Opening Screening: Where We Dwell

Eunice Faye Dionisio (Calgary, AB) YOUTH
Vancouver Premiere
Duration: 2:35

In Ballroom, Vogue movement is a language. We communicate with each other through the intricacies of our hands and the techniques we learned from our teachers in Ballroom. Storytelling is a huge part of it all and is used to connect to your peers and competitors, creating a community that allows for intimacy and togetherness.

Director, Cinematographer, Editor: Mat Harvey
Producer: Eunice Faye Dionisio
Dancers: Eunice Faye Dionisio, Shandie Ta, Justin Larioza, Roubert Dilidili
Jewelry: Brat Beadz
Music: "I Wanna Dance" by Artem Uzunov

Gabrielle Tyrie (Toronto, ON) YOUTH
Vancouver Premiere
Duration: 7:03

Inspired by the etymology of the word “versus”, “Versus, Versus, Verses” is a two-channel video combining dance, film and poetry. From the metaphorical to the literal the whole universe is whirring and turning. Using the visual motif of a spiral, artist and filmmaker, Gabrielle Tyrie and dancer Abdulla Hassan, collect the ways in which you can dance and render a turning system. 

Director, Writer, Narrator: Gabrielle Tyrie
Performer: Abdulla Hassan
Music: Sierra Weston and Gabrielle Tyrie

Fareh Malik (Toronto, ON) EMERGING
Vancouver Premiere
Duration: 6:34
Content warning: Mentions of mental illness (depression), flashing lights

“Surviving Silence” is a short film exploring the link between silence and depression, and how dance can be not just an escape from that, but a beautiful way to persevere. The film showcases an array of dance styles housed under Fareh Malik's poetic narration.

Director and Editor: Ian Simon
Writer: Fareh Malik
Producer: Safa Ali Mudei
DOP: Jerome Riel
Cast: Josh Cezar, Nadia Ruffieux, Praveeni Rasiah, Tariq Chin

Virginia Duivenvoorden (Vancouver, BC) EMERGING
Vancouver Premiere
Duration: 6:03
Content warning: Thunder and lighting

This piece was developed by Virginia as an interdisciplinary piece. The dance was choreographed in collaboration with the performer. The film is directed by Jerry Trieus. The performance centers around a character who has a mission to experience flight through kiting. The journey is filled with challenges leading to a transformation from the kite as the object of flight to the human body as the dancer achieves a sense of flight through movement.

The piece included audience engagement through workshops to create art for the film. The art projects are windsocks created by the community. The art offers a more multi- sensory experience to the dances and also serves as additional access points to the choreography. The use of tulle is repeated from Virginia’s previous works investigating the fabric and a prop reminiscent of a cloud.

Choreographer: Virginia Duivenvoorden
Director: Jerry Trieus
Performer and Assistant Choreographer: Brynne Harper
Composer: Sarah Blair
Supported by: The Dance Centre
In association with: PHT Creative Hub

Glo Romy (Toronto, ON) EMERGING
Vancouver Premiere
Duration: 3:41

Created by an all woman cast & crew, BOSSY is an energetic short film that celebrates the women in Toronto’s street dance community. The film highlights different generations with styles ranging from Hip Hop, Popping, Locking, Waacking, Breaking, and Krump. Glo Romy, the director of the film, is a Hip Hop dancer from Toronto who has battled across the city as well as having proudly repp’d abroad. The film is 4 minutes long and premiered in March 2024, in honour of Women’s History Month.

Director: Glo Romy
Production Company: Yute Studio
Executive Producer: Christina G. Cheng
Producers: Suha “Su” Mugni, Dorcas Ho
DP: Ashley Iris Gill
Choreographer: Amanda-May Wilson
Associate Choreographer: Marianne Kanaan, Christina de la Cruz
Casting: Amaia Creative
Editorial: Nimiopere
Editor: Leah Lalich
Colour: Darling Colour & VFX
Colourist: Kassi Bellamy
1st AD: Ashley Bodika
2nd AD: Alise Rosemin
Production Coordinator: Vanessa Okafo
Steadicam: Nigel Doucette
1st AC: Carine Zahner
2nd AC: Kiana Tagabing
Camera Trainee: Renata Mohamed
Gaffer: Sabrina Spilotro
Key Grip: Asmaa Rouhi
Dolly Grip: Ian Chan
Set Designer: Vanessa Cassar
Wardrobe: Glo Romy
Wardrobe Assists: Kaylah Wilson, Miki Diamond Perry
MUA: Kathy Nguyen
MUA Assists: Irene Brotto, Gabrielle Jovellanos
Hair Stylist: Lakia Sage
Nail Artist: Manis by Manu
Grillz: Grillz by Mazz
BTS: Christine Do, Puneet Boparai, Alicia Reid
PA's: Toni Ho, Olya Sovtus, Sierra Brown-Rodrigues
Cast: Glo Romy, Kayla-Renée Wilson, Petra Ayedzi, Jendayi Dyer, Malea Yarde, Shane Tubog, Jordanaé Marie, O'Shani "Ocean" Cardwell, Trisha Ng, Miambi Kassé, Marianne Kanaan, Celeste Delgado, Kosi Eze, Caroline ‘Lady C’ Fraser, Monica ‘Knives’ Fern, Judi Lopez, Jade Jager Clark, Karyin Qiu, Alexandra ‘Niyi’ Tauhid, Julia ‘Lock Julia’ Aldosh, Sandra ‘Iced Misto’ To, Madison ‘Mad C’ Cranston, Daniella Alfaro, Luna Lunatick Doan, Mandy ‘Doomgurl’ Sanchez Cruz, Abigail McEyeson, Abby ‘Crimson Gush’ Raj, Lexi Raj, Emma Cabrera Aragon, Patricia ‘Ponytail Patricia’ Gordon, Jessica ‘Pretzo’ Chiu, Ruhama Dechassa, Jamie-Lee Santos, Danica ‘Dizzy’ Dinero, Janine Joseph, Janelle Haye, Indica Cornish, Kathriel Rivera, Char Viorea, Geneva Lei, Manuela Villegas, Chawntay Barrett, Zayn Ojowo, King the Chihuahua