We’re a MOVEMENT movement
The idea for Dance in Transit started two years ago with several…
Join us for free outdoor dancing
WHY DANCE IN TRANSIT?
The concept was born in 2015 just after the opening of Sam’s Dance. The idea behind Dance in Transit was to dance in public spaces, including on skytrains and in stations. We wanted to engage people passing by and show them how easy and fun dancing can be.
After two years of working on the concept and testing it, we finally secured the use of Robson Square. At the same time, we decided to try other amazing outdoor venues so we could reach people in different parts of the downtown core and experience dancing in different settings.
With Dance in Transit, Sam’s Dance is bringing its philosophy of inclusiveness and diversity outside and inviting everyone to join us for a summer of fun. Our program is specially designed to remove barriers to trying dance, especially if people are shy, new to Vancouver, or socially isolated.
Dance in Transit is our way of saying thank you to Vancouver’s dance community and inviting everyone to join this vibrant group of movers and shakers. It’s also a chance to showcase the best our city has to offer in spectacular surroundings.
We’re the Pied Pipers of Dance. If you follow us, we’ll lead you on a merry journey to the most spectacular spaces in downtown Vancouver for dancing, music, friendship, & fun!
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW!
We think what the world needs now is more Canada. We’re leading the way with Dance in Transit to show off Vancouver as the most accepting, diverse, multi-cultural city in the country. We invite you to join us for some social connection that could change your life.
All of us can use more friends. Most of us can use more excitement in our lives. Many of us would benefit from more movement. Social contact is good for everyone, even introverts. Dance in Transit will provide all this and more. It will give dancers the chance to practice and show off their skills to friends and newcomers. It will introduce non-dancers to the joy of dancing.
Dancing is proven to benefit the body in many ways. It is also scientifically proven to be better for our brains than any other activity, including yoga, crossword puzzles, and crossfit training. Dancing relieves stress, provides an outlet for creative expression, and improves balance and coordination. Dancing makes you happy!
Dance in Transit is designed to reach thousands of people, both locals and tourists, and invite them to experience this amazing event with us. We hope to engage people in this MOST FUN summer Vancouver has ever seen. We hope you will leave your homes, put down your digital devices, and join us to Dance Your Pants Off!
FREE & OUTDOOR!
If you think dancing isn’t for you, you haven’t tried it yet. Everyone can dance at some level that brings them joy! Dance in Transit is a street dancing festival—it’s not about wearing special clothes or fancy shoes; it’s about moving to music, one foot at a time. It’s safe, healthy, good for your brain and body, & it will make you feel alive!
This is the longest, largest dance event in the history of Vancouver. Dance in Transit is FREE outdoor dancing in magnificent downtown venues.
Dance in Transit will feature many dance styles and will include mini-lessons, demonstrations, performances, music, & lots of social dancing. It will be a chance for dancers to learn new styles, practice the styles they already know, and experience these venues in the fresh air while moving to the best music made for dancing. It is also an opportunity for non-dancers to see what social dancing is all about, to try it, to feel what dancers feel in an open, no-pressure environment. Everyone who attends will feel like a part of this movement because one of our jobs is to make sure of that.
Check out our schedule of dates, times, & venues. We hope to see you on the dance floor!
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Venues
Robson Square
Below street level in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery, at Robson & Howe, sits a jewel in the heart of Vancouver. This beautiful space sports a smooth, polished concrete floor & overhead covering that makes it perfect for outdoor dancing in any weather. It’s not at all required, but the floor is safe for dance shoes.
Jim Deva Plaza
Follow the rainbow crosswalk at Bute on Davie Street & you’ll discover this oasis in the hub of Vancouver’s West End. Trees, benches, & the buzz of Davie Street make this unique space both lively & fun. The surface is concrete so you won’t want to wear your fragile dance shoes. We have tents when the weather doesn’t cooperate!
VAG North Plaza
The plaza North of the Vancouver Art Gallery or šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square has long been a space for people to socialize, and a place for civic and creative expression. Beautifully renovated, it is perfect for outdoor dancing or just sitting at a cafe table and watching the crowd. The surface is too rough for fragile dance shoes so street shoes are perfect for this venue. If it threatens to rain, we will have tents for overhead cover!
VAG South Plaza
This plaza South of the Vancouver Art Gallery is right on Robson Street between Hornby & Howe, the very epicentre of downtown Vancouver. You can observe the world passing by while dancing to beautiful music in the open air. The surface is too rough for fragile dance shoes so street shoes are perfect for this venue. If it threatens to rain, we will have tents for overhead cover!
Various Venues
We will be participating in a number of fun festivals in Vancouver during the spring & summer. Check our events schedule, which we will be updating regularly, and LIKE our Facebook page @danceintransitvan to keep in touch with where, what, and when. You already know why!!
PRESENTED BY
Sam’s Dance
Sam’s Dance school started in 2015 as an idea to change the face of social activity in Vancouver. We are change-makers who work to build community, encourage engagement, and reach out to non-dancers as well as those already in the dance community. We believe that dancing is a way to connect with people that we need now more than ever. Dance in Transit is a project of Sam’s Dance.
McLaren Housing Society of BC
McLaren Housing was the first HIV/AIDS housing provider in Canada. The organization began as a private residence offering accommodation to 5 people and has expanded to provide innovative housing options and support services to over 280 people in 260 homes in British Columbia. We work with low-income individuals and families who are living with HIV/AIDS and are homeless or inadequately housed.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Join us for the 19th Annual McLaren Sparkles
