time sensitive since 1992
SUDDENLY DANCE THEATRE
Artistic co Directors: David Ferguson & Miles Lowry
For 32 years, Suddenly Dance Theatre has made marks on the world map through a multi-media distribution of dance as a means to achieve our Mandate with innovation. Through LIVE performances and touring, television broadcasts, film festivals, outdoor installations and the internet we have strived:
“To educate and provide opportunities for dancers and choreographers to improve in their craft; and, To educate and increase the public's understanding and appreciation of dance by providing performances of an artistic nature in public places.”
Suddenly Dance Theatre is grateful to live, create, and share on the traditional and unceded territories of the Lekwungen peoples, also known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. We are an established part of the City of Victoria’s cultural community, as an Importer (presenter) and as an Exporter (creator) of original dance, theatre, and media productions. Our original works and touring activities have allowed us to be proud ambassadors of the City of Victoria - through national television (Opium; Aisling; Guthrie Swims the Lake); Film Festivals (from New York to New Delhi); international residencies (Ireland; South Korea); as well as works toured to Seoul, Kim Hae, Daegu & Busan (South Korea), Vancouver, Nanaimo, Hornby Island and Guelph.
Suddenly Dance Theatre's Fountain of Youth Program is intended to support dance artists under the age of 26 for building new and diverse choreographic voices. Led by mentor Kathy Lang, the program has supported newcomer to Canada, 21 year-old Brazilian dancer Vitor Freitas (2021) and Elvis Eze, Jaren Guerreiro, and Andrea Lemus (2022). Our Fountain of Youth Program has evolved over the years developing a focus on conflict resolution and social-emotional learning, through WITS IN MOTION (2017), our online ‘anti-bullying’ toolkit available around the world in English and French.
Current and upcoming works include: In a Nutshell, a play commissioned by the Belfry Theatre written by David Ferguson and starring Lynda Raino; plus two different dance-films featuring international collaborators Hoyeon Kim and Jungha Lim (South Korea): We Are Diamonds and Lucky Maybe.
In July 2022, Suddenly Dance Theatre published 'Small City, Big Talent'. Written by Robin J. Miller, this major publication beautifully captures some of the founding stories and notable moments from our city’s dancing past. Featuring: Lynda Raino, Constantine Darling, Big Dance, Suddenly Dance Theatre, Crystal Pite, and Dance Victoria.
OUR MANDATE:
The purposes of the Society are: To educate and provide opportunities for dancers and choreographers to improve in their craft; and, To educate and increase the public's understanding and appreciation of dance by providing performances of an artistic nature in public places.
Suddenly Dance Theatre's Mission is to support the development, creation, presentation, and preservation of the dance arts through collaboration and diverse media to reach the widest possible audience.
As a protean company, Suddenly Dance Theatre's original stage works, made-for-television films, and public installations have expressed themes of sexuality, addiction, motherhood, missing women - as well as more sublime themes of nature ecstasy and body language. Over time, our responsive and collaborative approach to dance has played a crucial role in sustaining a cycle of original works and for reaching our greatest multi-cultural audience locally and internationally.
Our company has a significant history of collaborating with South Korean artists, first developed through a deep creative connection between Artistic co-Director David Ferguson with dance partner Jung ah Chung spanning 20+ years. Suddenly Dance Theatre has performed original works in South Korea at the World Dance Stars Festival (2008), Busan International Dance Festival (2008), the Next Wave Dance Festival (2008/09), the 17th Daegu International Festival of Dance (2015); plus dance-film residencies in 2019 and 2023. In Canada, we established an international program called ‘From Korea with Love’ and have featured South Korea’s Hyoseung Ye, Hoyeon Kim, Jungha Lim, Jooha Kim, Gunwoo Jun, Choi Yeoungtak, and Namjin Kim, among others.
As the producer of the Romp! Festival of Dance (20 Festivals) our diverse programming (indoor/outdoor; ticketed/free; urban/park; LIVE/projected) educates and increases the public's understanding and appreciation of dance by showcasing the true multi-media nature and mobility of Dance. Our mix of emerging and established local, national, and international dance artists provides the community with a network of supportive activities, including: free & low-cost dance performances, classes/workshops, discussion groups, professional mentorship, and volunteer opportunities. Participants of ROMP! have included: Lindsay Renee Derry (San Francisco); Hyoseung Ye, Hoyeon Kim (Seoul); Dominique Porte, Lina Cruz (Montreal); Jennifer Mascall, Josh Beamish, Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, Aeriosa, Chrystal Pite, Wen Wei Wang (Vancouver); DA Hoskins (Toronto); Helen Husak (Calgary), Constance Cooke, Jung ah Chung, Ballet Victoria (Victoria), and many others. *The Festival is on hiatus.
OUR MISSION:
Suddenly Dance Theatre's Mission is to support the development, creation, presentation, and preservation of the dance arts through collaboration and diverse media to reach the widest possible audience.
Suddenly Dance Theatre Society is based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and was founded in 1992 by David Ferguson, Lori Hamar, and Miles Lowry. We are a charitable non-profit society (BN #885685636RR0001) led by a Board of volunteer community members. Our work has been supported by: The Canada Council, Heritage Canada, The British Columbia Arts Council, Capital Regional District Arts Development, Bravo!FACT Foundation, The Hamber Foundation, The Victoria Foundation, and the City of Victoria.
