The Vancouver International Dance Festival, or VIDF, is an annual festival that celebrates the art of contemporary dance.
In 2023 the festival runs from February 27th to March 25th.
Vancouver’s Annual Dance Festival
Celebrating its 24th year in 2023, the Vancouver International Dance Festival features both local and internationally-known dance artists. The festival usually takes place over three weeks starting in early March.
Highlights of the festival most years include the dance performances themselves as well as workshops and other dance-related activities.
About the VIDF
The Kokoro Dance company started the Vancouver International Butoh Festival in 1998. Two years later the festival was renamed the Vancouver International Dance Festival and it has been running ever since.
The VIDF celebrates contemporary dance artists from across the world. 2023 offers in-person performances and livestreamed shows at various locations in Metro Vancouver.
Where and When
The VIDF took place virtually in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Performances were live-streamed on the festival’s website and captured via high-definition video camera.
The 2022 festival ran from January 21st to March 26th. During this time, there were free and paid shows to enjoy in-person. Some performances were also livestreamed.
In 2023 the VIDF runs from February 27th until March 25th. There are eight different in-person productions to check out. Locations include the Vancouver Playhouse, Orpheum Annex, KW Production Studio, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and the Scotiabank Dance Centre. There’s also one livestreamed show this year.
Tickets for the performances range from about $20 to $70 depending on the show and day you pick.
Click VIDF 2023 Program for more details about this year’s shows.
Other Vancouver Dance Events
A few other dance-related events take place in the Lower Mainland each year. Carnaval del Sol, for example, is a Latin festival in the summer. It showcases different kinds of performances and activities including Latin dancing.
Just a few of the many other Lower Mainland festivals that feature a fair amount of dancing include the following:
- Hoobiyee (a Nisga’a First Nation event)
- Coastal First Nations Dance Festival
- North Vancouver Polish Festival
- 5X Festival (formerly called the City of Bhangra Festival)
- ScotFestBC
- Vancouver Chutzpah Festival
In addition to the above, free Salsa dance lessons also often take place in Vancouver at Robson Square in the summer.
Other Information
For more details see the Vancouver International Dance Festival website.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver Shows & Entertainment Calendar
- Entertainment in Vancouver
- Vancouver Festivals & Events
- Vancouver Theatre Companies
- Restaurants in Vancouver
- Vancouver Night Clubs
