The Dancestreams youth dance company has announced an all-new season of exciting dance, starting with auditions Sunday, June 24 in both Qualicum Beach and Campbell River.
Dancestreams assistant director Julia Carr will conduct classes at both the Qualicum Beach School of Dance from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and then she heads to Urban Dance Connection in Campbell River from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Serious dancers age 13 and up are welcome to audition for a place in the renowned local dance company.
President of the Dancestreams board Barb Dow said the company has gone through a bit of a transition this year and they are trying some new things.
“We usually hold auditions in September but we are planning some workshops over the summer and trying something different,” she admitted.
This season will focus on the creative spirit — the connections between art, poetry, music, and dance, encouraging dancers to explore movement from many different angles and perceptions.
“We want a theme of creativity and dance is really an expression of something else,” explained Dow.
She said with poetry for instance they want to give kids an experience of playing with words and interpreting them in dance.
Professional choreographers will work with dancers to create new works which will tour throughout the region next spring. As well, young choreographers throughout Vancouver Island will have the opportunity to workshop their own creations one-on-one with professional choreographers, and to perhaps showcase their pieces in the Dancestreams spring tour.
Dancestreams will be also be introducing a new format this season in which dancers will have alternate Sundays off during the grueling winter months and in order to maintain the same high standards for which the company has been renowned the last 25 years, will present a slightly shorter repertoire in its spring performances. Rehearsal locations may vary throughout the season, allowing the dancers in the company to occasionally host Dancestreams practices in their home studios and facilitating the opening of company classes to local dancers to attend free of charge.
The repertoire will feature a variety of styles, starting with a new piece by urban/ contemporary dancer and choreographer Maiko Miyauchi of Vancouver. Miyauchi will be conducting a choreographic workshop in late August and will return in the fall to mount a new work on Dancestreams.
Audition classes are $15 each. To pre-register, email dancestreams@shaw.ca or call Barb Dow 250-390-0019. Unable to attend the class? DVD audition tapes will be accepted until July 8. Go to www.dancestreams.ca for details.
