KINESIS DANCE SOCIETY
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to create transformative experiences and initiatives through interdisciplinary art, celebrating kindness, liberation, expression and community wellbeing. By collaborating with diverse artists reaching across dance, visual arts, music, digital technology, literature, and theatre, we infuse our creative process with dynamic movement, brave vulnerability, rigour and soulful storytelling through immersive, improvisational and choreographic works. Our practice is rooted in harnessing dance as a universal language for empowerment and social change. We initiate projects by bringing together artists from various disciplines at the inception of an idea, fostering deep collaboration and developing shared languages. This approach ensures that every collaborator is connected to the creation process from the outset, promoting inclusivity and diversity of thought. Unravelling autocratic ways of being and embracing a more collaborative, inclusive, and egalitarian approach to art making. Together, we strive to free ourselves and reconnect with the inherent wisdom of our bodies and the unrelenting grace within us. Our work materializes through immersive performances, community-based practices, touring productions and interactive workshops nationally and internationally. We aim to empower artists to explore their creative freedom, fostering environments where individuals flourish and celebrate their multi-dimensional nature. With a mission to reach diverse audiences, we aim to connect especially with those who have been neglected within existing systemic inequities, honouring their voices and providing a sense of belonging. Embracing our identity as a global family, we welcome individuals from all cultural and social spectrums. Recognizing the fluid relationship between creators and audiences, we understand their interconnected roles in shaping our collective narrative and evolution, emphasizing that each person is an integral part of the whole. We view art as a potent tool of resistance against oppressive conditioning and a catalyst for collective liberation, expanded consciousness, and a return to the depths of our humanity. Through initiatives such as free community workshops, ethical education, accessible performances, and inclusive casting practices, we actively dismantle these barriers in the arts. We advocate for the essential values of gentleness, care, and empathy, while actively learning and implementing practices that promote accessibility, equity, and inclusivity. Our vision is to create a world where everyone can access and be nurtured by the transformative and healing power of art. As we conjure new worlds, we honour our ancestors and connect with our responsibility to amplify love in the world through our art and our hearts. Through revolutionary acts of creation, we aim to awaken a renaissance of being, contributing to a more mindful, compassionate, and interconnected world.
About This Cause
soma anima arts (legal name Kinesis Dance Society) is a contemporary dance company based in Vancouver, operating on the stolen lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Founded in 1986 by Greek-Canadian artist Paraskevas Terezakis, the company has spent nearly four decades creating more than 45 original works, performing across Metro Vancouver and touring nationally and internationally. With a long-standing commitment to outreach and community engagement, soma anima arts continues to build meaningful connections through movement, education, cultural exchange, and collaboration. In April 2024, the company underwent a significant transition in artistic leadership as founding director Paras Terezakis returned to Greece to pursue new creative endeavors. The artistic direction was entrusted to Vancouver-based choreographer and dance artist Rachel Helten, whose practice is rooted in deep listening, interdisciplinary exploration, and uncovering the stories held within our bodies. Her work explores the intersections of vulnerability, transformation, and the ways we relate to our inner and outer worlds. Now known as soma anima arts, the company carries forward the legacy of Terezakis while embracing a renewed vision under Helten’s leadership. With a focus on socially conscious creation and inclusive collaboration, soma anima arts is committed to generating transformative artistic experiences, activating public spaces, and fostering a space where physical, emotional, and creative potential can thrive. VALUES COMPASSION + DEEP LISTENING: Our core values revolve around compassion and deep listening, fostering environments where creativity and personal growth intersect through understanding and support, all rooted in gentleness and kindness. CREATIVE FREEDOM + EMPOWERMENT: We prioritize empowering artists to explore, express authentically, and challenge norms, fostering an environment where personal and collective growth thrive. By celebrating individuality and inherent worth, we embolden diverse forms of expression within our community. ACCESSIBILITY + EQUITY: We advocate for accessibility and equity in the arts through inclusive representation, collaboration, and programming, dismantling barriers to participation based on socio-economic status, physical ability, or geographic location. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to engage with and benefit from the transformative and healing power of art. INCLUSIVITY + DIVERSITY: We embrace individuals of all abilities, ages, genders, orientations, races, ethnicities, religions, and cultural backgrounds, fostering inclusive spaces where diverse voices are heard and celebrated. Recognizing the impact of intersectionality, we uphold a pluralistic approach that honors the richness and complexity within our communities. COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT: We believe in the power of collective creativity and that we as a global family have the potential to catalyze positive change in the world. We weave together unique perspectives to craft experiences that inspire personal and collective transformation. As we remember our inherent interconnectedness, oneness and that we are stronger together. COMMUNITY CARE: Our commitment to community engagement drives us to uplift individuals from diverse backgrounds through inclusive workshops, immersive experiences, and live performances. We aim to leverage our platform to raise awareness for social issues, collaborating with others to effect beneficial progress and foster a sense of connection and belonging within our communities. MANDATES INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION: We commit to collaborating with artists from diverse disciplines, spanning dance, visual arts, music, digital technology, new media, literature, theatre, and beyond. These multi-faceted forms of expression imbue our creative process with dynamic movement, alchemical potency, depth of meaning, and innovative storytelling, enriching our perspectives and creative endeavours. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT + OUTREACH: We mandate the development and implementation of community engagement initiatives and outreach programs designed to bring interdisciplinary dance, art and opportunities for collective healing and transformation to a wider audience. Through workshops, educational programs, partnerships, performances and events, we seek to cultivate creativity, foster connections, and promote cultural exchange within our local and global communities. CREATION OF NEW WORKS: We are active creators, commissioning and producing works that defy conventional forms and foster cross-disciplinary exploration. Embracing our roles as collective meaning-makers and alchemists, we delve into innovative themes, pushing the boundaries of expression while honouring the depth of human experience. Through our work we aim to inspire transformative shifts in personal and collective consciousness, contributing to a more mindful and compassionate world. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS: As part of the global family, we seek and engage in collaborations across local, national, and international boundaries to enrich our art with diverse perspectives, contributing to the symbiotic dance with nature and one another. We forge meaningful connections with artists and organizations globally, to foster cross-cultural exchange, dialogue, and understanding, utilizing the universal language of art to bridge cultural divides and promote unity.