šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square, North of the Vancouver Art Gallery
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
About the Program
A fun exhibition dance battle curated by Barangay Project Society inviting 7 unique dance artists who have been hand picked to showcase their freestyle dance skills in a friendly 1-on-1 dance battle where they will be dancing against each other.
How the battle works: 7-to-smoke is a style of format where 7 dancers go head to head against one another in a series of freestyle dance battles. The dance competitors will have to showcase their freestyle prowess and adapt to various styles of music they may or may not be familiar with. The dancer with the strongest round from the preliminaries earns the title of “King” while the remaining 6 dancers must line up on the opposite side of the floor to challenge the King. When the dancer in the King position loses, that dancer must go behind the line and give up the King title to the current winner. The first dance competitor to gain 7 wins is titled the King and the winner of the overall battle!
Barangay Project Society is a non-profit organisation that provides, highlights, and nurtures Canadian dance artists and other artforms through dance festivals and mentorship programs. Through dance, specifically Street Dance Culture, we create dynamic experiences that allow for open mindedness for new ways to see ourselves, each other, and our histories, especially as people of colour navigating the world today. We work openly and inclusively to create a safe and welcoming experience for all, regardless of one’s ethnicity, age, gender and/or economic status.
Barangay Project Society is led and founded by interdisciplinary Filipina artist and first generation immigrant Sophia Sosa in September 2020. Since its establishment, Barangay Project has successfully hosted 3 successful arts festivals in Vancouver, BC showcasing local talents through curated dance and musical performances, dance battle events, mentorships and panel discussions. For the last 4 years, with the continues support of the BC Arts Council and Canadian Heritage, Barangay Project Society consistently hosts an annual dance festival called “MOVE TOGETHER” that invites multidisciplinary artists to gather from all over the world through a 5-day experience that includes free dance workshops, performances and panel discussion from local Canadian Artists, as well as international artists.
DJ: MagicSean
https://www.instagram.com/djmagicsean/
Sophia Laurio also known as “Sosa”, is a Filipina interdisciplinary artist residing in the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh Nations, also known as Vancouver, Canada. With a heavy focus on dance and its multiple forms, Sophia is a versatile movement artist that explores a wide variety of dance styles like Hip Hop, House, Waacking, Locking, Afro-Dancehall and Contemporary dance. Sophia founded non-profit organization, Barangay Project Society, an art hub dedicated to promote inclusivity and diversity in creating safe artistic spaces to all youths and marginalized communities locally and internationally.
Yoshi Hisanaga is a versatile and innovative Hiphop dancer/ bboy who values the integrity of Hip Hop culture and Hip Hop dance. Yoshi is a passionate teacher who believes in sharing his knowledge to whomever is interested in the art form. Dancing since 1999, he has traveled and trained all over the world in Breaking, Hip Hop, Popping, Locking, House, Jazz, and Hustle. He is an award-winning choreographer who specializes in a unique and abstract blend of hip-hop and breakdancing. He represented Canada at the Hip Hop International Championships in the summer of 2007 in L.A and 2008 in Vegas. He is also the winner of the World of Dance Vancouver Hiphop battle.
Simran Sachar is an East Indian/Punjabi contemporary and street dance artist, choreographer, and actor. She is a captivating anomaly in this industry who consistently works in ground-breaking spaces. Simran’s latest live work, ‘ACT TWENTY FIVE’ premiered in front of two sold out audiences in June 2024 at Vancouver’s Dancing On The Edge Festival. Simran’s latest film with XR technology, premieres in Fall 2024. Her first XR film, BETA बेटा was presented at Luna Arts Festival 2021. In 2020, her first film ‘LUNACY’ was a part of National Arts Centre's CAPSULE and premiered at F.O.R.M Film Festival and won the Official Selection of the Audience Choice Award. Simran is the Winner of 2023’s Release Yourself Whacking Battle in Montreal at Artfulness Festival.
Ririka Maekawa also known as Lili is an international dance artist from Wakayama, Japan specializing in Street Dance style called Waacking. Through her 15 years of dance experience in the Japanese dance scene, she established her style by mixing Waacking with various dance genres like House, Soul, and Popping.
