If you are a consumer of world news, you will be familiar with how much we hear about the conflict within Israel between the Palestinians and the Jewish people over the rights to land and to a lesser degree about the conflicts within different factions within these communities around beliefs and the changing world.   But seldom do we hear about the impact of this conflict or tension on the inner lives of the individuals who live in this starkly beautiful country.  Nor do we consider how it impacts their connection to land, their connections to each other and their isolation within themselves serving to feed eventually into the big picture conflict.   After watching audiences at the Firehall respond to Israeli choreographer, Arkadi Zaides’ Land-Research and seeing how moved they were by his integration of the individual experiences of his dancers; by the sound score created by their voices in front of a landscape created by the powerful photography of Yuval Tebol and the video design of Daniel Landau, it reminded me the arts plays such an important role in helping us understand each other. How do we know what is going on within each other if not through our individual physical or creative actions?  And how do we connect with each other if not through those same actions whether it be through conversations, playing sports, dancing, singing or simply telling a story?   Mr. Zaides has created a powerful work that resonates visually and emotionally with audiences and the stillness within the work asks them to consider the next breath, the next possibility.    This work opens the window for viewers from outside Israel to gain a better understanding – a more meaningful connection with the individuals who live there.  The work has only two more performances in Vancouver, April 26 & 27, before the company returns to Israel and for those of you who ponder the challenges of achieving a more peaceful world Land-Research asks you to consider the sociology of those impacted by political and religious tensions and divisions.

Featuring Palestinian artist and actress Raida Adon; dancer Yuli Kovabasnyan, who immigrated alone as a young girl from Russian to Israel; Ofir Yudilevitch, a dancer with an extensive background in acrobatics and Capoeira; performer and video artist Sva Li-Levy and dancer/acrobatics practitioner, Asaf Aharonson, Land-Research gives voice to each of the artist’s personal relationship to land and landscape – internal, external, conceptual, symbolic, historical, textual and emotional.

What drew the Firehall to Arkadi Zaides work as a choreographer was the high quality of his work and his belief that art is meant to challenge and inspire viewers and to reach out and bring different communities and different sectors of society together.  His commitment to working in diverse communities, including the Arab sector in Israel was illustrated in the highly successful Quiet, which played at the 2011 Dancing on the Edge Festival and is again shown in Land-Research.

“ Zaides excellent performers provide an original dance interpretation of the lyrical idea “ I have no other country” or the saying “ man is born in the mold of his country”  Zvi Goren/ Habama

“Land-Research is a fine work with an experimental nature: it’s potent in its directness, with a monastic finery of taste. The distress projected by the body is simultaneously global and domestic.  The performance demands intense observation, and is suitable for those who are looking for a different type of performance that is beyond the comfort of the pleasantly familiar.”  Ruth Eshel/ Haaretz

Arkadi Zaides was born in the Soviet Union and immigrated to Israel in 1990.  He danced in the Batsheva Dance Company and the Yasmeen Godder Dance group and since 2004 has been working as a free-lance choreographer.  In 2008 and 2009, he was awarded the Israeli Ministry of Culture Prize for young artist in the field of dance and in 2010 received the prestigious Kurt Jooss award for his choreography, Solo Colores.

Push the envelope and join us in welcoming this powerful work to Vancouver.

Where? Firehall Arts Centre

When? Thursday June 20th

What? Special performances from some Firehall favourites, Wine tastings, silent auctions, and more …save the date, it will be a night you won’t want to miss!

 Details to come…

This is a friendly heads up about Pi Theatre’s TERMINUS.

The show opens tomorrow night, and although tickets are being sold through the Firehall, the show itself takes place at PERFORMANCE WORKS on Granville Island!

Best,

The Firehall

Click here to download the application

Individuals will receive the unique opportunity to work and experience the different jobs that are integral to getting a show up and running.  Outside of the performers on the stage, it takes marketers, lighting and set designers, customer service staff, administration support, and much more to make sure that performance is just right.  Those participating in the internship will gain the opportunity to see the inner workings of the live performing arts and get firsthand experience working in the Arts & Culture Industry.

