Lamondance would like to acknowledge that this production takes place on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, in particular the xwmaekwayam (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and salilwatat (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

We are honoured to live, work, and play on this land together.

A Message from the Artistic Director

A Message From The Artistic Director…

Welcome, and thank you for coming to our show, TRIPLE BILL. I am excited to bring these incredible creations to this program with the unique, bold and daring new choreographic works by guest choreographers Nicolas Ventura, Cristina Bucci from Ouro Dance community and Alex Neoral, a choreographer based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Creativity is our DNA. For the past 14 years, Lamondance has created an inclusive creative space where emerging artists can explore, learn and share their artistic voices, providing them with the tools necessary to navigate the world to become professional dance artists.

Triple Bill invites you into three different choreographic voices; each will take you on a different path, opening doors to different worlds investigating themes such as memories, love and intention, relationships, farewells, and life transformations, all elements embroidered deep in our Skin.

This is our second formation of a project that has been on my mind for many years. Lamondance professional company is a place where these young artists can flourish their art without fear. Last year, the launch of our professional dance company was presented throughout our full-length show Black Feather, receiving incredible reviews from our audience members and receiving invites to tour it around Canada in the 2023/2024 season. Because of shows like Triple Bill, our company exists, offering possibilities for change; these opportunities have transformed the lives of many dancers and choreographers, creating our identity in our community.

Over the past years, it has been a pleasure to evolve Lamondance's voice. I want to share my love and gratitude to all of you who have been here throughout our journey and helped Lamondance become what it is today - A possibility of change, an opportunity for the future and certainty for creativity.

Enjoy the show!

Davi Rodrigues / Artistic Director of Lamondance

Program

1 - A Simple Song (16 min)

World Premiere, June 2022

"A series of memories based on love. The duality between reflecting back on what was and what could have been, while moving forward into new relationships."

I want to thank all the past and present dancers involved in the process. - Nicolas Ventura

Choreography Nicolas Ventura, in Collaboration with the dancers.

Choreographic Assistant: Margarida Macieira

Rehearsal directors: Margarida Macieira, Eowynn Enquist and Tin Gamboa.

Music: Textual - Oval | Fine Anyway - Rogér Fakhr | I Started A Joke - Bee Gees

Performers: Lamondance Company

2 - Wood Steps (16 min)

Originally created with Focus Cia de Dança in 2018

Music: Proverb / Steve Reich

Rehearsal directors: Tin Gamboa and Eowynn Enquist

special appearance of Benedict Quedenbaum*

3 - Verità (18 min)

World Premiere, November 2022

"Verità is loosely inspired by the themes, motifs and ideas presented in the play “The Screens” written by Jean Genet, along with the music created for the play by Philip Glass and Foday Musa Suso for the 1989 remount. The original play had 17 scenes, with over 100 actors and was first published in France in 1961. “In my interpretation, I created a performance with eight dancers, with each dancer embodying their own character as they navigate through four scenes for the new dance work that explores themes of hierarchy, power, control, and seeking truth. My heartfelt thanks to my collaborators and supporters: the company dancers for their commitment and, Eowynn Enquist for being an amazing rehearsal director, Janine Henning, Vitantonio Spinelli, Lauren Kaljur, Carrie Gelson, Jordan Lowry-Fassina for helping with movement research, Amber Funk Barton for your continued support, Lenny LeBlanc for music research, and last but not least a huge thank you to Davi Rodrigues for inviting me to work with your company!" - Cristina Bucci

Music editing: Cristina Bucci Text: Born, Never Asked by Laurie Anderson Music: Warda's Whorehouse (Inside Out Version) by Amon Tobin From the "Rework: Philip Glass Remixed" album, Warda's Whorehouse by Philip Glass & Foday Musa Suso (Music from The Screens 1989), Snowden's Jig by Carolina Chocolate Drops, I Put a Spell on You (Remastered) by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, I Put a Spell on You by Nina Simone, Mama Africa by CultureClash

About the Choreographers

Cristina Bucci / Vancouver, BC

Cristina Bucci lives and works on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. As a dance artist, she has been given many opportunities to be a part of numerous exciting projects with a career that has taken her around the globe. Some highlights include choreographing for Yarita Yu Ballet in Tokyo, International Dance Seminar in Brazil, Seattle International Dance Festival, Dance in Vancouver, Dancing on the Edge, touring Japan with OURO Collective, Vancouver International Dance Festival, and Avant Garde Dance (UK). Cristina has danced works by Tentacle Tribe, Alexandra Spiceya Landé, RubberLegz, and has worked on film and TV projects, such as Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Riverdale, CBC Arts, and Lululemon. Cristina is currently acting as the Managing/Co-Artistic Director of OURO Collective and is also a registered nutritionist and presents her "Nutrition for Dancers" seminars throughout Vancouver.