Tegvaran Sooch is a versatile artist from Surrey, BC, training in styles like Hip-Hop and KRUMP. Representing the “illest illusionz” crew, Teg has had the opportunity to compete in various local and out-of-town street dance tournaments, spanning cities such as Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, and Seattle. For Teg, dance is a way of storytelling and emotional expression. He draws inspiration from the energy of the people around him, movie characters, and anime. His artistic approach involves the fusion of experimental concepts with foundational elements in unconventional ways, resulting in distinctive and captivating movement.
Bboy QD is an international dance artist from Taiwan and has been living in so-called Vancouver since 2021. He is a traveling dance artist participating in various competitive events such as dance battles both in and outside of Canada. He is known for his athleticism and personal style within the artform of Breaking. Bboy QD is also a massage therapist and has been a great source for his fellow dance artists in the community.
Amy Zhang has aspired to be a professional street dance artist since she was 11. Her journey began with Hip Hop dance and since then she has been expanding her knowledge in other styles such as Waacking, House, and Popping. As a versatile dance artist practicing in various styles, her practice heavily emphasizes Hip Hop dance. Over the past 4 years, she has focused on honing her skills and continues to challenge herself by participating in a multitude of dance competitions and major dance battles.
Gryffin Ko is a BC emerging dance artist with 10 years of dance experience in Hip Hop, Popping, House, and Locking. Mainly focusing on Breaking, Gryffin has competed for 8 years in highly competitive dance platforms, especially in Bboy battles. Some of Gryffin’s biggest achievements include winning the 2024 RedBull BC ONE Vancouver Cypher and the 2023 Breaking Canada Youth National Championships.
From the Curating Team
Through the universal languages of dance and music, TAIWANfest explores intercultural connections in flamenco dance, Chinese-language music, and more.
About the Program
A fun exhibition dance battle curated by Barangay Project Society inviting 7 unique dance artists who have been hand picked to showcase their freestyle dance skills in a friendly 1-on-1 dance battle where they will be dancing against each other.
How the battle works: 7-to-smoke is a style of format where 7 dancers go head to head against one another in a series of freestyle dance battles. The dance competitors will have to showcase their freestyle prowess and adapt to various styles of music they may or may not be familiar with. The dancer with the strongest round from the preliminaries earns the title of “King” while the remaining 6 dancers must line up on the opposite side of the floor to challenge the King. When the dancer in the King position loses, that dancer must go behind the line and give up the King title to the current winner. The first dance competitor to gain 7 wins is titled the King and the winner of the overall battle!
Barangay Project Society is a non-profit organisation that provides, highlights, and nurtures Canadian dance artists and other artforms through dance festivals and mentorship programs. Through dance, specifically Street Dance Culture, we create dynamic experiences that allow for open mindedness for new ways to see ourselves, each other, and our histories, especially as people of colour navigating the world today. We work openly and inclusively to create a safe and welcoming experience for all, regardless of one’s ethnicity, age, gender and/or economic status.
Barangay Project Society is led and founded by interdisciplinary Filipina artist and first generation immigrant Sophia Sosa in September 2020. Since its establishment, Barangay Project has successfully hosted 3 successful arts festivals in Vancouver, BC showcasing local talents through curated dance and musical performances, dance battle events, mentorships and panel discussions. For the last 4 years, with the continues support of the BC Arts Council and Canadian Heritage, Barangay Project Society consistently hosts an annual dance festival called “MOVE TOGETHER” that invites multidisciplinary artists to gather from all over the world through a 5-day experience that includes free dance workshops, performances and panel discussion from local Canadian Artists, as well as international artists.
