The Dance Centre Podcast

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Executive Director of The Dance Centre, Mirna Zagar, for the first of two conversations this summer.

 

Part One features discussions of Mirna's past including her life in dance, starting out as an artist, journeying into Artistic Director of the Zagreb Dance Company, plus the creation of the Zagreb Dance Festival. This episode culminates with Mirna's move to Canada, her start with The Dance Centre and becoming Executive Director.

 

Part Two of this conversation releases in August, stay tuned!

View Mirna's full bio: thedancecentre.ca/staff-and-board/mirna-zagar

 

This month on The Dance Centre Podcast Claire welcomes back dance artist, facilitator, and choreographer Harmanie Rose.  

 

Together they talk about how Harmaine came into dance and how she adapts her dance to the changes in her body. They also discuss the work Harmanie is doing in disability-led arts and movement, the preconceptions found in dance and her work to foster inclusive art practices and accessible spaces.

 

Harmanie also chats about her residency this season with The Dance Centre and her upcoming studio showing to showcase her new work in progress in collaboration with access artists Kelsie Acton and Colin van Uchelen.

 

Show Notes:

-Website: harmanierose.com

Instagram: @harmanierose

Studio Showing, July 2, 2026: thedancecentre.ca/event/harmanie-rose

Listen to Harmaine and Naomi Brand talk to Claire in March 2022: thedancecentrepodcast.podbean.com/e/all-bodies-dance-project

 

This month on The Dance Centre Podcast Claire welcomes back dance artist and choreographer Ralph Escamillan (aka Kiki Legend OA Mother Posh Gvasalia and Canadian Mother Posh Basquiat). Together they discuss his journey in ballroom, his new work My House, how it celebrates Ballroom Culture and the structures within it. 

 

Ralph also talks about his evolution in choreography and shares his plans for the future.

 

My House is presented in partnership with Queer Arts Festival

 

Show Notes:

See the premiere of My House: https://thedancecentre.ca/event/fakeknot-2026/

FakeKnot Learning Series: https://www.ralphescamillan.com/fakeknot/my-house

Listen to Ralph's first podcast episode from April 2023: https://thedancecentrepodcast.podbean.com/e/ralph-escamillan-episode-19/

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire is joined by Rachel Helten: dance artist, choreographer and Artistic Director of soma anima arts.

 

Together they discuss Rachel's dance career, her collaborations, her journey to becoming the Artistic Director of soma anima arts and the evolution of the company.

 

Plus Rachel talks about her creation process and her upcoming studio showing at The Dance Centre as part of her DanceLab this season.

 

https://thedancecentre.ca/event/international-dance-day-2026/

https://www.rachelhelten.com/

https://kinesisdance.org/

 

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes choreographer and Artistic Director of Ne. Sans Opera & Dance, Idan Cohen.

 

Together they talk about Idan's journey through dance, opera and music including his training in dance and his move into choreography. They also discuss the overlap dance and opera in his work as well as the observation, practice and creation, that goes into the process of dance making.

 

Plus, Idan shares details about his new work in development, Bach Dances, excerpts of which will be featured at his Discover Dance! showing on March 5 at the Scotiabank Dance Centre.

 

Show Notes:

-nesans.net

-thedancecentre.ca/event/idan-cohen-ne-sans-opera-dance

 

 

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month, for our 50th episode, Claire welcomes back dance artist, educator and choreographer Justine A. Chambers. 

 

Together they discuss teaching, fashion, scores, working with galleries, and the origins and family ties in Justine's work, The Brutal Joy. Plus: her time as Association Artist at The Dance Centre and what's to come.

 

-justineachambers.com

-thedancecentre.ca/event/justine-a-chambers

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes dance artist and choreographer Eric Cheung. Together they discuss his start in dance, his work and relationship with street dance, how he combines technology and movement, and his work with OURO Collective.

 

Eric also talks about his new piece, Contra, and his journey of creation. Contra premieres November 28 and 29 at Scotiabank Dance Centre.

 

Contra: thedancecentre.ca/event/eric-cheung

Eric's Website: cheung-eric.com

 

Welcome back to the Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Bharatanatyam dance artist Sujit Vaidya.

 

Sujit and Claire discuss Sujit's dance journey, starting with discovering Bharatanatyam at a young age, his other career choices and finally finding Bharatanatyam again in Vancouver and taking his first dance class in his 30s.

 

Sujit also shares thoughts on immersing yourself in a dance form, and his artistic choices as a queer artist of colour working in an art form rooted in tradition.

Show Notes:

-Discover Dance! with Sujit Vaidya: https://thedancecentre.ca/event/sujit-vaidya-discover-dance/

-Anusha Fernando on The Dance Centre Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/anusha-fernando-episode-36/id1585222079?i=1000669133460

This month on The Dance Centre Podcast, Claire welcomes back dance artist and founder of Co.ERASGA, Alvin Tolentino. In this episode, Alvin shares the motivations behind creating his company, and the journey he and the company have taken over the past 25 years. Plus a look towards the future as a dance artist, choreographer, mentor and founder.

 

Claire and Alvin also chat about Alvin's new work, Eternal Gestures and his collaboration with three female Indigenous choreographers to bring the piece to life.

 

Show Notes:

Listen to Alvin's first podcast episode from November 2023: https://thedancecentrepodcast.podbean.com/e/alvin-tolentino-episode-26/

See Eternal Gestures at Scotiabank Dance Centre October 9-10, 2025: https://thedancecentre.ca/event/co-erasga-2025/

Learn more about Alvin and Co.ERASGA: https://www.companyerasgadance.ca/

Welcome back to The Dance Centre Podcast. This month Claire welcomes Andrea Nann, contemporary dance artist, arts educator, and the founding Artistic Director of Dreamwalker Dance.

 

Together they discuss Andrea's dance journey and career over the last 40+ years, her roots in Vancouver and in the Vancouver dance community, creating new works, community building and the inception of her company, Dreamwalker Dance. 

Claire and Andrea also discuss TvT Interlink, a long term artistic exchange which this year culminates in a two-day symposium, presented in partnership between The Dance Centre and the Vancouver Art Gallery. 

 

Show Notes:

TvT Interlink: https://thedancecentre.ca/event/tvtlink/

Dreamwalker Dance: https://www.dreamwalkerdance.com/