Co.ERASGA proudly present the world premiere of Collected Traces and Still Here at the Scotiabank Dance Centre in September. Entering its 16th season of contemporary dance in Vancouver, Co.ERASGA presents the company’s newest ensemble creation choreographed by critically acclaimed Vancouver choreographer, Alvin Erasga Tolentino.
Photo credit: Yvonne Chew
Where: Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie St)
When: Wednesday to Saturday, September 14 to 17, 2016 at 8:00pm
Tickets: Available online via TicketsTonight $34.25 Adult ($30 + $4.25 s/c); $26.00 Students and Seniors ($22 + $4.00 s/c); order by phone (604) 684-2787. Additional $5/order for phone orders.
Featuring seven outstanding dancers from Vancouver and Manila, Tolentino’s quest in this new creation recalls and traces transcendent principle of the body’s relation to indigenous traditional arts. This full evening of two debut works embodies the use of an indigenous fabric called “Malong” and an ancient hand gesture “Mudras”, which become the source of inspiration to look back and pay homage to Tolentino’s Asian indigenous roots.
The dancers are the canvasses of motion which evoke traditional practices still relevant and existing today, giving light to the shadow of the past, memory in the body and lineage of identity.
Mudras – an ancient hand gesture that holds a sacred and medicinal effect on the body and Malong – a Filipino indigenous fabric used in daily life. Semiotically and metaphorically these languages of traditional arts awaken genetic memory. The seven dancers in these pieces help to expose the body to attain and reach the expression of the physical and metaphysical.
Co.ERASGA Dance is an international dance company that supports and contributes to the development and enhancement of contemporary dance globally. It continues to seek new and challenging projects that provide opportunities and cross-cultural issues in today’s society.
Win Tickets to Opening Night
I have a pair of tickets to opening night of Collected Traces and Still Here on September 14th to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00pm on Monday, September 5, 2016. Follow Company ERASGA Dance on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Update The winner is @LorenaPulidoC!
CiTR 101.9FM and Music Waste are teaming up for their annual summer wrap-up, Victory Square Block Party (“VSBP”) on September 4th. This free community music festival in the DTES is celebrating its 12th anniversary by highlighting emerging artists, local vendors, and independent media.
Victory Square Block Party
Where: Victory Square (Cambie @ West Hastings, Vancouver)
When: Sunday, September 4, 2016 from 2:00pm to 9:00pm
Admission: Free
VSBP treats fans of local music to a free festival celebrating vibrant indie arts, in support of local non-profit and independent media organizations. Everyone is invited — bring the kids, bring the dog, bring the cat, bring yourselves and your favourite blanket, relax out on the lovely Victory Square Park lawn and enjoy the last days of summer.
“The Victory Square Block Party does an incredible job helping bridge communities in the Downtown Eastside while building something that everyone can feel a part of,” says Sean Condon, Executive Director of Megaphone Magazine. As one of the previous organizers of VSBP, Megaphone played an important role in making the event what it is today. “Along with supporting Megaphone’s vendor program, it really is about being inclusive towards all in the neighbourhood, no matter your background.” Says Sean. “The Block Party has become a community asset — one that everyone can be proud of.”
This year promises yet another great set of performances highlighting the wide range of sonic and cultural diversity to be found in Vancouver’s local music scene. There will be something for everyone with sets from Mourning Coup for your contemplative spiritual electronica, So Loki for the hip-hop heads, dreamy folk from Jody Glenham and the Dreamers, jangly pop from Milk, plenty of off-kilter art-punk from Tough Customer and Pale Red, the no-wave/new-wave mesh of Swim Team, and your dose of irreverent hardcore from SBDC.
The all-day outdoor event will also feature great local food vendors on-site, and featured refreshments provided by The Capilano Tea House. Once again, there will also be an astounding set of raffle prizes to be won.
Partial sponsorship and raffle proceeds will be donated to Megaphone Magazine, a street publication sold by homeless and low-income vendors in Vancouver and Victoria, and CiTR 101.9FM/Discorder Magazine, Vancouver’s independent community and campus-based broadcaster. CiTR will be on-site live broadcasting the event, providing station personalities as MCs throughout the afternoon.
The Vancouver Airport Authority in partnership with the Vancouver Aquarium will be holding the annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Iona Beach on Sunday, September 18th. Last year the volunteer-driven event had over 300 people show up to help remove over 700kg of waste from the shorelines!
Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Iona Beach
Where: Iona Beach Regional Park
When: Sunday, September 18, 2016 from 10:00am to 1:00pm
You can pre-register to help with the cleanup online here. You can also register on the day of the event starting at 10:00am at Iona Beach Regional Park. There will be a light lunch for all participants (first come first served). To keep it a zero-waste event, make sure to BYO-water bottle.
“Vancouver Airport Authority is the Provincial Sponsor of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, a conservation initiative of the Vancouver Aquarium and World Wildlife Foundation.
With help from the neighbouring Sea Island community, we hope to work together to clean up our shorelines. Since 2012, over 2,000kg of waste has been cleared from Iona Beach with help of our volunteers.”
Shuttle buses will be running from Templeton Skytrain Station to Iona Beach Regional Park throughout the event. RSVP on Facebook to get all info and updates directly.
