Dances for a Small Stage

Originally created by Laura Taler, Dances for a Small Stage ran from 1991 to 1996 in the backroom of Toronto's legendary Rivoli on Queen Street West.

In May 2002, Saroyan and Helesic primered Dances for a Small Stage in Vancouver at the Royal Pub on Granville Street.

Over the years Small Stage has presented over 450+ local, national and international dancers and musicians. 

Each Small Stage show is ~

  • a collection of new and innovative works,

  • 5-7 minutes in length,

  • featuring new and established dance professionals from Vancouver and across Canada

  • on a ridiculously small stage 13’ X 10’

  • in unconventional venues. 

Alumni

Our alumni list includes Crystal Pite, Emily Molnar, Margie Gillis, John Oswald, Holly Small, Denise Clarke, Kimberley Cooper, Peggy Baker, Tedd Robinson, Laurence Lemieux,  Lola Dance, Joe Ink, Wen Wei Wang, Susie Burpee, Kirsten Smida Wicklund, Simone Orlando, Joshua Beamish, Vanessa Goodman, Burgundy Brixx, Dayna Szyndrowski, Scheherazaad Cooper, Cheng-Xin Wei, Lorita Leung Chinese Dance Company, Chengxin Wei, Hardeep Singh Sahota, House of La Douche, Jeanette Kotowich, Jennifer Aioki, Farnaz Ohadi, Kassandra Flamenco, Heather Laura Gray and The Company Dancers of Ballet BC amongst many others.

About

Dances for a Small Stage showcases a wide diversity of styles, genres and cultures chosen to reflect the depth and breadth of Vancouver’s unique dance and music community. This includes ~ 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, Jazz, Motown and many more

History

Between 2002-2019, Dances for a Small Stage produced over 40+ instalments of in Vancouver, around the Lower Mainland and has appeared three times at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre (2006 Canada Dance Festival, 2009 BC Scene and 2015 Magnetic North Festival + Canada Dance Festival) and partnered with La Petite Scene in Quebec City and Dances for a Small Stage~Australia, Adelaide, Australia. 

Dances for a Small Stage reached over 20,000+ live audience members, many of whom had never before experienced dance.