Vancouver International Dance Festival
Since its beginning in 1998 under the name Vancouver Butoh Festival (referencing a form of Japanese dance theatre), whereupon it hosted a mere three artists, the Vancouver International Dance Festival (VIDF) has bloomed in size and stature—this year’s 19th annual edition presents a dozen companies and soloists at venues throughout the urban core. In addition to local perennials Amber Funk Barton, EDAM Dance and Goh Ballet, and a return engagement from Montreal’s Lucie Grégoire Danse, the 2018 program continues the festival’s mission to promote “culturally diverse contemporary dance,” including performers from as far afield as Hungary and Mexico. Perhaps of greatest note is the city debut of Shen Wei Dance Arts: its titular founder and director—born in China and based in New York— has led his company to international acclaim, with the
Washington Times declaring him “one of the great artists of our time.” At VIDF, his dancers perform Folding (2000) and a radical interpretation of Stravinsky’s Rite
of Spring (2003), two pieces upon which Wei’s sterling reputation was built.—