Dancestreams Youth Dance Company (Vancouver Island Youth Dance Theatre Assn- registered charity)- Vancouver Island’s premier youth repertory company- is coming to Port Alberni’s ADSS Auditorium on Saturday April 20th, 7:30 pm.  Joined by guests artists from both Stage West School of Performing Arts and MacKenzie School of Dance, Dancestreams will present an evening of outstanding contemporary dance created by leading professional choreographers from across Canada.  Dancestreams, formed in 1985,  is a pre-professional group drawing talented and highly motivated dancers by audition from communities and dance schools based all over Vancouver Island;  currently the dancers come from Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay and Campbell River.  Each Sunday from September to May, they meet in Qualicum Beach for six intensive hours of classes and rehearsals.  They are all keen to add those hours to their already packed schedules in order to take advantage of the opportunities to work with some of the country’s top professionals and to enjoy the extraordinarily fulfilling experience of working with other dancers who share their enthusiasm, talent and work ethics.  The works presented are very different from the usual festival/ recital dances they might tackle as part of their home studio training.  The choreographers commissioned to work with the Company arrive expecting dancers with open minds  who are willing to work to professional standards and are  ready to follow the choreographers down paths they might never have dreamed of.  The works are often three to four times the length of a standard dance, challenging the dancers mentally, physically and emotionally.  The artists will often use the time with Dancestreams to workshop ideas and movements that may be used in a later  professional context or full evening piece.  The experiences with Dancestreams give dancers the chance to learn about how a professional company operates and to experience the many different methods of creation- including the participation of the dancers in the creative process.  The networking with the guest teachers and choreographers is a vital part in securing a successful future in the dance community.  This season alone, the dancers have been fortunate to work with Chengxin Wei, Andrea Gunnlaugson-Furlan and Jill Henis as well as guest teachers Julia Sasso and Peggy Baker- two of Canada’s dance legends.  Graduates of the Dancestreams program, which is renowned throughout Canada & the world, have gone on to train and work professionally around the globe- many credit the Company with giving them the confidence and experience to excel in their chosen fields.  The Port Alberni performance kicks off the annual spring tour which will take the group to Ucluelet, Gabriola Island and Courtenay this season.  Over the years the Company has been fortunate to tour in China, three time to  Los Angeles, Belgium, twice in  Germany and across Canada.  Please come and support these amazing dancers on Saturday April 20th at ADSS auditorium- local dancer Kaara Plater (currently residing in Victoria) is in her sixth and final season as a member of the Company, directed by another local Patricia MacKenzie.  Tickets are $12 Seniors & students/ $15 Adults at brownpapertickets.com.  All tickets $15 at the door.

Attached:  Port Alberni poster/  photo by Julia Carr of dancer Madison Cote