The Arts Umbrella Expressions Festival is an incredible display of creativity. It is the largest showing of young artists in the city. Five theatre productions offer up more than two dozen performances. Our dance Season Finale features works by world-renowned choreographers. Three art exhibitions display artworks by the hundreds. And a dance recital is inspired by the eerie illustrations of Edward Gorey.
It’s 33 days of fresh, engaging, and limitless creativity. And it’s unlike anything else in that is shows diverse, high-quality, and engaging art from young artists.
And though we love what our students and instructors showcase in our Expressions Festival, it’s not just Arts Umbrella who is recognizing the many achievements by Metro Vancouver’s young artists.
Expressions: Theatre in the news
- “I think we underestimate the talent and the passion that young actors have.”
Theatre & Music Artistic Director Paul Moniz de Sá speaks with Brittany Duggan for the Georgia Straight’s story: Expressions Festival showcases Arts Umbrella’s theatre talent. - “These are the actors of tomorrow. It’s very exciting to watch where they start off.”
Full story in Burnabynow: Expressions Festival celebrates youth on stage - “We wanted to…tell a story that probably hadn’t been told that often before.”
Laboratory Theatre Troupe student Sydney Marino speaks about co-writing a play about the children displaced by WWII. Full story in the Vancouver Sun: Theatre and Music Expressions Festival showcases Arts Umbrella programs - “We toured Julius Caesar to high schools…and we had students coming up to us and saying ‘Wow – I didn’t know that that was what was going on in that scene.'”
Young actor Raquel Neumann plays Brutus in Julius Caesar, and she chats with Alex Browne from the Peace Arch News in Et tu, Brute?
Expressions: Dance in the news
- “Most people can’t believe that we have so many incredible choreographers in one season.”
Artemis Gordon, Artistic Director Dance and Theatre & Music Artistic Director Paul Moniz de Sá both speak to Christine Lyon of the North Shore News about the Expressions end-of-year performances and what it means for students. Full story: Arts Umbrella students showcase current work - “It’s life-changing for every dancer here.”
Artemis Gordon, Artistic Director Dance speaks to Janet Smith about choreographer Crystal Pite’s workshops with Arts Umbrella students – and what it means for student Charlie Prince. Full story in the Georgia Straight: At Arts Umbrella, Crystal Pite workshops epic ideas while a dancer from Lebanon comes full circle - “[Emily Molnar] started to find her purpose by directing kids’ programs for Arts Umbrella, where she now regularly recruits dancers and apprentices.”
Our friends at Ballet BC are celebrating 30 years, and Janet Smith writes an illuminating piece about the dance company’s shift under artistic director Emily Molnar. Full story in the Georgia Straight: Ballet BC marks 30 years by dancing into bold new terrain
