Dance Nation

“…there’s a consistent feeling of artistic attentiveness about this production: the actors are clearly immersed and everything looks and sounds great.”

COLIN THOMAS

Dance Nation

by Clare Barron

Directed by Mindy Parfitt

Choreographed by Amber Barton

Somewhere in America, an army of pre-teen competitive dancers plots to take over the world. And if their new routine is good enough, they’ll claw their way to the top at the Boogie Down Grand Prix in Tampa Bay. But in Clare Barron’s raucous pageant of ambition and ferocity, these young dancers have more than choreography on their minds, because every plié and jeté is a step toward finding themselves, and a fight to unleash their power. This award-winning play makes its Western Canadian debut.

Returning from its successful run at The York Theatre, The Search Party is thrilled to bring Dance Nation to The Anvil from November 13-23, 2025.

Dance Nation is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

Starring: Eileen Barrett, Tess Degenstein, Liza Huget, Rami Kahlon, Nyiri Karakas, Jennifer Lines, Andrew McNee, Amanda Sum and Todd Thomson

Set Design: Adapted from the original by Amir Ofek

Costume Design: Jessica Oostergo

Sound Design: Kate De Lorme

Lighting Design: Itai Erdal

Associate Lighting Design: Hina Nishioka

Props Supervisor: Stephen Field Elgar

Stage Manager: Rick Rinder

Assistant Stage Manager: Jenny Kim

Technical Director: Matt Oviatt

Set Builder: Jeremy Vreeken

CONTACT

The Search Party is grateful to operate on the traditional, unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.