The Dance Centre in downtown Vancouver has been a whirlwind of activity in this pandemic.

For proof, just look at some of the shows that have been livestreamed since the provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, cancelled live events last November.

In December, dancer Mary-Louise Albert came out of retirement after 20 years to dance her own solo in a series of performances that she commissioned. Solo Dances/Past Into Present also featured her daughter, dancer Rebecca Margolick, as well as dancers Livona Ellis and Vanessa Goodman.

More recently, the Dance Centre streamed Proximity, a collection of short works featuring Joshua Beamish either dancing or choreographing. Then there are flamenco performances by Kasandra “La China” of Mozaico Flamenco, which continue until April 28.

“I think it’s important for the readers [of the Georgia Straight] to know that while there are no live performances, artists are quite busy regardless—and they’re busy in different ways,” the Dance Centre’s executive director, Mirna Zagar, told the Straight by phone. “Some are reflecting, others are researching, others are actually creating work, and many are also performing, although to the camera.”

Next Thursday (April 29), the Dance Centre will stream events for free from 11 a.m. into the early evening to commemorate International Dance Day.

"It’s celebrated worldwide because it is an opportunity to reflect on the fact that dance is around us and in us—and how dance connects and builds bridges across cultures as a nonverbal discipline," she said.

Zagar pointed out that dance is an art form that "relies on the touch, on the physical, on the breath, on some very intimate moments". 

Yet that's precisely what we're being told to avoid in our communications with strangers during the pandemic. This, she believes, adds another layer to how the art form is being viewed today.

The International Dance Day events include an afternoon Dance Café cocurated by Amber Funk Barton, artistic director of the response, and Kaia Shukin.

It features several contemporary dance artists and choreographers using Instagram Live to share their work from different locations.

They include Shana Wolfe, Lisa Gelley with Lily Yukiko Tamoto, Sammy Chien, and Jee Lam.

At 5 p.m., the Dance Centre will present six microcommissioned pieces online. These short films, created for International Dance Day, feature the following local choreographers' work:

* Arely Santana's The Show Must Go On;

* Ashvini Sundaram's Swan Alarippu;

* Tomoyo Yamada's Stuck in 2020, created through Clala Dance Project;

* Vanessa Goodman Cobalt, which was createed with musician Scott Morgan through Loscil + Action at a Distance;

* Meagan O'Shea's Vicarious Time, created through Stand Up Dance;

* and Xin Hui Ong's Kindred.

Zagar acknowledged that dance on video can never match the magic that comes with watching a live performance.

The Dance Centre operates seven studios, including a theatre, inside the Scotiabank Dance Centre at 677 Davie Street.

“Our mission and mandate is to support dance artists in their careers and their aspirations,” Zagar said. “And also to bring dance to communities. I admit we are struggling still to find the best ways of doing it under current circumstances.”

That said, she’s very proud of what the Dance Centre has managed to achieve in recent months. But she also pointed out that COVID-19 has had a detrimental impact on the Dance Centre’s finances. She’s hoping that the public is in a mood to step up and support arts groups like hers.

“The government has been very generous, but the funding only goes so far and is nowhere near what’s needed to sustain this,” Zagar revealed.

In the meantime, the Dance Centre continues with its outreach, offering digital content to seniors, high schools, and, recently (and for the first time), a kindergarten class. She also appreciates the positive feedback when the Dance Centre is able to fulfill various requests that come in.

“That means what we do is meaningful and it has a future,” Zagar said. “And that helps us get through the hard times.”