Bowen Island is Vancouver’s Original Summer Getaway, being home to picnics, camping, hikes, paddles, and recreation for the better part of the last century. Earlier this summer, John and I got to experience a quick escape to Bowen, packing two days full of adventures by sea and land.
5 Things to do on Bowen Island
There are more than 5 things to do per category, but here’s a start if you haven’t been to Bowen before, or if it’s been too long since your last visit. We were on the island for 48 hours and we fit all of this in and more, including some down time in our Union Steamship Cottage with the fireplace roaring. A day trip is always an option, and if you’re staying longer – lucky you!
1) Food Tour
Bowen Island Food Tour
Duration: 2.5-3 hours
Distance covered: 0.5-1km approximately
Cost:$69.00 – 3% donated to Bowen Island Food Bank
Enjoy the sweet and savoury side of Bowen as Jody Lorenz guides your walk that covers a bit of local history, and a whole lot of food. Come hungry! We stopped at Rustique Bistro; Lime & Moon Pie Company; Shika Provisions; The Snug Cafe; Doc Morgan’s; Candy in the Cove; Bowen Island Coffee; Bowen Island Beer & Wine Store; The Ruddy Potato Deli; and Cocoa West Chocolatier.
It’s great to do this tour at the start of your time on the island since it will give you ideas for planning out the rest of your meals during your trip. We ended up having breakfast at the Snug and dinner at Rustique Bistro following our tour. If we were staying longer, we’d stock up at the other locations to fill our cupboards.
2) Shoreline Kayak Tour
Bowen Island Sea Kayaking
Located right on the dock, to the east of the Snug Cove ferry terminal, you’ll find another great tour option but this time on the water. The morning of our paddle, it was pouring rain and everyone seemed surprised that John and I were still up for the adventure. We arrived to meet owner Brent O’Malley, who reassured us of our decision: “Welcome to BC!” We set out for our journey all along the south east side of the island, following the shoreline and enjoying Ben’s narration. He covered geology, First Nations history, the Union Steamship era, the region’s marine ecosystem, and more during our soggy time on the water – it was fantastic.
3) See the Island By Scooter
Zoom Zoom Bowen Island
Since we took a bus from Downtown Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay, then walked on the ferry to Snug Cove, we were on the island without a vehicle. We were staying just a few steps from the ferry at the Union Steamship Cottages but to see the rest of the island, which is about 52 square km, we were set up with Zoom Zoom. Just steps away from our cottage we were given a quick course on scooter driving and safety from Zoom Zoom owner Jamie Woodall. Neither of us had been on one before, and we were a bit trepidatious at first, but after Jamie’s reassuring instructions we were off!
Jody had recommended Killarney Lake, as well as the Cape Roger Curtis Lighthouse as destinations. We zipped around, hopped off, walked, explored, took photos, and really enjoyed seeing the island this way.
4) Hike on Bowen Island
We didn’t get involved in a strenuous hike on Bowen Island but I know that Mount Garder is a popular spot. It’s a 7 hour hike to the peak of the island, over 17km, and gaining about 719 meters. The views, from the photos I have seen, are spectacular.
You can take a more level approach and hike around Killarney Lake at Crippen Park as John and I did, or pick up a trail guide for more ideas.
5) Appreciate the Art & History
There are two museums within a 5 minute walk of the ferry terminal in Snug Cove, which made me very happy. We visited the museum and archives just up the road from Snug Cove, as well as Bowen Heritage, located in a cottage right behind our own.
Head up to Artisan Square — a community shuttle will get you there, or you can take your rental scooter. There you’ll find the Bowen Island Arts Council, galleries, studios, and many more creative spaces to browse and shop.
If you don’t make it to Bowen Island before summer ends, you’ll still find some amazing events throughout the year. There’s the Bowen Island Wine Festival (September 24), Applefest (October 9), Light Up Bowen (December 3), Christmas Craft Fair (December 4), and more including a Moms’ Retreat and an Adult Spelling Bee this fall. The autumn colours will illuminate the island and we definitely know first-hand that even in the rain, a paddle around the island is still pretty spectacular.
Follow Tourism Bowen Island on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Get ready to kick off your shoes, roll up your pants and crush some grapes! The annual Township 7 Grape Stomp fully sold out the first date so they are adding a second by popular demand. Put a team together and battle in the barrel to see who can stomp the best (or rock the best costume while stomping).
Township 7 Grape Stomp
Where: Township 7 Vineyards & Winery (21152 16th Avenue, Langley)
When: Sunday, October 2nd (sold out) & Saturday, October 1st 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Register: Entry Fee:$21 (plus tax per person). Fee includes a glass of wine. All stompers must be 19+. Maximum 6 people per team.
Your team will need a skilled stomper to stand in the barrel and squish the juice out of the grapes using only their feet.
The other members of your team will need to work together to keep the juice flowing into the wine bottle while gathering grapes to be stomped.
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Proudly Supports Ronald McDonald House British Columbia & Yukon. Partial proceeds raised at the Grape Stomp event will be donated to the organization.
Register your team by emailing wine[at]township7.com, including your team name and contact info. Follow Township 7 on Twitter and Facebook for more information about special events like this and their latest wine releases.
