sights and sounds

By Janet Smith | October 6, 2011
Think high heels, shag rugs, and dozens of radios transmitting ghostly fragments of songs and static.
The National Ballet still looks fresh and edgy at 60

The National Ballet still looks fresh and edgy at 60

By Janet Smith | September 24, 2011
William Forsythe's second detail is mathematical mayhem, Crystal Pite's Emergence is a buggy delight, and who would have thought line dance could be raised to high art?