By Sarah Cruickshank



Ever wonder what goes into putting a dance creation on stage for the first time? And how do you rehearse a performance when every member of the cast lives in different cities around the world? We found out these answers and more when we caught up with Heart As Arena choreographer Dana Gingras as she prepares to premiere her latest work on The Cultch stage.

Dana, can you start by telling us a bit about your background as a dancer and choreographer?

I started dancing thanks to a scholarship I received through EDAM in 1986. I was then hired by the company in 1987 and it was at this time that Noam Gagnon and I met and went on to form The Holy Body Tattoo together in 1993. My studies as a dancer took me to Montreal, were I studied technique with a number of teachers, most notably Peggy Baker and Linda Rabin at LADMMI. My development as a choreographer over the years has mostly been informed by trial and error and through the guidance of various mentors. An experience that really marked me was time I spent supported by a Canada Council grant in Wuppertal, Germany with Pina Bausch and her company during the remounting process of Palermo Palermo in 2004.

Tell us a bit about Heart As Arena. What are some of the concepts and themes of the piece?

Heart As Arena is an emotional exploration of longing and of the distances between ourselves and others. We explore this through physically rigourous expressions of need and want; the fevered attraction and repulsion of bodies in motion. The dancers are caught, perpetually in a search for something that is always far away. We are looking for a signal in the noise.
Read more>>

Heart As Arena is running October 4 - 8, 2011 at The Cultch. Tickets start at $16 and are available online at tickets.thecultch.com, by phone at 604.251.1363 or in person at 1895 Venables Street.


Wicked Shorts receives rave views - on now until Oct 9



Presented by The Cultch, Wicked Shorts has transformed the Vancity Culture Lab into a hub of comedy, love and excitement. Receiving rave reviews, these four wickedly delightful plays are sure to leave you wanting more:
Wicked Shorts is running at The Cultch until October 9th, 2011. Tickets are just $28 and available  online at tickets.thecultch.com, by phone at 604.251.1363, or in person at 1895 Venables Street. 


MOVIE NIGHT! Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie 

Presented by The Cultch on October 11, 7pm - Admission by donation

 

A night of environmental passion is coming to The Cultch with Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie, a personal documentary of cultural, social, scientific and political measures. The Canadian-born icon presents to us a 'last lecture,' one that he describes as "a distillation of my life and thoughts, my legacy, what I want to say before I die."

Filmed in front of a live audience, Suzuki gives a captivating performance, incorporating scenes from different aspects of his life. To accompany the lecture, Suzuki provides the viewer with candid interviews that offer a unique and personal perspective on the environmental hero.

We are shown another side of Suzuki within the film, and the 75-year-old activist provides inspiration for the world to finally take charge and make a difference.

The Cultch is excited to present FORCE OF NATURE in anticipation of two theatre productions from its upcoming season: Ronnie Burkett's Penny Plain and The Old Trout Puppet Workshop's Ignorance, both of which contemplate apocalyptic realities as described by David Suzuki in this movie.

Join us at The Cultch on October 11, 7pm, and learn about David Suzuki's life and legacy in Force of Nature. Admission is by donation.

 In The Gallery 

Dive beneath the surface with painter Kristjana Gunnars
September 12 - October 11, 2011

To this poet-turned-artist, paintings contain much more than what they reveal on the surface. The Cultch Gallery is excited to present Dialogue: Surface and Depth, featuring the majestic artwork of Kristjana Gunnars. Influenced by a curiosity of dialogue that exists within the depths of art, the painter incorporates the elements of air, water, fire and earth to tell her story.

A master of literary studies and a professor in English and Creative Writing at the University of Alberta, Gunnars uses her expertise in poetry to add layers and new dimensions to her artwork. She believes that "paintings, like other works of art, acquire their own lives after they are initiated."

Visit The Cultch Gallery from now until October 11th and enjoy the beauty and underlying dialogue of Kristjana Gunnars' paintings.

Frank Vena's portraits showcase the 'Drive' of local artists
October 12 - November 6, 2011

A true collaboration of talent supports photographer Frank Vena's opening reception of The Drive Project - Phase 1, proudly presented by The Cultch Gallery. Focusing on twelve notable East Vancouver artists, Vena's work creates a bridge between portrait and performance. Taken on Commercial Drive, the unique photographic style of Vena aims to develop an intimate and personal look into the 'drive' of each individual artist.

Frank Vena developed his love for photography and art at an early age, and has since worked at top photography companies in Canada. His experiences have given his photography a documentary-style minimalism, leading him to focus on honesty and humour in each work of art.


All art displayed in The Cultch gallery is available for sale and may be purchased through The Cultch. If interested, please contact us at gallery@thecultch.com.



 

Join the 2011/2012 IGNITE! Youth Panel
First Youth Panel Meeting of the year:  Monday, October 3rd 

 

You and your friends are welcome to join!

This is your opportunity to meet other inspired, creative youth and work with some of the city's top artists and arts administrators. It is 100% free. All you have to do is show up!

What: The Cultch's IGNITE! Youth Panel
When: Mondays (starting October 3rd) 6-8pm
Where: 1895 Venables (at Victoria)
Who: You and all your friends!
Why: Because it is fun. Because it is challenging. Because you will make new friends. Because you will learn a ton of new skills. Because you will laugh. Because you might cry. Because you will work harder than you ever have before. Because it will be worth it.

More Information:
Corbin Murdoch
Youth Program Manager
corbin@thecultch.com
604.251.1766 ext. 105 

 

 

 

The Cultch is Hiring! 

