Whose Step?

Directed by Virginia Duivenvoorden

MC and Host: Hans Potter

Choreography and Performance:

Claire French, Alina Sotskova, Virginia Duivenvoorden 

Videography: Ronald Lee

Alina Sotskova began studying dance at a young age in Crimea, Ukraine. After immigrating to Canada as an adolescent, her connection with dance was interrupted. She returned to dance years later to focus specifically on studying contemporary dance and ballet. She has choreographed and performed in many contemporary dance works across Canada. She has presented original choreography in collaboration with Dance Victoria, Flux London Dance Festival, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Scotiabank Dance Centre, Addo Platform, and many other festivals and organizations. Alina also holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology. In 2017, she founded Voirelia: Dance, Psychology, and Philosophy Hub as a platform for dance creation. As the Artistic Director of Voirelia Hub, Alina continues to create contemporary dance works, develop dance pedagogy, and curate events that bring dance together with scholarship and different art forms. More at voirelia.com | @Voirelia | @Alina.Sotskova.

Claire French is a choreographer, educator and dance artist. She has a PhD in Dance (2022) and works in academic, professional and community contexts, internationally. She has a love for improvising and dancing with others, and alone! She is a collaborator, an interdisciplinary thinker, a playful soul, a mentor, rehearsal director and all-round supportive spirit. 

Claire has hosted The Dance Centre podcast since its inception and she just launched the Creative Influence Podcast this month.

MC and Lighting Design 

Hans Potter: I started my journey into the arts young, finding a love in community theater and improv. Eventually, I would take that passion further by attending the University of Alberta’s acting program, graduating with a BA in drama, and then taking my show on the road and moving to Vancouver to pursue film and TV.

Since then, I have woven myself into many facets of the arts, from directing, writing, producing, and acting. Even working as a teacher, inspiring the next generation of actors. Recently, my passion has fallen to film production, partnering with Gray Ingram to form Lockoff Productions.

Come see me in shows such as The Good Doctor, Alaska Daily, and Legends of Tomorrow. Films like 3 Hours Till Dead, Bigfoot Country, and Camp Death 3. And stay tuned for the upcoming releases of Poenitet and driver.

Videography

Ronald Lee Whether you want to look epic, attractive, professional, important, caring, affectionate, mysterious, alluring or creative...

Ronald Lee has the experience, expertise, creativity and passion to make you look good. "I strive to help people connect with each other through my images of your or your brand. Have a look, I hope you'll agree."

These days, Ronald is involved in filmmaking and takes on photography client work on a selective basis but will do his best to find a way to help you or suggest someone who can.

Whatever your photographic or video project is, just give him a call (604-781-7093), he'll be happy to help.

Virginia Duivenvoorden is a performing artist, choreographer, and educator whose practice spans performance,  film, teaching, and community-engaged dance. Born in the UK and of Irish and English descent, she has lived on Coast Salish Territory since childhood. Trained at Arts Umbrella, SFU, and the European Dance Development Centre (now ArtEZ), she began her career with Karen Jamieson Dance, later performing solo works by Serge Bennathan and Cornelius FischerCredo.  Her choreographic practice emerged while studying in the Netherlands, where she collaborated on dance, installation, and multimedia works. On returning to Canada, she worked with wonderful artists including Rahma Haddad, Margaret Grenier, Candice Harkley, and Margaret Harris, and continued developing her practice. Virginia retired unexpectedly from dance for close almost ten years due  to  injury.  After a surprising recovery, she returned to  dance  professionally in  2017.  She is joyful to have  since  had    the  opportunity  to  work  with  fellow  artists including  Claire French and the team  with re:group, engaging in movement research and collaboration.  Virginia has also  worked with Kay Huang, whose artistic input has been integral to many choreographic explorations. Virginia’s recent projects include Kite, a dance film she choreographed, Stairway, in which she plays Seraphina as the lead actor, both  of  which  she  worked  with  filmmaker Jerry  Trieus.  Whose Step?, is  her latest scripted improv work in development as part of the Dance on the Shore Project. Her work,  shaped by interdisciplinary practice and arts education, has been supported by The Dance Centre, the  Vancouver Foundation,  New Works, PHT Creative Hub, United Way Lower Mainland, the District of West Vancouver, and North Vancouver Recreation and Culture.