Cultural Exchange

A cultural exchange between Wen Wei Dance and Compagnia ADARTE

Sharing similar mandates and aesthetics, Wen Wei Dance (Canada) and Compagnia ADARTE (Italy), with support from The Dance Centre (Vancouver, BC), are engaging in an ongoing and collaborative initiative that aims to foster projects of cultural exchange as a professional tool for artistic creation, while promoting cultural understanding of different countries through research focused on identities and communication. Both companies support a democratic idea of dance as an art close to the public.

The cultural exchange between Italy and Canada is invested in increasing cultural understanding and appreciation, a priority throughout the project.

What to expect

ADARTE will travel to Vancouver for the current phase of the Cultural Exchange project and undertake a one-week creation residency from May 6 – 11, 2019 at The DanceCentre in Vancouver. This phase of the exchange anticipates a master class conducted by Artistic Director of ADARTE, Francesca Lettieri, and Vladimir Rodriguez from the company, in collaboration with The Dance Centre and the Training Society of Vancouver. In addition, the residency program includes a showcase of ADARTE’s PLASTIC PEOPLE (2018) and their newest piece, titled CARNE FURIOSA. After the studio showing, there will be a community meet-and-greet, open to the rest of the dance community in Vancouver.

Public master class led by ADARTE company:
Date: May 9
Time:10 – 11:30am
Location: The Dance Centre, Level 4 – Kraul studio (677 Davie Street, Vancouver BC)
Register here

Public studio showing:
Date: May 11
Time: 4 – 5pm
Location: The Dance Centre, Level 4 – Kraul studio

Community Meet-and-Greet (by invitation only):
Date: May 11
Time: 5 – 6:30pm
Location: The Dance Centre, Level 7 – Zagar studio

History & Role

The exchange began with a presentation of Wen Wei Dance’s Dialogue (2017) at Ballo Pubblico Festival in Siena, Italy in June 2018 with support from the Province of BC, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Both companies have undertaken other projects of exchange in the past. For instance, Wen Wei Dance traveled to Beijing for a creative residency with the Beijing Modern Dance Company that led to the creation of a piece (Under the Skin), which successfully toured in Canada and China in 2010. ADARTE has past experience developing projects of cultural exchange in Mexico and Brazil.

The British Columbian choreographer Wen Wei Wang is a Chinese-Canadian artist who has been always interested in deeper the understanding of Canada and British Columbia’s large uniquely multicultural reality. Dialogue, which was presented in Italy during the first phase of the project, is about cultural identity, communication, integration, and the human need to connect. Similarly, Francesca Lettieri (ADARTE) recently activated a new training program for choreographic production dedicated to the theme of integration.

The Dance Centre nourishes such opportunities to maximize the potential of highlighting BC dance internationally and with more focus on specific international networks; strengthening relationships and building on existing ones to expand reach internationally through activating networks, festivals and organizations, and cultural exchange projects.

This project is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture – Province of BC.

Click here for artists and partners’ biographies