 

For nearly four decades, The Cultch has presented unforgettable theatre, dance and music, bringing world-class local, national and international presentations to thousands of patrons each year. Located just off Commercial Drive, The Cultch is also a great place to work. Our team members include people like you - enthusiastic, innovative, passionate, detail-oriented and energetic. We believe you'll find our high-performance culture personally fulfilling, professionally challenging and artistically rewarding. Join our team and share our vision of a future filled with the best that contemporary art has to offer.

 

Design & Web Coordinator
The Cultch is currently looking for an outstanding Design & Web Coordinator. Reporting to the Director of Marketing & Communications, you have a positive attitude with a strong business sense, are proactive and are full of fresh ideas. You take direction well but also have the confidence to lead projects, set priorities and manage multiple projects at a time. You have a strong eye for detail and can maintain this accuracy under tight deadlines. 

For more details and info on how to apply, click here.
Deadline: Friday, October 7, 2011

 

Exciting Volunteer Opportunities 

 

Ushers
Looking for an opportunity to fill a free evening with some innovative & dynamic entertainment? How about meeting some potential new friends & getting involved in the arts community? Then why not volunteer for The Cultch! The Cultch is always looking for outgoing, reliable & friendly people with an interest in the arts to join our volunteer team as ushers. Our ushers are the first point of contact for guests as they enter the building, so play a crucial role in creating a welcoming atmosphere at The Cultch. No experience is required as we provide you with full training, but previous ushering or customer service experience is always an asset.
For more details and info on how to apply, click here.

Administration/Reception  

Looking to gain experience in administration and receptionist duties? Interested in receiving free tickets to upcoming Cultch shows, learning new and transferable skills, meeting new people and receiving recognition for your efforts? The Cultch is currently looking for an outgoing volunteer receptionist with a great sense of humour to assist in a wide range of administrative services. Hours for this position are day time, weekdays. For more details and info on how to apply, please contact Cindy Reid, Managing Director, (cindy@thecultch.com).

 

 

  

Now accepting applications: Rio Tinto Alcan Performing Arts Award - Theatre
 Attention BC theatre companies: We are now accepting applications for the $60,000 Rio Tinto Alcan Performing Arts Award, in the category of Theatre. Deadline for applications: Nov 28, 2011. Click here to download the application form [PDF] or here for more information.  

 

Attention Ronnie Burkett Fans  

Are you a Ronnie Burkett super fan? Do you attend every Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes show that you possibly can? Counting the days until Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes in Penny Plain opens? If so, we'd love to hear about how and why you became a Burkett-o-phile for our blog. What's in it for you? A signed Penny Plain poster and a published blog article! Contact denise@thecultch.com for more details.

 

As part of a longstanding relationship between The Cultch and The Vancouver International Fringe Festival, The Cultch created the "Cultchivating the Fringe Award". This unique award is granted once a year to a performance from the Vancouver Fringe Festival that demonstrates a strong potential for further development. This year's award went to Grim and Fischer - a deathly comedy in full-face mask. Congratulations to Wonderheads. We can't wait to see this show again in our 2012 - 2013 season!
 

The Future of The Cultch Begins With You

Our building is a century old, and we hope our recent renovations mean that The Cultch will be here for centuries to come. Please consider making a bequest to The Cultch in your will and ensure the presentation of innovative theatre, dance and music for future generations. For more information, please contact Director of Development Eleanor Stacey at 604.251.1766 x 110 or eleanor@thecultch.com.

 

Subscribe and save on tickets to Ronnie Burkett

Ronnie Burkett's latest work Penny Plain recently opened in Edmonton to huge critical acclaim. One critic (Vue Weekly) declared the production: ""brilliant, beautiful and painful" while another (Edmonton Journal) exclaimed it to be "a profoundly eerie, strange and strangely beautiful experience; theatre at its most startling, moment to moment."

Don't miss out on the Vancouver premier of Penny Plain at The Cultch this November. By becoming a subscriber to The Cultch's 11/12 season, you can save up to 20% off single tickets to both Penny Plain and Hunchback. Our Build-Your-Own (BYO) 4 and BYO 8 allow you to choose from the diverse roster of performers and artist presented at The Cultch this year. Packages start as low as $50 and guarantee the best seats at the best prices. Subscribe online or by calling The Cultch box office at 604.251.1363.
 
Become a Super Subscriber and enjoy even more benefits:
Beyond the benefits of subscribing to the 2011/12 season, you can further enhance your experience at The Cultch by becoming a Super Subscriber. By making a tax-deductible gift of $125 or more to The Cultch with your subscription, you'll receive special invitations to an opening night pre-show reception and a pre-show artist chat, a free pass to a Cultch community event, and an exclusive backstage tour behind the scenes of a Cultch presentation.  And your donation will help us as we present our season and offer our Youth Program in 2011-12.
 
Already a subscriber? You can still upgrade to become a Super Subscriber, even if you have already purchased your 2011-12 subscription- simply call our Development Office at 604.251.1766 x 110 to add your gift of $125 or more to your subscription.

Seat sale at The Cultch  

 

With renovations of the Historic Theatre complete, The Cultch now has an excess of banks of beautiful red velvet and hardwood theatre seating.  Banks of 4 are going for $800 OBO. If you're interested in having a piece of Vancouver's most unique venue in your home, contact us now. Vintage look in nearly new condition, perfect for a home collection or small theatre. Best in banks of 4, but can also be assembled/sold in other configurations.