From Oct. 30 to Nov. 7, the 23rd Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival will feature more than 100 events, including music, poetry, theatre, ceremony, films, dance, readings, forums, workshops, discussions, gallery exhibits, art talks and history tours. Among those involved are several members of the Jewish community.
This year’s theme, Belonging, celebrates the experience of being seen, heard, respected and valued for who you are. At the festival, Belonging is something created together; it’s sharing stories, laughter, grief and joy. Belonging is a reminder that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion and respect.
For 23 years, the Heart of the City Festival, which takes place at 30-plus venues, has been rooted in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and focused on listening and learning from the local community, carrying forward their stories, ancestral memory, cultural traditions, lived experiences and artistic practices, illuminating pathways of resilience.
From a scan of scheduled events, the Jewish Independent spotted a few – all happening on Nov. 6 – that involve Jewish community members or have Jewish connections.
On Nov. 6, 1 p.m., at SFU Djavad Mowafaghian World Arts Centre, All Bodies Dance Project presents a collection of new solo dances, each work offering a glimpse into the artist’s perspective, and together forming a portrait of a diverse community. This event is free to attend.
At 5 p.m. that day, also at SFU, Theatre Terrific presents 1984:AGAIN, its adaptation of George Orwell’s classic 1984. In the story, Winston Smith commits the ultimate crime – he falls in love. In a world of absolute surveillance, his forbidden affair becomes a radical act of defiance against the Ministry of Truth. Drawing parallels to modern-day surveillance, disinformation and politics, 1984:AGAIN asks: Can human connection give us the collective courage to stand together and rebel? Tickets range from free to $35.
Finally, at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 at Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, the Vancouver Accordion Orchestra offers a free performance of music ranging from jazz and Bossa Nova to Italian movie composer Nino Rotta to Erik Satie to works by Anthony Schulz and Indigenous composer Russell Wallace. Their performance will be followed at 8 p.m. by the Evening Harold Band, featuring Heidi Morgan.
The Heart of the City Festival is presented by Vancouver Moving Theatre in association with Carnegie Community Centre and the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians. For the full schedule and tickets, go to heartofthecityfestival.com.
– Courtesy Heart of the City
