*Featured Image: Sujit Vaidya as part of the Vancouver International Dance Festival
Spring is around the corner—and longer days mean even more time to check out exciting art on the West Coast. From live theatre, world-class dance, or a deep dive into cinematic history, there’s no shortage of inspiring events. This month, Vancouver’s stages come alive with everything from Kathak fusion to a brand-new comedy about book clubs, while galleries across the region showcase bold exhibitions celebrating creativity and identity. No matter your artistic leanings, March has something to keep you entertained all month long!
Gaurav Bhatti – Vancouver
March 28, 29
At the Scotiabank Dance Centre, Indian Canadian artist Gaurav Bhatti blends North Indian classical Kathak with contemporary dance in dynamic, emotionally charged performances that bring drama and energy to the stage. His latest solo piece draws inspiration from the life and poetry of 18th-century Sufi mystic Bulleh Shah, a fearless voice who challenged authority and preached tolerance during a time of intense religious conflict. It is part of the Global Dance Connections Series.
Photo Credit: Inner Singh
March 14-16
This world premiere by Patrica Brooke tells the story of a perfectionist stay-at-home mom who fights to keep her college book club alive, despite her friends’ apathy and family’s lack of appreciation. When a new, irritating member joins, tensions rise—until an unexpected arrival shakes up their friendships and forces them to confront who they really are.
VCT Presents Silent Movie Mondays: Piccadilly – Vancouver
March 10
Silent Movie Mondays at the Orpheum brings early cinema classics to life with the accompaniment of a live Wurlitzer organ. On the big screen this Month is Piccadilly from 1929, starring Anna May Wong in a tale of ambition, betrayal, and forbidden love. Stay after the show for a discussion with Keith Blackmore of the Vancouver Film School about the movie and the role of the silents in the evolution of film history.
Image Credit: Vancouver Civic Theatres
Vancouver International Dance Festival – Vancouver
March 5-15
Celebrate 25 years of boundary-pushing dance at the Vancouver International Dance Festival 2025. Experience exciting performances by 18 artists and companies, including street and contemporary dance, live music, and interdisciplinary works. Don’t miss the Cookout Mini Ball centering LGBTQIA2S+ BIPOC communities and the Street Dance Crew Exhibition Battle. Tickets available now!
Photo Credit: @s.j.rphotography
Common Grace by Shauna Johanneson – Langley
March 20 – April 6
Little Dipper Theatre Company presents a play about family, and the old wounds and long-buried secrets that come with it. After escaping her past in The Fraser Valley, Colleen returns home for her father’s funeral, only to confront who she was, who she wants to be, and what it truly means to belong.
Exhibition on Screen: The Dawn of Impressionism, Paris 1874 – Vancouver’s North Shore
March 23 – April 6
This ongoing film series presents a treatise on The Impressionists and their impact on the history of visual art. Discover the radical artists and bold personalities behind their first groundbreaking show 150 years ago, told through the voices of those who witnessed it. Experience the Musée d’Orsay’s stunning exhibition on the big screen, bringing new insight into the passion and rebellion that changed art forever.
Photo Credit: kaymeek.com
NWSS presents Mamma Mia! – New Westminster
March 5 – 8
Experience the excitement of one of Broadway’s biggest smash musicals from the talented team at New Westminster Secondary School’s theater program. Using the chart-topping songs of ABBA, this jukebox musical reminds us that friendships, understanding, and connections are what life is truly all about.
Response: Remembering Our Futures – Vancouver’s North Shore
March 5 – April 4
Response: Remembering Our Futures showcases films created through the Response Program, an annual Indigenous-led filmmaking initiative. Participants took part in workshops during the summer of 2024, exploring how past stories and relationships shape our futures, creating works that blend performance, animation, and personal storytelling around themes of healing, belonging, and resistance.
Photo Credit: thepolygon.ca
ONGOING
Curve! Women Carvers on the Northwest Coast – Whistler
Until May 5
This exhibition highlights the often-overlooked contributions of women to Northwest Coast carving, featuring over 125 works like poles, masks, and bowls. Spanning the ‘50s to today, Curve! celebrates influential women as well as a new generation of carvers. The collection brings together pieces from across North America to honour women’s role in this traditionally male-dominated art form.
Photo Credit: whistler.com
Until May 17
Celebrate artists of Japanese ancestry in the Karasawa Gallery, many of which are Japanese Canadian Legacies Art fund awardees and/or artists who are exhibiting at the NNMCC for the first time. From traditional to contemporary art practice, the Umami exhibition shares the rich essence of the Japanese Canadian creative community.
Photo Credit: Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre; Artist: Ken Mizokoshi