2020-21 Community Engagement
CDC Indigenous Artist Cohort supported by the Hamber Foundation Winter 2020/Spring 2021, MiBC CDCs met online with Indigenous Dance Artists Olivia C. Davies and Jessica McMann to discuss ways in which their communities might connect with and support local Indigenous artists and deepen their understanding of how new collaborations may come to fruition. Some CDCs invited Curators of local museums and Artistic Directors of local theatre and dance organizations to participate in the conversations, opening possibilities for future collaborations between them and Indigenous artists.
Aina Yasué CDC for Te’mexw Treaty Association, WSÁNEĆ, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, Tsawwassen Territory (Salt Spring Island)
April 7, 2021
At The Intersection of Dance, Research, and War
Artist and educator Ahalya Satkunaratnam spoke with MiBC CDC (SSI Te’mexw Treaty Association, WSÁNEĆ, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, Tsawwassen Territory) Aina Yasué. about her new book, Moving Bodies, Navigating Conflict: Practicing Bharata Natyam in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and dance project, Usha/Agni/Vyvastha (Dawn/Fire/Order). The book explores how dance practices make and undo local and state nationalisms, the intersections of gender and ethnicity with cultural practices, and the personal experiences of Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war. Ahalya and Anya, and over 50 participants on Zoom, discussed how activism, academics, and art practice intersect.
“I appreciated Dr, Satkunaratham’ conversation with Aina about her personal perspective on Bharatam Natyam, as a dance and art form, intricately woven into her research of the history and politics of Sri Lanka. Her book, Moving Bodies, Navigating Conflict, is an interesting read describing in rich detail the various aspects of her research. It was exciting to discover our parallel journeys as Bharatha Natyam Dancers. I used dance as an art form, in apartheid South Africa, to represent the East Indian population in separate and multicultural settings. Dr Satkunarathnam’s conversation inspired reflection on how dance connects people, not only as a pure art form but as a metaphor for life. Dance as movement, dance as art, dance as poetry, dance as storytelling! Many creative ideas, integrated, and expanded are possible. Culture, age groups and different dance forms are a vital part of any community. This invites further discussion” — Audience member
Holly Bright CDC for Snuneymuxw homelands (Nanaimo)
March 2021
Crimson Coast Dance from Holly Bright and Samantha Titian-Prince Nanaimo, Snuneymuxw First Nations Territory Body Talk HiP HoP PoW WoW Spring Break workshop. CDC Holly Bright and Body Talk Assistant Coordinator Samantha Titian-Prince did an amazing job of pulling off another Covid hybrid Body Talk Hip Hop Pow Wow Spring Break Workshop this past March! A council of Indigenous and non Indigenous teens met weekly from October of last year to produce this Spring Break event, as well as learning other life and employment skills. This year, the youth worked with artists: Elder Gary Manson offered daily teachings about knowing who you are, Jackie Essombe & Yoro Noukoussi offered dance and drum through the ideals of the Village, AJ Megaman offered hip hop dance, and Sirreal, kept it so through touching truths brought out in song. The artists and participants met in person per safety protocols while the performance audience was online. The teens will continue to work together to plan next year's event, as well as to act as mentors for next year's youth participants. For more info about Body Talk, and to hear an interview with Holly and Samantha about the program, check this out.
Miriam Manley CDC for Secwepemc Territory (Revelstoke)
September 2020
In 2020, we reimagined our annual multidisciplinary art festival LUNA to host live and livestreamed digital performance events, including the launch of three permanent public art installations, artist talks and workshops. The live event LUNA SOUNDish was attended by an audience of 50 people entering the Roxy Theatre in downtown Revelstoke through the back alleyway where Ralph Escamillan's film BLUprnt was projected on the back wall. Inside the theatre, Leila Neverland band performed live and we offered a series of contemporary art films including Ralph Escamillan's film BLUbrd. Supported by a grant secured by MiBC from the Vancouver Foundation.
Miriam Manley CDC for Secwepemc Territory (Revelstoke)
March 2021
Arts Revelstoke from Miriam Manley, Artistic & Executive Director Secwepemc (Secwepemcul’ewc), Ktunaxa, Sinixt Territory Spring Break Dance Camp with the OURO Collective Kids from 7 to 14 had a great spring break learning Hip Hop with the OURO Collective! At the end of the 5-day residency with OURO, the youth gave their final performance which was filmed and shared with family and friends. Check out their video here! Photo: Arts Revelstoke, OURO Collective Spring Break Dance Camp, 7-10 age group
Simran Sachar and Joshua Ongcol shared their work and engaged in conversation with students about their artistic processes, offering inspiration to support students looking towards a future in dance at the Gulf Island Performing Arts School, Salt Spring Island, December 2020. Here are a few inspirational thoughts they shared with the students:
"Freestyle to get to know your own dance - and have a grasp on yourself - and the more you will love dance."-Simran Sachar
"Follow your heart. If it excites you, it's worth it. Stay consistent. Simple, small things - doing as much as you can in that day, simple things get you there. Paying attention and being there is enough." - Joshua Ongcol
Lindsay Katsitsakatste Delaronde CDC for ləkʷəŋən and WSÁNEĆ homelands (Victoria)
October 2020
Lindsay Delaronde has been hired as the Community Connector for MadeInBC, for the purpose of creating opportunity for BIPOC artist living in Victoria, BC. Lindsay hosted a sharing circle with BIPOC artists from both Vancouver and Victoria to discuss the challenges and successes of BIPOC dance artists living on the West Coast of Canada. We addressed the socio- political issues of representation and inclusion, while maintaining a rigor to the discipline of dance. BIPOC artist felt that a choreography clinic for BIPOC artist living and working in Victoria, would fill a gap in this city. There are very few BIPOC choreographer’s living in Victoria. We hope with more training, education, and embodied learning from other BIPOC dancers, and choreographer’s we can rise to occasion and become a resource for the BIPOC community in relation to art, dance, and movement based-practices. We look forward to hosting this choreography clinic for BIPOC dance artists living on the beautiful lands of the Lkwungen Territory.
Aina Yasué CDC for Te’mexw Treaty Association, WSÁNEĆ, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, Tsawwassen Territory (Salt Spring Island)
July 27-31 2020
The Body Project - Tara Cheyenne Performance
Creative/technical residency (postponed due to COIVD-19)
The Body Project is a new interdisciplinary performance created from interviews, symposiums and round-tables with people of diverse ages, backgrounds, and perspectives who identify as female, non-binary or on the femme spectrum. The movement has been mined from our unique struggles with body images, and the comic/tragic relentlessness of “cultural” pressure. We are exploring questions around body image and how we navigate this unsteady terrion in our personal and professional lives.