Reverence for the Rebels
Spring 2026
Dance Lab at The Scotiabank Dance Centre
Reverence for the Rebels is an interdisciplinary research project led by multidisciplinary and dance artist Rachel Helten, in collaboration with dancers, poet, spoken word artist, musicians and digital media artist The project seeks to honour and embody stories of ancestral and contemporary rebels, figures who have resisted oppression, spoken truth to power, and inspired transformation. These rebels may be familial ancestors, historical icons, or individuals with whom the artists feel a spiritual, political, or cultural alignment.
Through contemporary dance, spoken word, music, storytelling, writing, and somatic inquiry, the project creates a living archive of resistance and remembrance. The body becomes a vessel for ancestral memory, justice, healing, and transformation. The artistic inquiry is rooted in somatic practice, compassion, and ancestral resilience, guided by anarchist art principles that favour experimentation, collective authorship, and care-centered collaboration.
Collaborators
Concept, Direction & Performer:
Rachel Helten
Artistic Collaborators:
Kelly McInness – Dancer
Alyssa Amarshi – Dancer
Carla Alcántara – Dancer
Tawahum Bige – Poet
Ben Helten – Musician
Kofi Obiri-Yeboah – Musician, Spoken Word
Arash Khakpour – 3rd eye
Simran Sachar – 3rd eye
Learn more about Rachel’s journey and upcoming work!
Rachel was recently featured on The Dance Centre Podcast in conversation with Claire French, where she reflects on her journey as a dance artist and the evolution of soma anima arts. In this episode, they explore her path through dance, her creative process and...
April 29th, 2026 – 3pm at The Dance Centre: public showing of Reverence for the Rebels for International Dance Day!
Join us on April 29th, 2026 at 3pm at The Dance Centre for a public showing of Reverence for the Rebels for International Dance Day! This April, Rachel is in the studio with artists Kelly McInness, Alyssa Amarshi, Carla Alcántara, Tawahum Bige, Kofi Obiri-Yeboah and...
We would like to express our deepest and sincere appreciation to our funders, partners, volunteers and supporters who made this project possible.
This project is made possible thanks to the support of the BC Arts Council, Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, as well as The Dance Centre.
We acknowledge that the land I live, work, and create on is the stolen territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
This statement reflects a commitment to contributing to a more just, loving, and equitable world as we strive to learn from past mistakes, and move forward in a spirit of care, honoring the interconnectedness of land and community during this time of climate crisis and social injustice.