a e r i o s a d a n c e s o c i e t y
OUR MISSION
Vancouver-based Aeriosa Dance Society was founded by artistic director/choreographer Julia Taffe in 2001 to manifest art, performance, 21st century culture, and express human perception and sensitivity through dance. The company’s artistic objectives include creating dance in non-traditional environments, exploring aerial choreography and revealing dance in the vertical realm to new audiences. The company combines contemporary dance technique with expert knowledge of safe rope rigging systems to create three-dimensional performances that re-interpret gravity and respond to the performance location. Our artists train in the mountains where they dance on sheer rock walls, while in urban environments site-specific performances take place in theatres and plazas - and on walls, ledges and city rooftops. The choreography of each work is re-created and adapted to highlight each venue, a creative process that promotes our connection with the communities we visit. The company engages communities through free performances and workshops believing art enriches lives and that all people, regardless of income status or other barriers, should have access to dance.
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In September 2001, Vancouver choreographer Julia Taffe invited three other dancers to join her in the creation of a site-specific performance for the opening of the Scotiabank Dance Centre Building in Vancouver.
The performance traveled across the various features of the building, inviting bystanders to join in the festivities of the dance community. This successful event led to the formation of the On Earth Project, a two-year journey of residencies and performances that had the troupe dancing from BC mountain ranges to cities across Canada and beyond.
Julia Taffe and the dancers collaborated with TOHU (la Cité des arts du cirque) in Montreal (at Cirque du Soleil) and the Banff Centre for the Arts to present the world premiere of On Earth at the 2002 Banff Mountain Summit. On Earth was was then adapted for Taipei City Hall Building and performed at the 5th International Taipei Arts Festival. In 2003, the company presented the U.S. premiere of On Earth in Aspen, Colorado at the historic Wheeler Opera House and created the full-length work Traverse On Earth for Nanaimo’s InFringing Dance Festival. Performances in Vancouver in 2004 included On The Fly at Library Square, the Vancouver Arts Awards Gala and Aeriosa at the Roundhouse as part of the New Works Dance Allsorts series.
In 2005, Aeriosa Dance Society performed at Kelowna’s Life and Arts Festival and the Vancouver Island International Children’s Festival. In summer 2006, the company danced at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Vancouver Art Gallery’s Fuse and Victoria’s ICA Folk Fest. In the fall of 2006, Aeriosa premiered Stone:drift a full-length theatre piece presented by New Works in association with The Dance Centre, and in 2007, the company led the Way Up Here Summer Dance Intensive at the Yukon Arts Centre and remounted Stone:drift at the Yukon Arts Centre Theatre.
Aeriosa Dance Society
305-2181 West 38th Avenue
Vancouver BC Canada V6M 1R8
Artistic Director
Julia Taffe
For information,
send e-mail to: Aeriosa Dance Society
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