DJ: MagicSean
https://www.instagram.com/djmagicsean/
Sophia Laurio also known as “Sosa”, is a Filipina interdisciplinary artist residing in the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh Nations, also known as Vancouver, Canada. With a heavy focus on dance and its multiple forms, Sophia is a versatile movement artist that explores a wide variety of dance styles like Hip Hop, House, Waacking, Locking, Afro-Dancehall and Contemporary dance. Sophia founded non-profit organization, Barangay Project Society, an art hub dedicated to promote inclusivity and diversity in creating safe artistic spaces to all youths and marginalized communities locally and internationally.
Yoshi Hisanaga is a versatile and innovative Hiphop dancer/ bboy who values the integrity of Hip Hop culture and Hip Hop dance. Yoshi is a passionate teacher who believes in sharing his knowledge to whomever is interested in the art form. Dancing since 1999, he has traveled and trained all over the world in Breaking, Hip Hop, Popping, Locking, House, Jazz, and Hustle. He is an award-winning choreographer who specializes in a unique and abstract blend of hip-hop and breakdancing. He represented Canada at the Hip Hop International Championships in the summer of 2007 in L.A and 2008 in Vegas. He is also the winner of the World of Dance Vancouver Hiphop battle.
Simran Sachar is an East Indian/Punjabi contemporary and street dance artist, choreographer, and actor. She is a captivating anomaly in this industry who consistently works in ground-breaking spaces. Simran’s latest live work, ‘ACT TWENTY FIVE’ premiered in front of two sold out audiences in June 2024 at Vancouver’s Dancing On The Edge Festival. Simran’s latest film with XR technology, premieres in Fall 2024. Her first XR film, BETA बेटा was presented at Luna Arts Festival 2021. In 2020, her first film ‘LUNACY’ was a part of National Arts Centre's CAPSULE and premiered at F.O.R.M Film Festival and won the Official Selection of the Audience Choice Award. Simran is the Winner of 2023’s Release Yourself Whacking Battle in Montreal at Artfulness Festival.
Ririka Maekawa also known as Lili is an international dance artist from Wakayama, Japan specializing in Street Dance style called Waacking. Through her 15 years of dance experience in the Japanese dance scene, she established her style by mixing Waacking with various dance genres like House, Soul, and Popping.
Tegvaran Sooch is a versatile artist from Surrey, BC, training in styles like Hip-Hop and KRUMP. Representing the “illest illusionz” crew, Teg has had the opportunity to compete in various local and out-of-town street dance tournaments, spanning cities such as Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, and Seattle. For Teg, dance is a way of storytelling and emotional expression. He draws inspiration from the energy of the people around him, movie characters, and anime. His artistic approach involves the fusion of experimental concepts with foundational elements in unconventional ways, resulting in distinctive and captivating movement.
Bboy QD is an international dance artist from Taiwan and has been living in so-called Vancouver since 2021. He is a traveling dance artist participating in various competitive events such as dance battles both in and outside of Canada. He is known for his athleticism and personal style within the artform of Breaking. Bboy QD is also a massage therapist and has been a great source for his fellow dance artists in the community.
Amy Zhang has aspired to be a professional street dance artist since she was 11. Her journey began with Hip Hop dance and since then she has been expanding her knowledge in other styles such as Waacking, House, and Popping. As a versatile dance artist practicing in various styles, her practice heavily emphasizes Hip Hop dance. Over the past 4 years, she has focused on honing her skills and continues to challenge herself by participating in a multitude of dance competitions and major dance battles.
Gryffin Ko is a BC emerging dance artist with 10 years of dance experience in Hip Hop, Popping, House, and Locking. Mainly focusing on Breaking, Gryffin has competed for 8 years in highly competitive dance platforms, especially in Bboy battles. Some of Gryffin’s biggest achievements include winning the 2024 RedBull BC ONE Vancouver Cypher and the 2023 Breaking Canada Youth National Championships.
From the Curating Team
Through the universal languages of dance and music, TAIWANfest explores intercultural connections in flamenco dance, Chinese-language music, and more.
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Performance / Vendor / Sponsorship Opportunities
TAIWANfest Vancouver is grateful to be held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). We acknowledge our privilege to be gathered here, and commit to work with and be respectful to the Indigenous peoples of this land while we engage in meaningful conversations of culture and reconciliation.