Festival of New Dance 2026: BOLT

Indigenous-led by Jeanette Kotowich (Nêhiyaw/Mêtis), BOLT is a co-written body of knowledge, a reclamation of artistic sovereignty forged through kinship and collaboration. Kinetic joy evolves from synchronicity, laughter, and risk-taking. "A visceral negotiation of land and lineage, BOLT moves through us as a living archive - it exists deep in our subconscious, where ideas flow across the landscape, and past meets future."- Jeanette KotowichThis interdisciplinary ensemble journey takes us into the unknown-visiting the liminal spaces at the horizon of our imaginations. We are confronted with desolate landscapes of fracture and extraction. Uncovering unity in dysfunction, BOLT's a radical act of productive instability that tells a story of universal interconnectedness. CreditsConceived and produced: Jeanette KotowichCo-created and performed: Kate Franklin + Gillian Hanemayer + Ahmed Khalil + JeanetteKotowich + Deanna PetersMusic: Ahmed KhalilLighting design + technical director: Gillian HanemayerUniform: Jeanette KotowichScenography: Jeanette KotowichArtistic support: Lisa Mariko Gelley + Michelle Olson + Donna RedlickSomatic movement coach: Donna RedlickProduction management: Kayleigh SandomirskyCo-produced: Jeanette Kotowich, Raven Spirit Dance + Festival TransAmériques AcknowledgementsWith the support of British Columbia Arts Council + Canada Council for the Arts + City of Vancouver [Odd Meridian Arts] + Vancouver International Dance Festival Creative residencies Company 605 (Vancouver), Out Innerspace/Q7 Studios (Vancouver) + Scotiabank Dance Centre (Vancouver) + Vancouver Civic Theatres (Vancouver) Special thanks to Frederick Brummer + Alexandra Caprara + Claire French + Lara Kramer + Brady Marks + Carlos Rivera Martínez + sharai mustatia + Simon Riverin, Neil Sochasky Watch the trailer for BOLT here. Stick around after the performance for an artist talkback facilitated by Kaija Pepper. New this year! Neighbourhood Dance Works, WritersNL, Arts & Culture Centre, and Anna Templeton Centre are pleased to present Writers, Makers, & Illustrators in Residence programming adjacent to the 2026 Festival of New Dance. Please click here to learn more about the residency and sign up for free response labs. (Photography: Laurence Rosset)