The Firehall Arts Centre, now in its 30^th season, produces and presents contemporary dance and theatre that is committed to representing the cultural pluralism of Canada.  Located in the heart of the Downtown Eastside, the Firehall is a thriving community member and an active facility that runs its own theatre, gallery space, bar, studio facility, and much more.  It produces and presents eight productions per season, is home to the BC Buds Spring Art Fair and the main venue for the Dancing on the Edge Festival of Contemporary Dance.

During the internship, you will gain new employable skills and certificates, including:

• Occupational Health & Safety First Aid Level One
• Serving It Right Certification
• FoodSafe Certification
• Introductions to production, theatre administration, customer services, publicity and marketing and day-to-day arts management
• Customer Service Skills
• Experience handling cash and working with cash registers
• Experience working in a professional environment
• Job experience working with artists, technicians, administrators, and the community

Applicants must have the following requirements to be eligible for the training program:

• Between 19 – 30 years of age
• Currently unemployed or underemployed
• Not attending post secondary school and do not have a degree from a post secondary school
• Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident/Landed Immigrant
• A desire to increase your employment skills and gain great experience
• Willing to explore your potential and learn new things
• ENTHUSIASM and a desire to learn more about the Arts & Culture Industry

The Training Program prioritizes applicants facing barriers to employment including: homelessness/shelter, substance abuse, emotional and/or physical health, single parents, literacy/numeracy issues, and those with a criminal record.  The internship will run over a period of approximately 20 weeks and provide training and pay for four (4) participants to obtain and increase their employment skills for entry-level positions in and around the arts.  The training program will focus on key areas as front-line customer service, administration and production of a thriving theatre organization.  Participants will be selected to train in the following departments:  Box Office/Database Management, Customer Service Management including Front of House and Bar, Technical Production, and Marketing/Outreach.

Those interested should submit an application form (and resume, if possible) to:
Firehall Arts Centre
Attn: Caitlin McKee
280 East Cordova Street
Vancouver, BC  V6A 1L3
Fax: 604-684-5841 | cmckee@firehallartscentre.ca
Questions?  Phone: 604-689-0691

Please submit applications by Tuesday February 19, 2013 by 5pm

Click here to download the application

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of ACCESS and British Columbia through the Ministry of Advanced Education and labour market Development as provided by the Canada-B.C. Labour Market Agreement. 

Videos from Beam and Struts 

Adult Weekday: $30
Senior/Student Weekday: $25
Child Weekday: $17

Adult Weekend (Friday/Saturday/Sunday): $35
Senior/Student Weekend (Friday/Saturday/Sunday): $30
Child Weekend (Friday/Saturday/Sunday): $19

Click here to buy yours now!

Saturday, January 19
Firehall Arts Centre

10am to 12:30pm

In addition to choreographing and performing next week in No Exit and Lost & Found, Denise Fujiwara will be teaching a Contemplative dance class as well!

Using Japanese Butoh and creative post-modern dance improvisation principles, participants will work towards becoming more present and creative while expanding movement vocabulary and conditioning the body for strength and agility.

This work can be done at many levels and challenges both the beginner and professional dancer. If you can walk, you can do this dance work.

$15/ $10 for CADA members

Space is limited, so call 604.689.0926 to secure your place in the class!

Thanks to the terrific audience response, Medicine is a hit! We’re pleased to announce we’re holding over performances of TJ Dawe’s newest one-man show January 23 to February 2, 2013, with special appearances by Dr. Gabor Maté in talkbacks January 24, 25, 26, 30, February 1 and 2.

Come get a (second) dose of Medicine!

TJ will continue talkbacks after each show and will be joined by Dr. Gabor Maté January 24 (8pm), 25 (8pm), Jan 26 (5pm), Jan 30 (8pm), Feb 1 (8pm), and Feb 2 (5pm).

Audience response has been terrific, and Dr. Maté has agreed to join TJ for these extra post-show talkbacks.

For those of you who tried to buy tickets to Friday and Saturday’s sold out shows, here’s your chance!

Click here to buy tickets!