Edge of Movement: DOTE 2025 Unfolds

By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | May 22, 2025
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Vancouver’s premier platform for contemporary dance, Dancing on the Edge Festival (DOTE), returns for its 37th annual celebration of movement and meaning from June 12 to 21, 2025. Held at the Firehall Arts Centre and SFU Woodward’s, the festival showcases a powerful lineup of both emerging and internationally acclaimed dance artists, solidifying its reputation as a cornerstone of the city’s cultural calendar.

This year’s program features seven eclectic mixed programs and three full-length works, offering audiences a diverse spectrum of global and Canadian premieres, along with works in progress. With themes that traverse the emotional and experiential spectrum—from isolation and overwhelm to joy and connection—this year's DOTE promises to be both thought-provoking and soul-nourishing.

“In the turmoil of the world, we look to artists for solace, encouragement, and inspiration,” says Artistic Producer Donna Spencer. “Our 2025 lineup brings together artists whose works explore themes that transcend language and connect us across borders and beliefs.”

Among the highlights is the world premiere of Lurch from Vancouver’s MascallDance, a full-length reflection on artistic legacy, created in collaboration with choreographers Justine Chambers, Ame Henderson, and Sarah Chase. Fila 13 Productions from Montreal presents Tunnel 9, a gripping duet set in a confined space performed by celebrated dancers Claudia Moore and Sean Ling-Allan.

Taiwanese-Canadian artist Juolin Lee debuts Soup of Forgetfulness, a solo weaving Taiwanese folklore about reincarnation into a haunting tale of transformation. Vancouver’s Ziyian Kwan presents Tendrils, the first in a trilogy paying tribute to artistic influences across generations.

The festival also features Canadian premieres, including SUBJECT TO / خضوع by Moroccan choreographer Mehdi Dahkan, exploring silence as protest, and Muchos Cisnes by Spanish artist Manu Badás, a reimagining of beauty, identity, and politics.

With its daring programming and global outlook, DOTE 2025 invites audiences to experience the future of dance—live, expressive, and unbound.

#DOTE 2025 #Vancouver Dance #Contemporary Dance #Live Performance #Dance Festival #Canadian Artists #WBN News Vancouver #Elke Porter

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