Derek Souvannavong
dancer

Toronto-based artist Derek Souvannavong is a 2022 graduate of the Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours Dance Program at York University, where his achievements in choreography and performance were recognized with the Spedding Memorial Scholarship and the Menaka Thakkar Award in World Dance. His solo work this identity: woven, created in collaboration with Peggy Baker through her company’s RBC Emerging Artists Program, previewed through PBDP in the fall of 2022 and premiered at Dance: made in Canada / fait au Canada in August 2023. Additionally, he has performed new work through Angela Blumberg’s DaCo Lab and is a former company member of Free Flow Dance Theatre (Saskatoon) where he performed in numerous productions by guest artists Terrill Maguire, Danny Grossman, Edward Kastrau and Newton Moraes. Being of Lao heritage, Souvannavong wishes to continue exploring relations between traditional Lao dance forms and the western diaspora of contemporary dance. His work pursues the recognition and festivity of different identities and cultures that celebrate dance together through sharing and giving. Souvannavong aims to celebrate and acknowledge his heritage and culture and bring a part of himself into every work that he does.

For Peggy Baker Dance Projects: Derek was an RBC Emerging Artist in 2022, during which time he collaborated with Peggy on the creation of a solo, this identity: woven.