Artist Residencies Around the Province Spring/Fall 2024
Thanks to Canadian Heritage, Dance West Network supported seven residencies for IBPOC dance artists around the province.
Artists were provided space, technical and local resources to develop their work, and in return, artists shared studio showings, workshops and community conversations.
ISAAC GASANGWA aka IZO DREAMCHASER
Changemakers Educational Society and Coast Mountain College
Ts’msyen La̱xyuup homelands (Prince Rupert)
March 7 - March 11 2024
Method Dance Society and KNOX Performance Centre
Territory of the Lheidli T’enneh (Prince George)
April 14-19 2024
Territory of the Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation (Olivier)
April 22-25 2024
L-R: Jessica McMann, Isaac Gasangwa, Erika Mitsuhashi, Ana Sosa
Selected artists, residency partners and locations
Fall 2024
Te’mexw Treaty Association, WSÁNEĆ, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group,Tsawwassen Territory (Salt Spring Island)
Oct 14-19 2024
Spring 2024
SOPHIE DOW with collaborator Keria Shaw
Method Dance Society and KNOX Performance Centre
Territory of the Lheidli T’enneh (Prince George)
May 19-24 2024
Territory of the Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation (Olivier)
June 3-8 2024
Bulkley Valley Concert Association
Wet’suwet’en Territory (Smithers)
June 22 - 23 2024
ISAAC GASANGWA aka IZO DREAMCHASER
Sinixt Nation and the Yaqan Nukiy (Ktunaxa) (Nelson)
Sept. 27 - Sept. 30 2024
RESIDENCY DETAILS Fall 2024
Juolin Lee
Antler Ridge Dance Studio
Te’mexw Treaty Association, WSÁNEĆ, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group,Tsawwassen Territory/Salt Spring Island
October 14 - 19, Juolin Lee and mentor Natalie Tin Yin Gan spent a week in residency at Antler Ridge Dance Studio on Te’mexw Treaty Association, WSÁNEĆ, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group,Tsawwassen Territory/Salt Spring Island November. Juolin offered a workshop to community members, as well as a beautiful showing of her work in process, Soup of Forgetfulness. Juolin and Natalie also had the pleasure of learning more about the history of the Island through conversation and a walk on Xwaaqw’um, guided by local resident, T'awaxwultun (Joe Akerman)
ISAAC GASANGWA aka IZO DREAMCHASER
Capitol Theatre
Sinixt Nation and the Yaqan Nukiy (Ktunaxa) (Nelson)
September 27 - 29 2024, Isaac Gasangwa - Izo Dreamchaser had a wonderful and full weekend on Sinixt Nation and the Yaqan Nukiy (Ktunaxa) territory / Nelson, in collaboration with past Dance West Network Community Dance Connector and vocal artist Allison Girvan and the Lalin Vocal Ensemble! The singers dove into Izo’s movement and explored the larger themes of identity and belonging that are attached to Allison’s project, “Witness: Roots, Bark, & Branches”
"It really could not have been possible to choose 2 more diametrically opposed ways of expressing music than Afrobeats and the free style of my writing which, quite intentionally, does not rely on any overt rhythmic underpinnings. Isaac did an admirable job bridging the divide and Lalin and I loved experiencing this music through his eyes and ears!" Allison Girvan
"The immense value that he brought to the project was truly his open heart, generosity of spirit, and vulnerability" Allison Girvan
RESIDENCY DETAILS Spring 2024
ISAAC GASANGWA aka IZO DREAMCHASER
Changemakers Educational Society and
Coast Mountain College
Ts’msyen La̱xyuup homelands (Prince Rupert)
Taught workshops for college students (mostly International - from Nigeria, Philippines, India, Jamaica) plus a few community members.
ERIKA MITSUHASHI
Method Dance Society and KNOX Performance Centre
Territory of the Lheidli T’enneh (Prince George)
Solo residency with opportunity to teach and collaborate with local artists.
Tech residency with community invited to final showing.
Residency with public engagement, co-presented with Wild Mint Arts
Thur evening: Voice and Movement workshop with Jessica McMann. Experiment with vocalizations, voice exercise and movement rooted in contemporary dance to find the power of moving through space and singing.
Fri evening: Speaking and Sharing
Elijah Wells and Jessica Sparvier-Wells speak about the dance creation process, navigating through traditional knowledges (Blackfoot/Cree) and merging with contemporary dance and art forms. They shared some of the work created during their residency with local dancer Tamara Macleod. There was a bonfire socialization after the dance talk/share.
SOPHIE DOW with collaborator Keria Shaw
Method Dance Society and KNOX Performance Centre
Territory of the Lheidli T’enneh (Prince George)
MARCO ESCCER
Venables Theatre
Territory of the Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation (Olivier)
June 3-8 2024
Saturday June 22nd Workshop ‘Dancing the Medicine’
11:00am-3:30pm (lunch will be provided)
Witset campground/Centennial Hall
This workshop will be led by artists Natu Bearwolf, Robin Lough, and Lindsey Delaronde. Participants will be guided through a multidisciplinary creative process that culminates in the creation of masks and/or shields using spruce trees and various upcycled materials. This process involves learning teachings around the medicines of the spruce tree as well as the important practice of making an offering when harvesting. Through movement explorations, participants will be prompted to discover the embodied story behind their props, as well as their offering to the medicine. Participants will have an opportunity to share their creations and reflections in a closing circle/smudge.
We may weave in masks and shields created into the Dancing the Land workshop (on Sunday).
"Dancing the Medicine, Dancing the Land"
Led by Indigenous and non-Indigenous facilitators, participants will be guided through multidisciplinary entryways into dance making and movement based story telling. Using land based embodiment teachings and tools, participants will explore various creative processes that deepen awareness and connection to land, place and identity. This work centers reclaiming the body through an Indigenous lens and prompts participants to engage in the transformative process of rupture and repair in conflict.
Our creative team is made up of multi-faceted individuals who uphold the importance of creating multi-age community spaces that center and affirm people of the global majority, 2SLGBTQIA+, womxn and femme participants.
Lindsey Delaronde - lead artist and facilitator
Natu Bearwolf - co-facilitator and consultant
Robin Lough - co-facilitator
Katie Wertz (BVCA) - co-facilitator and organizer
Myriad Dance projects - organizer and project partner
Kayla Mitchell - organizer and consultant
This project is supported and presented by Dance West Network and Bulkley Valley Concert Association, and in partnership with Myriad Dance Projects.
Workshops are FREE and designed for participants to attend one or both. No prior experience necessary. Please wear comfortable clothing that you can move in and bring a water bottle. Ages 12 - 99 encouraged to attend! How to Register: https://forms.gle/1RiuUwbnmTcWa5QQ9
Sunday June 23rd Workshop ‘Dancing the Land’
11:00am-3:30pm (lunch will be provided)
Witset campground/Centennial Hall
This workshop will be led by artists Lindsay Delaronde and Katie Wertz.
Participants will be guided in embodiment practices that focus on land, movement, sound and transformation. Together, we will explore personal storytelling. Participants will be prompted to find gestures and build movement phrases inspired by the land. The stories of the participants will emerge through their own intrinsic wisdom, thereby creating new pathways of inner knowing. This workshop aims to guide participants to discover and establish a deeper sense of place and belonging within their own bodies and territories. Participants will have an opportunity to share their creations and reflections in a closing circle/smudge.
Funded by the Government of Canada.
Financé par le gouvernement du Canada.
