A government grant funding decline of 81 per cent led Nanaimo’s contemporary dance society to cancel its annual festival.
Crimson Coast Dance Society will not produce the Infringing Dance Festival after 12 years of showcasing modern dance in the community but hopes the festival returns in the future.
The festival brought in up to six professional dance companies, many of which presented workshops and other events over four or five days.
“It was very hard to decide that this year’s festival would have to be cancelled, yet we needed to ensure that we would be able to present the remainder of our season,” said artistic director Holly Bright, in a press release. “We are sure that our supporters will be disappointed and we really hope that the result of the gaming funds review will be that funding levels are reinstated, so that we can bring the festival back to Nanaimo in 2012.”
The society is presenting a season in 2012, beginning with Wen Wei Dance’s presentation of Unbound at the Port Theatre Feb. 25. A master class is set for the following day.
The annual Body Talk Project, featuring free dance workshops for teens and families during spring break, runs March 28-22, with a performance March 23 at Malaspina Theatre. This year’s theme is a fusion of salsa and hip hop dance.
On May 19, Deborah Dunn presents 4 Quartets, based on a poem by T. S. Elliot.
Formed in 1998, Crimson Coast worked to develop opportunities for the presentation of contemporary dance in Nanaimo.
The society hosts a series of fundraising events, beginning with a Mad Hatter Tea Party at Mon Petit Choux on Oct. 28, followed by an event at Nanaimo Museum Nov. 24. The Wee Tipple scotch tasting party returns March 9. For more information, please visit www.crimsoncoastdance.org or call 250-716-3230.