Spells for Chinatown
Join us in celebrating Asian Heritage Month 2023, with a 3rd edition of Spells For Chinatown!
Gathering in community on the unceded, ancestral, occupied territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations.
- May 31st
- 5pm and 6pm
- Free 25-minute improvised performance
- Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, 578 Carrall St.
Link to register
Produced in partnership with Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Featuring Taiko Artist Kage with dance artists Justin Calvadores, Lisa Mariko Gelley, Ziyan Kwan, Juolin Lee, Hana Rutka, Victor Tran, Shana Wolfe and Sarah Wong.
Spells for Chinatown is a two-tiered celebration of Asian Heritage Month conjured by Dumb Instrument Dance, Ziyian Kwan and collaborating artists from Vancouver’s dance and music community. Spells began in 2021, when every Thursday in May we shared live installations of dance, Taiko and cello at Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
In tandem with live performances, we created a short video as part of Sawdust Collector’s Field Trip Series. The video was also presented by Dancing On The Edge Festival 2021 and by CanAsian Dance Festival in March/April 2022.
To date, this two tiered incantation for healing and has featured the live performance collaboration of dance artists Marisa Gold, Shion Skye Carter, Lisa Mariko, Gelley, Sarah Wong, Justin Calvadores, Kelly McInnes, Rianne Svelnis Ziyian Kwan, cellist Peggy Lee and Taiko artist Kage. As A video, Spells For Chinatown was created in collaboration with videographer and composer Jo Hirabayashi and with dance artists Shion Skye Carter, Justin Calvadores, Marisa Gold, Ziyian Kwan and Sarah Wong.
In 2021 and 2022 Spells was additionally sponsored and co-produced with the generous support of Barking Sphinx Performance, Powell Street Festival and Sawdust Collector.