From January 4 to 22, North Vancouver-based dance company Dance//Novella (D//N) will be in residence in The Polygon Gallery’s Seaspan Pavilion, developing a new site-specific work. Influenced by themes of social unrest and protest, the work will feature seven female-identifying dancers who infuse their unique perspectives into the choreography. During this process, D//N will collaborate with and seek guidance from Gilbert Small II, dance artist, teacher, mentor and Current Gibney Company Director in NYC.
Rehearsals are open to the public. Visitors are welcome to visit the Seaspan Pavilion during The Polygon’s open hours, from 10am to 3pm daily, to observe the creation of this new work.
Dance Artists: Kiera Hill, Alexis Fletcher, Nasiv Sall, Bryn Bridgen, Yuha Tomita, Daria Mikhaylyuk, Mia Pelayo, Oksana Maslechko.
Understudy: Nancy Li
Choreographer/director: Racheal Prince & Brandon Lee Alley
Composer + Video Editor: Brandon Lee Alley
Artistic Advisor: Gilbert Small II
Video Production: Dan Loan
About Dance//Novella
Dance//Novella (D//N) was founded in 2019 by Brandon Lee Alley and Racheal Prince. The collective was formed to create new dance works through cross-disciplinary partnerships and collaborations. D//N takes inspiration from the current social climate and challenges itself to find new and exciting ways to make dance more accessible for a wider audience. Brandon and Racheal are both former members of the world-renowned Ballet BC and draw inspiration and knowledge from their unique experiences while working with the company. Since its inception, D//N has created seven original works, the most prominent being “When The Walls Come Down”, a dance theatre performance that tells the story of Carolin Hébert. The work is performed in American Sign Language and utilises technology to make the experience equally accessible for the hearing and Deaf communities.
Dance//Novella x The Polygon is supported by the City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver through the Arts & Culture Grants Program of the North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission.
