2022/23 RBC Emerging Artists Program
Derek Souvannavong and Vania Dodoo-Beals are the 6th and final cohort of RBC Emerging Artists with Peggy Baker Dance Projects.
We’re pleased to announce they will perform two new solo dances on Thursday November 10 at the COC’s Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre.
Created through a highly collaborative exchange, bridging cultural frameworks and artistic practice, these new works will see Peggy work individually with Derek and Vania over 4 weeks. This program includes 30 hours of work in-studio; dedicated time for one-on-one conversations; shared sessions devoted to observation and discussion; and an open-studio sharing of the dances for friends and colleagues. This program provides a fee and training subsidy, and culminates in the presentation at the Canadian Opera Company’s Free Noon Hour Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre.
The RBC Emerging Artists Program will provide a warm and safe space in diving further into my current focus of re-finding and sharing my voice as a Lao-Canadian dance artist within a western contemporary dance form. This mentorship with Peggy utilizes text as a foundational source and I plan to explore the beauty of the Lao language, its fonts and meanings, its beautiful curves, lines, definition and content.
Photo credit: Kylie Thompson
It is important that I reflect personal experiences and struggles in my movement practice. Being my own muse has been at the forefront to my inspiration. In this stage of my development, I am in need of mentorship and the RBC Emerging Artists Program offers this opportunity due to the intimacy of the work. I respect and admire Peggy’s opinion and believe we will have a productive working relationship that will aid me with my personal aspirations in dance.
Photo Credit: Devonte Thomas
2021/22 RBC Emerging Artist
2020/21 RBC Emerging Artists
2020/21 RBC Emerging Artist Action Lab
2019/20 RBC Emerging Artists
2018/19 RBC Emerging Artists
2017/18 RBC Emerging Artists
