Julia Taffe

Aeriosa Dance Society

January 2018 - December 2018

Location

Vancouver

Julia Taffe combines art, environment, and adventure to create unexpected aerial dance experiences. As a choreographer and the Artistic Director of Aeriosa Dance Society, Julia creates performances that meld art, innovation and thoughtful risk management to shift perspectives of natural and built landscapes.

The Aeriosa team dances in public space, exploring urban settings and existing ecosystems with curiosity, care and respect; transforming neighbourhoods into theatres, and exploring wild environments as dramatic stages for live dance.

Julia has choreographed over 25 works on location including Stawamus Chief Mountain in Squamish BC, Taipei City Hall, Cirque du Soleil Headquarters, Vancouver Library Square, Banff Centre, Scotiabank Dance Centre and Toronto’s 58-storey L Tower.

Julia Taffe's Aeriosa dancers suspended from the roof of the Main Branch of the Vancouver Public Library.

Julia Taffe's Aeriosa dancers suspended from the ceiling of the Main Branch of the Vancouver Public Library.

Julia Taffe's Aeriosa dancers suspended from trees, in a circular formation.

During her year-long residency at hcma, Julia explored how to activate various unloved and underused sites in Vancouver. Together, we used dance to challenge what's possible for architecture—identifying both natural and urban spaces for performances which could be used for the Vancouver's first International Dance Summit.

Julia's residency culminated in a brochure design project with our architectural and communications design teams.

Read the Aeriosa Dance Society case study here.

Visit the artist's website Back to Tilt