creativemanitoba.ca

Winnipeg ’s Contemporary Dancers’ goal is to create a place on the local, national and international arts landscape that enables vital intersections, linkages and exchanges among dance creators, dance interpreters, spectators and communities. Our values, programs, and activities are based on respect for our history, the ongoing development of our artists, and to our place in the community.  Founded in 1964 by Rachel Browne C.M., the current Artistic Director is Brent Lott.

The current season saw the launch of WCD’s Global Dance Series with Santee Smith’s Here on Earth.  The Global Dance Series is a yearly event that has WCD programming dance from around the world to reflect the ethnic and cultural richness of our province.  This was followed by the award winning Serge Bennathan’s creation of Samarcande.  It was a new full evening work developed on the company during a 12 week process that was a learning and growth experience for all involved.  The transfer of skills and knowledge didn’t stop there however as Serge remained to be the guide for our Mentored Choreographic Workshop by assisting an emerging choreographer further hone her craft.  Our most recent company show featured work from renowned senior artist Julia Sasso, Winnipeg’s Giana Sherbo and WCD’s own Brent Lott.  Brent showed a work-in-progress creation entitled Between the Sycamore  that wowed audiences.  In March the choral group Camerata Nova enlisted the collaboration of WCD for their Falls the Shadow  program, an eclectic mix of music and dance presented in the great central hall of The Aboriginal Centre. 

At the beginning of April WCD will be assisting the Crossing Communities Art Project with Winnipeg Child.  A hip-hop show produced by and for Aboriginal and new immigrant youth.  Our last show of the season in May features choreographer Sasha Ivanochko.  Sasha will be creating a new half-length work on WCD company dancers during a 5 week process and will also perform her acclaimed solo The Future Memory Heartbreak Junction.  WCD will follow that with the season wrap-up of our 4th Annual Dinner & Dance fundraising event.  A Summer Intensive training session for emerging and professional dancers will run in July and you might just catch some WCD dancers in and around the city at other times this summer in Random Acts of Dance… introducing modern dance to new audiences by bringing our art into public spaces.

www.winnipegscontemporarydancers.ca