19th Annual Festival of New Dance
July 21 to 26, 2009

Began in 1990, NDW's Festival of New Dance celebrates the best of original Canadian and International dance, presenting work that is innovative, stimulating, challenging and inspirational. In 2009, the festival moves outside with an exciting program of site-specific work in addition to main stage performances, master classes, workshops and round table discussions.

"The risky experimental choreography is FND's hallmark...work that challenges the mind and the soul" Paula Citron, Globe and Mail June 2005

(Below is what happened in 2008)

18th Annual Festival of New Dance
June 17 to 22, 2008

It’s hard to imagine that it is eighteen years since the Festival of New Dance was first celebrated in St. John’s. In this, the 18th Festival, we are bringing to St. John’s a truly fantastic line-up of choreographers for a full week of exciting dance events. To add to our already full program, St. John’s is also hosting the Conference of the Society for Canadian Dance Studies during the festival week, making for a full out week of dance. There will be performances, workshops, master classes, presentations, academic papers and panel discussions, films, galas and more. The 2008 Festival program included the internationally acclaimed Toronto Dance Theatre, featuring the award winning choreography of native Newfoundlander Christopher House. Christopher’s work was featured in the documentary film Ahead of the Curve: Christopher House written and directed by Rosemary House. A full length work by Nora Chipaumire, a self exiled artist born in Zimbabwe during the war of liberation, whose immensely powerful work is inspired by artistic movements from her native country and chimurenga, the music of the revolution; Fujiwara Dance Inventions from Toronto with No Exit, based on the play by Jean Paul Sartre, choreographed by Denise Fujiwara. A must see for St. John’s theatre loving audience; Chanti Wadge from Montreal bring us One Hundred Returnings, an exquisite solo performed by one of Canada’s most expressive dance artists. A Newfoundland Showcase will feature eagerly anticipated work by Sarah Joy Stoker, Louise Moyes and Calla Lachance.

The Festival of New Dance takes place at the historic LSPU Hall and at specific sites throughout the City. The LSPU Hall is the home of Resource Centre for the Arts, the corner stone and epicenter of the St. John’s art scene. The LSPU Hall is a traditional black box theatre with seating for 160 and a playing space measuring twenty-five by forty feet.

For details of the 2008 performances, workshops and artist bios, click the appropriate menu item below.

Performances

Workshops

Biographies

Click here for Technical Information.