Nicolas Ventura / Vancouver, BC

Nicolas Ventura is a contemporary dance artist, working internationally as a guest lecturer for universities, dancer, and choreographer. His teachings invoke a deeper understanding of the body's movement potential through improvisation and perceptual tasks - an opportunity for breaking down and discovering new movement habits. His practice is defined by movement languages and techniques he has encountered throughout his professional dance career and his choreography.

Born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Nicolas began his artistic development through a multidisciplinary approach of weekly acting, music and dance classes from the age of 8. He received his Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, Kent University, followed by his career in dance which began in Tel Aviv, Israel. As a dancer, he has worked for high-profile dance companies and choreographers worldwide.

Nicolas is a former Batsheva Dance Company (Israel) dancer, where he performed for three years with the ensemble under the direction of Ohad Naharin and Idan Porges. Since 2015, he has performed, collaborated and worked internationally for choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal, Roy Assaf, Idan Sharabi & Dancers, Ohad Fishof & Noa Zuk, Talia Beck, Shay Kuebler and more.

Nicolas has composed original choreographic works for dance companies, television shows, music videos and choreographic platforms. He has also constructed short choreographic works for young artists attending conservatories/universities such as The Juilliard School and the University of Southern California.

Alex Neoral / Brazil

Alex Neoral was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is the director and choreographer of Focus CIA de Dança, where his works were presented in almost 15 countries and all over Brazil. As a dancer, Alex performed in CIA de dança Déborah Colker. Alex also works as choreographer in the carnaval of Rio de Janeiro. As well as in drama and musical theatre for several places in Brazil.

Thanks and Acknowledgement

I want to thank all the dancers for their trust and commitment throughout the creation process of the show at the studio and Eownynn Enquist and Tin Gamboa for their support and essential work as Rehearsal Directors, supporting our dancers with kindness and providing a safe space for them to flourish.

Thank you to our Board of directors for the tremendous work behind the scenes and our lovely volunteers. Thank you to Sandra D. McRae for helping us keep our shows in North Vancouver.

Special thanks to Brianna Giles and RNB Dance; they have offered a home for our ideas to take flight. Thank you to all of our donors and supporters of our silent auction. Finally, thank you to Gengyan Boon and the Staff at the Dance Centre.

SUPPORTERS

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from North Vancouver Recreation & Culture through the Programming & Project Assistance, Community Gaming Grants program, The City of Vancouver, Deux Mile Foundation, Hamber Foundation, RNB Dance, Capilano University and our Donors for their Artistic support.

Thank you for being here today and for your continued support of Lamondance.

Lamondance Team

Artistic Director: Davi Rodrigues

Costume Designer: Nicolas Ventura/Alex Neoral/Cristina Bucci and Lamondance Company

Costume Coordinator: Lazaro Silva

Resident Light Designer: Brad Trenaman

Light Designer: Vanka Salim

Stage Manager: Claire Viitaniemi

Backstage support: Lamondance Training Program

Dance Faculty: Davi Rodrigues, Linda Arkelian, Bev Bagg, David Secunda, Ted Littlemore, Nicolas Ventura, Suzanne Ouellette, Oksana Maslechko

Rehearsal Directors: Eowynn Enquist, Tin Gamboa 

Show Program Design: Davi Rodrigues

Choreographers: Nicolas Ventura, Alex Neoral and Cristina Bucci

Board of Trustees: Amber Poulton, Andrew Willis, Carli Kennedy, Charlotte Aurela Edgson, Erik Whyte, Mark Lawrence. 

Dancers Bios

To get to know more about our dancers click on the link below

Lamondance Professional Dance Company
Lamondance contemporary Training Program *

This Holiday season, joins us on a Twisted Magical show!!!

The heart and soul of our company is celebrating ten years of shaping Lamondance. Commemorate ten years of Lamondace under the artistic direction of Davi Rodrigues!

If you enjoy our show and want to continue to see Lamondance producing high quality shows, consider donating to our organization. with you help we can continue to provide our professional dancers and contemporary training program a better future here in North Vancouver.

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