The company encourages risk-taking, collaboration and experimentation with technologies while creating a space where artists and audiences can connect through live and digital experiences. Strategic partnerships with new and established dance artists strengthen not only individual productions, but serve the advancement of the capacity of the sector.

Between 2002 and 2019, Dances for a Small Stage Vancouver produced over 60+ shows.

Appearing 3X at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre -2006 Canada Dance Festival, 2009 BC Scene and 2015 Magnetic North Festival X Canada Dance Festival.

Movement Enterprise Society was co-founded in 2001 by Julie-anne Saroyan and Day Helesic. The organization is a charitable dance presentation, production and creation company, dedicated to producing innovative and accessible new dance works through creative partnerships with dance artists and musicians. 

Originally created by Laura Taler in Toronto, Dances for a Small Stage ran from 1991 to 1996 in the backroom of the legendary Rivoli on Queen Street West. Saroyan and Helesic borrowed the concept and carried on the tradition in Vancouver.

In May 2002, Saroyan and Helesic primered Dances for a Small Stage in Vancouver at  the Royal Pub on Granville Street. Our intention was to be an incubator of creative support for dance artists.

Each Small Stage show is a collection of new and innovative dance works that are 5-7 minutes in length that showcases a wide diversity of styles and cultures; including contemporary dance, ballet, hip-hop, flamenco, tap, Chinese, Indian, Bhangra, tap and many others that reflect the depth of unique and talented artists among BC's artistic community. The series showcases new and established dance professionals from Vancouver and across Canada on a ridiculously small stage, in unconventional venues. 

In 2014, Small Stage began hosting Creative Residencies.

Our outdoors shows began at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. Between 2014 and 2022 we hosted Summer Shows with Winter Shows 2016 thru 2019,

Our journey with Digital Dance began and lasted from 2018 thru 2022. We are extremely thankful to the Canada Council Digital Strategy Fund. During this time, we developed digital tools including large scale projection mapping, a 3D augmented reality mobile app. We were fortunate to partner with many organizations and artists, including dancers, musicians, technical artists.

In July 2024, Saroyan reignited Dances for a Small Stage. 

Over the years Small Stage has presented over 450+ local, national and international dancers and musicians. 

Our alumni list includes Crystal Pite, The Holly Body Tattoo, Cori Caulfield, Emily Molnar, Margie Gillis, Peggy Baker, Tedd Robinson, Laurence Lemieux,  Lola Dance, Joe Ink, John Oswald, Holly Small, Peter Chu, Bill Coleman, Science Friction, Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, Gioconda Barbuto, Denise Clarke, Kimberley Cooper, Wen Wei Wang, Susie Burpee, Kirsten Smida Wicklund, Simone Orlando, Joshua Beamish, Vanessa Goodman, Burgundy Brixx, Dayna Szyndrowski, Scheherazaad Cooper, Cheng-Xin Wei, Lorita Leung Chinese Dance Company, Chengxin Wei, Hardeep Singh Sahota, House of La Douche, Jeanette Kotowich, Jennifer Aoki, Farnaz Ohadi, Kassandra Flamenco, Heather Laura Gray and The Company Dancers of Ballet BC amongst many others.

Our sister series includes Adelaide, Australia ~ Dances for a Small Stage Australia and Quebec City ~ La Petite Scene.

Other projects include The Love Bubble Project, The Winter Series, The Summer Series,  Community Stages, and point 5.