It can no longer be said that vertical dance is a new art form; its modern trajectory traces back through almost 50 years of contemporary dance choreography and presentation. Deeper research into world cultures reveals that aerial performance traditions have been bringing communities together to enact ceremony, display prowess, and celebrate life for many generations.
Although vertical dance is still not well known, there are places scattered around the world today where artists have established communities dedicated to this practice. Over the past 20 years, Aeriosa has formed one such hub on the West Coast of Canada, and we are delighted to be contributing to the global development of the art form.
The most vital work we do involves imagining and embodying the world in collaboration with diverse individuals and communities who bring new knowledge, skills, and perspective to vertical dance. We value connecting with people and places in ways that place respect, understanding, and safety at the forefront of our practice.
We are listening and learning. We are committed to increasing representation of equity-deserving people within our organization, and are excited to continue nurturing cultural diversity our field of practice.
Yours truly,
Julia Taffe