about

Established in 2001, Small Stage is a charitable, non-profit society dance production, creation and presentation platform, in Vancouver, BC. The Society is dedicated to producing innovative and accessible works in non-traditional spaces that support the next generation of artists including; dancers, musicians, technologists and practitioners.  

We blend live and digital strategies to create powerful experiences designed to reach wide audiences, reduce barriers and are accessible to a wide demographic. 

We program a wide variety of styles and genres that reflect the depth of unique and talented artists who are part of Vancouver’s artistic community. The Society commissions and produces bold new works in unconventional venues and produce evenings of dance in offbeat, unlikely venues. 

Small Stage is dedicated to producing innovative and accessible works in non-traditional spaces that support the next generation of artists including; dancers, musicians, technologists and practitioners. 

  • We blend live and digital strategies to create powerful experiences designed to reach wide audiences, reduce barriers and are accessible to a wide demographic. 

  • We program a wide variety of styles and genres that reflect the depth of unique and talented artists who are part of Vancouver’s artistic community.

  • We encourage risk-taking, collaboration and experimentation while creating a space where artists and audiences can connect. 

Small Stage has evolved to become a platform for artistic creation and presentation and to facilitate innovative conversations among artists, and between artists and audiences.

Small Stage has been a long-standing innovator in both creating new opportunities for artists and audiences. Our approach has been essential in developing capacity within the sector and giving artists space to experiment and hone their skills.

Each Small Stage show is held on ridiculously small stages, in unconventional venues and spaces and showcases a wide variety of styles, genres and cultures chosen to reflect the depth and breadth of Vancouver’s unique artistic community. The show is collection of new and innovative works that are 5-7 minutes in length. 

This includes contemporary to classical, traditional to cultural forms and everything in between.

Dance ~ Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Vogue, House, Bharatanatyam, Odessi, Flamenco, Métis Jig, Chinese Contemporary and Classical, Japanese Contemporary + Classical, Bhaṅgṛā and Scottish Highland, Burlesque, amongst others.

Music ~ Jazz, Classical, New Music, Contemporary, Motown and many more.

Since our inception in 2001, Small Stage has reached over 218,000+ live and 22 million digital viewers many of whom had never before experienced dance.

Small Stage has created and produced over 60+ shows  in Vancouver, around the Lower Mainland and has appeared 3X at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre (2006 Canada Dance Festival, 2009 BC Scene and 2015 Magnetic North Festival + Canada Dance Festival).  Our partners have included Quebec City, Canada ~ La Petite Scene and Adelaide, Australia ~Dances for a Small Stage: Australia. 

Our other projects include The Love Bubble Project, The Winter Series, The Summer Series,Community Stages, and point 5.  

programming

Small Stage has a long history of supporting indie, self-employed and under-represented workers from equity-deserving communities goes back two decades. We have persistently produced works that explore a wide mosaic of Canadian identity by bringing together artists from different cultural traditions and identities, who combine established styles as well as contemporary influences.

Our programming has been designed to push traditional presentation, boundaries and expectations by making dance exciting and accessible to all ages, income groups and abilities. Our goal is to contribute to the tapestry of our community and create a future that connects Dance to the general public in new and interesting ways are program Attempts to bridge, gaps and understanding and offers ways for citizens to become more involved with their culture, others, cultural, and become an active part of their community programming is based on cutting edge, dancing music and dialogue with her stakeholders so our performances are always in sync with our communities, and the diverse makes that comes from those communities.

“Small Stage is a Vancouver-based dance production company that specializes in site-specific experiences that colour well outside the confines of what might be considered traditional dance.”

-Story by Mark Shelling for West Coast Curated

founders

MovEnt was co-founded in 2001 by Day Helesic and Julie-anne Saroyan. In 2010, Helesic left the company to pursue other opportunities.

Since then, Saroyan has led the organization.