Presented by Raven Spirit Dance & New Works. In collaboration with Ballet BC. Supported by The Dance Centre, Dance Transition Resource Centre (DTRC), CADA/West, Co.Erasga, and EDAM.

Land-based Dramaturgy for Dance and Movement-based Projects

with Carlos Rivera

February 5, 6, & 8, 2026 (Thu, Fri, Sun) | 10 am–3 pm
Ballet BC Studios, 1286 Cartwright St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8

Register before January 15 and SAVE $30

Workshop at FULL CAPACITY

About the Workshop

This three-day workshop intensive offers a rare opportunity for professional and emerging movement-based artists to immerse themselves in innovative dramaturgical practices, with a special focus on land-based methodologies. Led by Mexican-Canadian artist Carlos Rivera, participants will explore how ideas, images, and movement can converge to shape resonant, story-driven performance work.

Rooted in Carlos’s interdisciplinary background across dance, theatre, and conceptual creation, the workshop combines hands-on exploration with critical reflection. Artists will gain practical tools to develop thematic clarity, articulate their creative vision, and strengthen narrative cohesion through movement.

Open to participants from all backgrounds, this workshop provides a creative space to generate new ideas or deepen existing projects. Participants will also gain insight into Carlos’s approach to working with the stories and lived experiences of racialized communities.

Participants will work individually and collectively, guided by land-based dramaturgical approaches and supported by research-based frameworks from leading artists and scholars who have shaped this evolving field.

Throughout the week, participants will:

Explore land-based dramaturgical tools through embodied practice
Engage in group discussions about the ideas presented.
Develop a creation statement to anchor their artistic process.
Engage with academic and artistic resources to expand their conceptual lens.
Receive feedback from Carlos and peers to deepen their work.
Connect with a community of artists committed to rigorous, collective process.

This workshop is for emerging to mid-career artists working in dance, theatre, circus, or performance who are developing or preparing to develop a movement-based project. Choreographers, dancers, actors, movement directors, and interdisciplinary creators are encouraged to register.

Please note: Full participation for all three days is encouraged. No drop-ins will be permitted, as this workshop builds on the learnings from the previous day. If you are unable to attend on some days, we can add you to the waitlist and confirm closer to the date.

Registration and Cost

Registration fee: $150

Early Bird (by January 15): $120 – save $30

Maximum participants: 18

About Carlos

Carlos Rivera is an actor, dancer, choreographer, teacher, and director, originally from México City, and he identifies as a Nahua Indigenous descendant from Sierra Norte, Puebla, México.

He graduated from the México City School of Dance and later attended the Center for Choreographic Research at the Mexican Fine Arts Institute. He had toured to South America and México with his dance project Yumare Arte Escenico before moving to Canada. He was the Associate Artist at Red Sky Performance for 16 years, where he had the opportunity to co-choreograph and perform many of the company’s works. With Red Sky, Carlos toured to China, Mongolia, Australia, the USA, México, New Zealand, Iceland, Switzerland, and across Canada.

Carlos has been part of The Banff Centre for the Arts Indigenous Dance Program, where he worked as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. His dance work “I’m Not the Indian You Have in Mind” was presented as part of the NextSteps Dance series and performed at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre in Toronto. His latest work, “ROSA”, a dance-theatre piece, was part of Festival RUTAS 2025, presented by Aluna Theatre in collaboration with Factory Theatre.

He has collaborated and worked with companies like The Chimera Project, Article 11, MT Space Theatre, Raven Spirit Dance, The Vancouver Opera, Globe Theatre Regina, Les Productions Ondinnok, Dancers of Damelahamid, and Qaggiavuut Performing Arts.

He graduated from the Indigenous Residency Program at the National Theatre School of Canada, where he refined his artistic practice as an actor and director. Carlos attended the MFA Program in Directing for Theatre at the University of Ottawa.

Top Photo: ROSA by Carlos Rivera, Performed by Patricia Rivera, Photo by Alfredo Alves

Headshot photo by Damian Siqueiros

Presented by Raven Spirit Dance & New Works