The Dance Centre Podcast

Welcome back to the Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Bharatanatyam dance artist Sujit Vaidya.

Sujit and Claire discuss Sujit's dance journey, starting with discovering Bharatanatyam at a young age, his other career choices and finally finding Bharatanatyam again in Vancouver and taking his first dance class in his 30s.

Sujit also shares thoughts on immersing yourself in a dance form, and his artistic choices as ...

This month on The Dance Centre Podcast, Claire welcomes back dance artist and founder of Co.ERASGA, Alvin Tolentino. In this episode, Alvin shares the motivations behind creating his company, and the journey he and the company have taken over the past 25 years. Plus a look towards the future as a dance artist, choreographer, mentor and founder.

Claire and Alvin also chat about Alvin's new work, Eternal Gestures and his collaborat...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Andrea Nann, contemporary dance artist, arts educator, and the founding Artistic Director of Dreamwalker Dance.

Together they discuss Andrea's dance journey and career over the last 40+ years, her roots in Vancouver and in the Vancouver dance community, creating new works, community building and the inception of her company, Dreamwalker Dance. 

Claire and Andr...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire takes on a double role as both host and Artist-in-Residence, and chats with Jeanette Kotowich, Simran Sachar, Virginia Duivenvoorden and Vanessa Goodman – the dance artists who make up re:group, an initiative she conceived for her residency this past season.

Join them as they discuss creating and participating in dance communities, how their difference perspectives help th...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Artistic Co-Directors of Company 605, Lisa Mariko Gelley and Josh Martin. Together they share their dance journeys, their relationship with dance, and the evolution of Company 605 from a collective to where it is today.

Josh and Lisa also discuss the work they do in the Vancouver dance community, their creation process, and how their new work, Sloth Canon, came ...

Welcome back to the Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire is joined by dance artist, choreographer and Artistic Director of Action at a Distance, Vanessa Goodman.

Together they discuss Vanessa's journey with dance, how she make dance a communal experiences as well as her relationship with music and sound - and how to listen to dance. 

Vanessa also speaks about creating dance and sound with her collaborators, group work and cr...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire is joined by dance artist and choreographer Gaurav Bhatti. Together they discuss how dance chose him, his journey through dance genres, starting with Bollywood to his current work in Kathak, the relationship between Kathak and Contemporary dance and the evolution of his new piece Bulleh Shah: Seeker of Light.

See Bulleh Shah: Seeker of Light - March 28-29, 2025 at Scotia...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire chats with Jessica Jone, principal and artistic director of the Lorita Leung Dance Academy. Together they discuss Jessica's journey with Chinese and contemporary dance, the different chapters of her life in dance and her relationship with the Dance Centre.

Jessica also shares the correlations she sees between Chinese and Contemporary dance and gives us a brief overview of ...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire chats with interdisciplinary artist, choreographer and performer Erika Mitsuhashi. Together they discuss Erika's journey with dance, evolving from a dance artist to making dance, exploring other disciplines and materiality, as well as her collaborations to create and produce dance

Erika also shares about her current project: putting together a dance work within spiritual s...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Anya Saugstad, dancer, choreographer and recipient of the 2023 Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award. Together they discuss Anya's dance and choreography journey, how she is inspired by nature and uses it in her work, and why she enjoys working with a team. 

Claire and Anya also talk about her piece, Paper Mountains and it's journey leading up to it's world pr...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month, Claire sat down with Dance In Vancouver 2024 curator Anthea Lewis and Freddie Opoku-Addaie, who has also been closely involved in the curatorial process.

Together they discuss the dance communities in London and Vancouver and the importance of hearing from multiple, different voices when curating. Plus Anthea shares her approach to curating DIV 2024.

Learn more about Dance In ...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire sits down with dance artist, choreographer and Artistic Director of Shakti Dance, Anusha Fernando. Together they discuss her history and career in Bharata Natyam, the creation of Shakti Dance as well as her role in the formation of the Jai Gavinda Dance Academy and Mandala Arts & Culture Society. Plus the evolution of Bharata Natyam as a dance form, supporting personal...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire sits down with interdisciplinary artist and scholar Dr. Ayasha Guerin. Together they discuss Ayasha's journey and connection with dance, her current work at UCLA, and the importance of dance and moving the body.

Claire and Ayasha also talk about the Liberated Planet Studio, diving into the creation of the project and how it has evolved and changed over its different iterat...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire is joined by dance artist and choreographer Rebecca Margolick. Join them as they discuss Rebecca's dance journey including her time in New York and her experience working in both Canada and America. She also shares what inspires her, the importance of collaboration, the closeness she feels to her collaborators and how she connects the people she's worked with together thro...

Welcome back to the Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire talks to tap dancer Danny Nielsen about how he got started in tap and how he draws inspiration from his instructors as well as the elders and masters of tap. 

Join them as they discuss the complex history of tap, the future of art form and what to expect from his new show, In Conversation, premiering at Scotiabank Dance Centre May 23 & 24. 

Show Notes:

In Conversatio...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire talks to dance artist, choreographer and Co-Artistic Director of Dance//Novella, Racheal Prince. Join them as they discuss Racheal's journey through dance including her time with Ballet BC, her work teaching and guiding young dance artists, the creation of Dance//Novella and the inspiration behind their new work, Night is the Mother.

See Night is the Mother at Scotiabank...

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire talks to dance artist, choreographer and Artistic Director of The Falling Company, Marissa Wong. Join them as they discuss Marissa's career journey and how it led her to The Falling Company, the importance of facilitating inclusive and sustainable art spaces, time management and the personal inspiration behind her new piece, Family Room.

See the world premiere of Family ...