Winnipeg Arts Council

2023-2024 Season / Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers’ 59th Season!

WCD 2023/2024 Season SUBSCRIPTION:

This new season is full of beautifully diverse and honest works featuring new creations, Internationally acclaimed artists, and a large roster of Winnipeg-based artists!

Purchase a 2023-2024 subscription today!

Location:  Rachel Browne Theatre

211 Bannatyne Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 3P2

Everything's Coming Up Roses
WCD's Emerging Artist Initiative

Thursday, October 19, 1:30 pm
Friday, October 20, 7:30 pm


The future is bright in our first ticketed performance of the season, featuring new work along with new and returning dancers! Witness a fun and exciting evening of talent as ten dancers dive deep into themselves and their dance practice.

For decades, WCD has created opportunities for emerging dancers. For 2023/24, WCD's Emerging Artist Initiative runs for six and a half weeks, with dancers gathering in WCD's studio for rehearsals, new creation, research and coaching, culminating in two public performances.

WCD's Emerging Artist Initiative is in partnership with The School of Contemporary Dancers.

New Works and Live Performances

Artistic Director, Jolene Bailie

The Impossible Has Already Happened

Co-created by Jennifer Mascall and Claire O’Neil

November 17-18 at 8:00pm

November 19 at 4:00pm Artist Talk to follow Sunday matinee.

WCD presents The Impossible Has Already Happened, a collaborative co-creation between MascallDance (Vancouver) and Footenote New Zealand Dance, motivated by the incredible scale and enormity of the climate crisis.

Inspired by dialogue with climate scientists, activists, and knowledge-keepers, a fantastic cast of diverse Canadian and New Zealand artists bring laughter and momentum to the challenges of coming to terms with today’s world. Contemporary dance, live music, theatre, and storytelling come together with relevance and purpose in this exciting new work. Coming to Canada on the heels of a recent tour of New Zealand!

New Creation by Jera Wolfe

February 23-24 at 7:30pm

February 25 at 4:00pm Artist Talk to follow Sunday matinee.

Preview performance February 22 at 7:30pm

WCD is thrilled to commission Jera Wolfe to create a new work for WCD! WCD first commissioned Wolfe in fall 2020, only to have the in-person performances cancelled due to COVID-19. WCD is excited to work with Wolfe once again and present his work the way we intended to!

Wolfe is an artist of Métis heritage. His captivating choreography awarded him the 2019 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Original Choreography for Trace by Red Sky Performance. His impressive repertoire has been presented by Canadian Stage, Fall For Dance North, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Festival des arts de Saint-Sauveur, Danse Danse, Jacob's Pillow and more. His choreography has toured Europe, the United States and Canada.

Also a celebrated performer, his work as a dancer has brought him to many stages of the world, including across Canada, Europe and the United States.

Featuring an ensemble of Winnipeg-based dancers and lighting by Hugh Conacher!

New Creation by Jolene Bailie

May 3-4 at 7:30pm

May 5 at 4:00pm Artist Talk to follow Sunday matinee.

Preview performance May 2 at 7:30pm

New Creation by Artistic Director, Jolene Bailie, showcasing an all-Winnipeg team! Featuring an ensemble of dancers, plus original sound by Emma Hendrix and lighting by long-time collaborator, Hugh Conacher!

Known for highly physical and complex work, Bailie creates experimental works that are visual, abstract, and reflective. Always athletic, Bailie has presented new creations for Winnipeg audiences annually for over 20 years!