DANCES FOR A SMALL STAGE Set for The Anza Club Tonight

Kicking convention to the curb, Dances for a Small Stage - Vancouver's most-anticipated dance event - turns 32 with an eclectic and exciting mix of original contemporary creations by some of the city's dance-greats, tonight, October 20, through October 23, 2015 at 8pm, in the intimate, new performance space of The Anza Club.

The latest Small Stage iteration boasts an impressive and diverse array of talent, including first-time 'Small Stagers' Heather Myers (formerly of Nederlands Dans Theater), local contemporary dance artist and actor Agnes Tong, and Ballet BC dancer Andrew Bartee (formerly of Pacific Northwest Ballet), who will be performing "a wild, anything-goes feast-for-the-senses" choreographed by fellow Ballet BC dancer Kirsten Wicklund, returning to her Small Stage roots for the first time since 2013.

"While upholding the Cabaret performance style Vancouverites adore - punchy, five- to seven-minute original dance works with big impact on a small stage - we're daring our creators to boldly step beyond their creative confines, by collaborating with other choreographers and musicians outside their own artistic discipline," explains Artistic Producer Julie-anne Saroyan. "Energized by our new digs at The Anza Club - which will bring audiences even closer to our revered artists - our performers will showcase such diverse styles as Odissi Indian dance, flamenco, Euro-styled contemporary, and so much more in an all-out celebration of dance in its many forms and guises."

In addition to a premiere from Wicklund, and a performance from Myers and Tong, this October's four-show run will feature new works from Scheherazaad Cooper paired with Dayna Szyndrowski, and Burgundy Brixx joined by Judith Garay. Merging music and movement, Vanessa Goodman and Karissa Barry will perform a new work featuring an original ambient soundscape from composer Loscil. Dancer Caroline Liffmann will engage audiences through an immersive and interactive performance, that will bridge the divide between acts one and two.

As the 2015/16 company-in-residence at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, many of these creative partnerships are the result of a series of artistic labs facilitated by Small Stage over the summer months in 2015.

In celebration of the new venue and cooling temperatures, Dances for a Small Stage will also offer dinner + show packages of comfort food-inspired cuisine.

Complete menu details and dinner + show packages available by visiting: smallstage32.eventbrite.ca

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