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 Kotowich
This 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.

Credits
Conceived and produced: Jeanette Kotowich
Co-created and performed: Kate Franklin + Gillian Hanemayer + Ahmed Khalil + Jeanette
Kotowich + Deanna Peters
Music: Ahmed Khalil
Lighting design + technical director: Gillian Hanemayer
Uniform: Jeanette Kotowich
Scenography: Jeanette Kotowich
Artistic support: Lisa Mariko Gelley + Michelle Olson + Donna Redlick
Somatic movement coach: Donna Redlick
Production management: Kayleigh Sandomirsky
Co-produced: Jeanette Kotowich, Raven Spirit Dance + Festival TransAmériques

Acknowledgements
With 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)