Artist in Communities Free Programs

This partnership is between the West End Community Association and the Vancouver Park Board.  These programs are running over the Spring and Fall terms 2023.

All programs are free, but please pre-register.

SOPHIA LAURIO BIOGRAPHY

Sophia “Sosa” Laurio is a Filipina interdisciplinary artist residing in the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh Nations, also known as Vancouver, Canada. With a heavy focus on dance and its multiple forms, Sophia is a versatile movement artist that explores a wide variety of dance styles like Hip Hop, House, Waacking, Locking, Dancehall, Afro-Dancehall and Contemporary dance. She has trained, competed and worked on prestige platforms both locally and internationally. Over the last 10 years, Sophia has been featured at stages like Hip Hop International 2012, World of Dance 2013, Disney’s the Descendants 2015 RAW Los Angeles 2017, Manila Fringe Festival 2019, the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance 2020, Dancing on the Edge 2020, Vancouver Fringe Festival 2021, Vancouver Street Dance Festival 2016 & 2022, etc.

Sophia is a passionate artist who highly respects the origins and foundations of Hip Hop, hence why she continues to visit New York City to immerse herself in the birthplace of the culture and seek mentorship from MOPTOP & Elite Force Crew, who are the pioneers and innovators of Hip Hop dance. Inspired by Hip Hop’s famous mottos like “Each one, teach one” and “Love, Peace, Unity and Having fun”, Sophia started her very own non-profit organization Barangay Project Society dedicated to promote inclusivity, diversity, culture and safety to all youths and marginalized communities locally and internationally. Her non-profit organization, Barangay Project Society offers free dance classes, mentorships, events for the community and provides employment to local BIPOC artists in Vancouver, BC.

Sophia’s current art practice explores dance, filmmaking, writing and creative directing. In 2022, Sophia premiered her very first commissioned film MALETA, a 12-minute short story that revolves around the great immigrant experience from a lens of her 13-yr old self, told through a series of imagery, movement and sound. MALETA premiered at the 2022 Festival of Recorded Movement at the SFU School for the Contemporary Arts theater. In the future, Sophia hopes to create impactful work in the Theater and Film world either as a performer or the creative director/producer.

JOSH CAMERON BIOGRAPHY – DANCE ARTIST

Josh Cameron is a 4th generation settler born in Vancouver, BC on the unceded territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqat, and Tsawwassen First Nations. He began his dance journey as a Bboy in 2008, able to pursue Breaking and a wide variety of Street Dance as a hobby and then career thanks to the Black and Latinx pioneers who created these styles.

With his interdisciplinary street dance background, energetic style, and keen ear for musicality, Josh has earned titles at All Style and Breaking competitions across western Canada and the United States. With nearly a decade of experience as a teacher Josh has had the opportunity to uplift countless aspiring movement practitioners in their journey of finding authentic, informed expression through dance.

Josh has aligned his long-standing teaching practice with grassroots, non-profit organization, Barangay Project where he works as executive assistant and Director of Special Initiatives and Programs. The organization highly prioritizes BIPOC communities of all ages in Western Canada with nurturing connections for safe and accessible art programs. By maintaining a theme of Peace, Love, Unity and Having Fun the organization builds youth into leaders and holds space for community members to be part of this action while learning how to support the marginalized youth facilitators and artists in their community.