:::::vertical dance network: Aeriosa Dance Society

Current/Dance Community
Introduction to Vertical Dance with Aeriosa at Roundhouse Community Centre

Class Description:

Vertical dancers use rope and harness systems to access different ways of moving on the ground and in the air. This is a beginner level class designed to develop safety awareness and practice with the equipment while introducing foundational vertical dance skills through progressive technical lessons and creative movement exercises.

Join Aeriosa Dance Artists for a fun class that builds your core strength while you are hovering, sliding, swinging, tilting, rotating and tipping upside down.

Instructors:
Aeriosa Company Artists Meghan Goodman and Cara Siu

Covid Safety Plan:
Until current Provincial Health Orders and recommendations are updated, Aeriosa is taking the following safety measures to address Covid-19

Aeriosa Instructors are fully vaccinated and wear high-quality, properly fitted masks at all times.
Proof of vaccination is required to participate.
Masks are strongly recommended for all participants.
The class size is limited to 8 participants.
Physical distancing of 2 meters or more is maintained.
No partnering or contact is taking place.
Personal safety equipment is assigned to each person and is not shared.

Cost:
$240/8 classes
Registration is required, no drop-in.

Time:
Sundays 10am-12pm

Winter Session:
January 23 to February 27
(classes have commenced, registration is now full)

Spring Session:
April 10th to June 26th (no class April 17, May 8, May 22, May 29)

Summer Session:
July-August (Dates TBA)

Registration for Spring and Summer will open soon.
For more info, visit: www.roundhouse.ca

Newsworthy

SAVE THE DATE: April 30th, 2022
Dancing to Remember - a co-production by Aeriosa and Butterflies in Spirit: Dance Healing and MMIWG at the Vancouver Playhouse.

Aeriosa is currently collaborating with Butterflies in Spirit to create and curate a theatre-based evening of performances honouring the Butterflies 10th anniversary of dance activism raising awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirits.

Dancing to Remember will premiere new works by Butterflies in Spirit, The Git Hayetsk Mask Dancers and Aeriosa. Indigenous artists including Spakwus Slulem Eagle Song Dancers, JB the First Lady and Sierra Tasi Baker will be performing, and more guest artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

These past few years have been devastating for many of us, in so many ways. Dancing to Remember invites anyone wishing to honour lost loved ones and everyone wanting to show their support, to come join us in holding our memories. The atmosphere will be relaxed, family-friendly and welcoming to all. Trauma counseling will be available on site.

Butterflies in Spirit is an Indigenous dance group started by Lorelei Williams. Lorelei is from the Skatin Nations and Sts’Ailes (Sto:lo Territory). Founded in 2011, the group consists of family members of MMIWG. Their signature performances combine Hip Hop, Contemporary Dance and Traditional First Nations dance forms. They have performed across Canada and in the United States, Mexico, and Colombia.

Dr. Mique'l Dangeli and the Git Hayetsk performing
Thunderbird at Ancestralizing the Present
Photo credit: Colin Zacharias

Git Hayetsk is an internationally renowned Northwest Coast First Nations Mask Dancing Group co-led by Dr. Mique’l Dangeli that was formed in 2003. Dr. Mique’l Dangeli is of the Tsimshian Nation of Metlakatla, Alaska. She has choreographed a large body of dances for newly composed songs among her nation as well as created new dances for ancient songs whose dance has been lost during their cultural oppression.

Their songs and dances have been shared at ceremonial and public events in urban and rural communities through Canada, the US, including British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Ohio, Hawaii, Washington DC, and abroad, including Austria, Malaysia, Germany, and Japan.

Aeriosa is seeking volunteers to assist with Dancing to Remember at the Vancouver Playhouse leading up to, and during the production. Please click on the image above and complete the volunteer form on our website. If you have any special skills or services you would like to offer, please let us know!

Aeriosa is often inspired by nature. When dancing outdoors, we regularly encounter other species. This next column is dedicated to learning about our friends in flight.

Featured Friends in Flight
Underwing Moths Catocala

Generic epithet Catocala is Greek meaning "beautiful below."

Underwings refers to the posture where the forewings are normally held together over the back at rest, hiding the hindwings beneath. Hence, the hindwings are the (bold and beautiful) underwings that this genus is known for.

The common names of many species are translations of the species epithets; Linnaeus chose a female/marriage theme when naming a few of the earlier-described species, and the practice was continued by later authors (hence we have The Bride, The Girlfriend, Old Wife, The Widow, Once-married Underwing, The Newlywed, The Darling, etc.)

These fanciful names help collectors and moth enthusiasts remember the various species but have no particular significance in themselves. A few species are named after a person or the larval food plant (example: Meske's Underwing, Hawthorn Underwing).