Universe of the Brain, May 11, 2017 and June 27, 2017, 7:30pm at H. R. MacMillan Space Center. This has been a collaboration between The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, and Voirelia. Sarah Louadi and Alina Sotskova are the lead contributors for an original contemporary dance…
Poster design: Alina Sotskova This was an event organized by Naila Kulhman. The collaborators included the University of British Columbia Graduate Student Association, University of British Columbia Debate Society, and Dr. Alina Sotskova. In an informal, cafe format, we discussed topics such as related to neurodiversity, neuroscience, and inevitable controversies and ethical dilemmas that arise.…
This was an event that brought together artists, photographers, dancers, and psychologists! It marked the opening of the Ghosts of Rorschach (see the Visual Art and Photography section for more details) interdisciplinary art series, with mixed media visual art by Alina Sotskova and photography by Alina Sotskova and Ian Sparks. This event was a collaboration…
This is a poster for our Voirelia Launch Party that took place on November 18, 2017. Photography by: Jason Kirkness, Alina Sotskova. Editing and poster design: Alina Sotskova. Poster for Universal Horrors, a multimedia and dance production by Broken Rhythms Victoria, inspired by classic Hollywood horror films. Photography: Ian Sparks. Editing: Alina Sotskova. Poster design: Alina…
This is a talk I gave at Curiosity Collider’s “Collider Cafe.” Curiosity Collider, in their own words, “promotes interdisciplinary collaborations that capture natural human curiosity. Help us spark curiosity for science.” Besides Collider Cafe, Curiosity Collider helps artists and scientists connect and find opportunities for collaborations. Curiosity Collider has put together a number of…
At this creative jam we had two streams of improvisation: musicians improvising music and dancers (Sarah Louadi, Alejandra Miranda Caballero, Michael Demski, Alina Sotskova, Nadia Dobrianskaia, and Ian Cunningham) improvising movement. We played with individual movement, contact improvisation, and even a bit of contemporizing pointe in a partnered improv setting. This was Voirelia’s first art…
On November 18, 2017 we hosted the launch party for Voirelia. We invited artists, dancers, psychologists, curious thinkers, and people interested in the intersections of dance, art, and mental health. It was a lovely crowd of creative and curious individuals. We had a photography contest encouraging people to capture “Art in Movement,” and interactive visual…
This was a free talk with Voirelia’s Artistic Director and Psychologist, Dr. Alina Sotskova, presented by BC Psychological Association in collaboration with Voirelia. This talk was focused on tools for enhancing psychological health and resilience. Stress, loss, and problems in daily life are inevitable, and it can be challenging to build sustainable, long-term sense…
“Understanding and coping with anxiety: The role of self-awareness, psychotherapy, and art” was a public talk by Dr. Alina Sotskova, presented by BC Psychological Association as part of Psychology Month free public lecture series on February 5, 2018 at Hillcrest community centre, Vancouver, BC. In this interactive talk, Alina discussed different types of anxiety and what can…
Read more Public talk: Understanding and coping with anxiety.
Our second music and dance jam, with Andrew Short and Dave Leith improvising together to create beautiful soundscapes. The dancers responded by exploring improvisation with movement, both individual and contact-based. We did two 45 minute sets with a break in between to discuss music direction for the second set, with feedback and ideas exchanged among…
Quantum Inkblot: An Evening of Physics, Psychology, Dance, Art, & Astronomy. Mysteries and questions in quantum physics and psychology were be explored through the lenses of science, contemporary dance, and visual art. This event took place on July 12, 2018 at H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. Can quantum physics influence our perception? How can creativity and imagination…
Read more Quantum Inkblot: A Night of Physics, Psychology, Dance, Art, & Astronomy.
DRACULA’S GARDEN: STUDIO SHOWING Part of an off program presentation of Dance in Vancouver, by Scotiabank Dance Centre that took place on 5-6pm, November 24, 2019, Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie st., Vancouver, BC. The showing was an “in the studio” experience with “Dracula’s Garden” – a series of contemporary dance works inspired by Gothic literature.…
DRACULA’S GARDEN: DANCE SHOW AND FUNDRAISER October 24, 2019, The Scotiabank Dance Centre About the show: An other-worldly evening that showcased five contemporary dance works from “Dracula’s Garden” – a series of contemporary ballet poems. The evening also included poetry, dance film installations, talkbacks, opportunity to socialize with the artists, and more! Dracula’s Garden contemporary…
JOY IN MOVEMENT: POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY & DANCE FREE WORKSHOP PRESENTED AS PART OF SCOTIABANK DANCE CENTRE OPEN HOUSE 2019 ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 This workshop focused on how we dance before we even make the first move – what we believe about dance, what we think about our bodies moving through…
ALCHEMY: VOIRELIA ART PARTY December 1, 2019 Event description: This evening included brief art and dance performances and talks, creative and artistic activities, and, best of all, a chance to talk and celebrate with like-minded artists, dancers, psychologists, philosophers, and academics in a relaxed environment where exchanges of ideas abound. Alchemy – the transmutation…
FOR THE WILD | JUNE 20th | 8PM | 45 W HASTINGS We held an informal sharing of dance and music works in progress to raise money for The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society “CPAWS,” to raise awareness of the very real climate crisis we are experiencing and to offer a space for freedom of…
We are currently developing Dracula’s Garden , an interdisciplinary art series including brief dance poems, poetry, and photography inspired by themes in Gothic literature. This series uses the Gothic genre to explore and critically investigate themes of beauty ideals, the marginalization of things and persons deemed ‘deformed,’ the narratives of the grotesque, and the othering of…
VOIRELIA: Dance, Psychology, & Philosophy Hub 