The Dance Centre Podcast

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire chats with Wen Wei Wang, dance artist, choreographer and Artistic Director of Wen Wei Dance. Together they discuss Wen Wei's journey in dance, including how it brought him to Canada, transitioning into choreography, starting his company Wen Wei Dance, and his choreographic choices.   Wen Wei also talks about his artistic directorship with Ballet Edmonton as well as his new piece Last Solo. He gets into the meaning behind the sections of the piece and why it is his last solo work. Plus what that means for Wen Wei Dance and his retirement plans.   Show Notes: -See Last Solo at The Dance Centre October 23-24: thedancecentre.ca/event/wen-wei-dance -Wen Wei Dance website: wenweidance.ca

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes back dance artist and choreographer Tasha Faye Evans. Tasha talks about her upcoming performance of Cedar Woman at The Dance Centre and the journey she has taken with this piece over the last few years. She also shares the plans for the accompany exhibit that will take place in the Dance Centre lobby.   Tasha and Claire discuss Tasha's work in her community, her connection to nature and her roots, what belonging means to her and her other work in dance including her role as facilitator in 12 Minutes Max.   Plus Tasha gives an update on her House Post project: In the Presence of Ancestors, that can be seen in Port Moody.   Show Notes: See Cedar Woman Oct 1-3 at The Dance Centre: thedancecentre.ca/event/tasha-faye-evans-2026 Tasha' Website: tashafayeevans.com Listen to Tasha's first podcast episode: thedancecentrepodcast.podbean.com/e/tasha-faye-evans-episode-39

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes back Executive Director of The Dance Centre, Mirna Zagar, for part two of their conversation.    Mirna and Claire get into the details of running a building for dance, supporting dance artists and the dance scene in Vancouver. Mirna also shares how she envisions Vancouver as part of a global dance movement and the changing world of dance in the city.   Plus: The Dance Centre programs and programming and how it has evolved, and the realities of dance funding and the resources required to run a resource centre for dance.    Show Notes: -View Mirna's full bio: thedancecentre.ca/staff-and-board/mirna-zagar -Listen to Part One of the conversation: thedancecentrepodcast.podbean.com/e/mirna-zagar-part-one-episode-55/

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Executive Director of The Dance Centre, Mirna Zagar, for the first of two conversations this summer.   Part One features discussions of Mirna's past including her life in dance, starting out as an artist, journeying into Artistic Director of the Zagreb Dance Company, plus the creation of the Zagreb Dance Festival. This episode culminates with Mirna's move to Canada, her start with The Dance Centre and becoming Executive Director.   Part Two of this conversation releases in August, stay tuned! View Mirna's full bio: thedancecentre.ca/staff-and-board/mirna-zagar  

This month on The Dance Centre Podcast Claire welcomes back dance artist, facilitator, and choreographer Harmanie Rose.     Together they talk about how Harmaine came into dance and how she adapts her dance to the changes in her body. They also discuss the work Harmanie is doing in disability-led arts and movement, the preconceptions found in dance and her work to foster inclusive art practices and accessible spaces.   Harmanie also chats about her residency this season with The Dance Centre and her upcoming studio showing to showcase her new work in progress in collaboration with access artists Kelsie Acton and Colin van Uchelen.   Show Notes: -Website: harmanierose.com Instagram: @harmanierose Studio Showing, July 2, 2026: thedancecentre.ca/event/harmanie-rose Listen to Harmaine and Naomi Brand talk to Claire in March 2022: thedancecentrepodcast.podbean.com/e/all-bodies-dance-project  

This month on The Dance Centre Podcast Claire welcomes back dance artist and choreographer Ralph Escamillan (aka Kiki Legend OA Mother Posh Gvasalia and Canadian Mother Posh Basquiat). Together they discuss his journey in ballroom, his new work My House, how it celebrates Ballroom Culture and the structures within it.    Ralph also talks about his evolution in choreography and shares his plans for the future.   My House is presented in partnership with Queer Arts Festival   Show Notes: See the premiere of My House: https://thedancecentre.ca/event/fakeknot-2026/ FakeKnot Learning Series: https://www.ralphescamillan.com/fakeknot/my-house Listen to Ralph's first podcast episode from April 2023: https://thedancecentrepodcast.podbean.com/e/ralph-escamillan-episode-19/

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire is joined by Rachel Helten: dance artist, choreographer and Artistic Director of soma anima arts.   Together they discuss Rachel's dance career, her collaborations, her journey to becoming the Artistic Director of soma anima arts and the evolution of the company.   Plus Rachel talks about her creation process and her upcoming studio showing at The Dance Centre as part of her DanceLab this season.   https://thedancecentre.ca/event/international-dance-day-2026/ https://www.rachelhelten.com/ https://kinesisdance.org/  

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes choreographer and Artistic Director of Ne. Sans Opera & Dance, Idan Cohen.   Together they talk about Idan's journey through dance, opera and music including his training in dance and his move into choreography. They also discuss the overlap dance and opera in his work as well as the observation, practice and creation, that goes into the process of dance making.   Plus, Idan shares details about his new work in development, Bach Dances, excerpts of which will be featured at his Discover Dance! showing on March 5 at the Scotiabank Dance Centre.   Show Notes: -nesans.net -thedancecentre.ca/event/idan-cohen-ne-sans-opera-dance    

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month, for our 50th episode, Claire welcomes back dance artist, educator and choreographer Justine A. Chambers.    Together they discuss teaching, fashion, scores, working with galleries, and the origins and family ties in Justine's work, The Brutal Joy. Plus: her time as Association Artist at The Dance Centre and what's to come.   -justineachambers.com -thedancecentre.ca/event/justine-a-chambers

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes dance artist and choreographer Eric Cheung. Together they discuss his start in dance, his work and relationship with street dance, how he combines technology and movement, and his work with OURO Collective.   Eric also talks about his new piece, Contra, and his journey of creation. Contra premieres November 28 and 29 at Scotiabank Dance Centre.   Contra: thedancecentre.ca/event/eric-cheung Eric's Website: cheung-eric.com