MAINSTAGE 2026-27
journals of adoption
journals of adoption is a contemporary dance solo, sifting and movement through 2 journals of origin: one text from Sophie’s birth mother's pregnancy & process of offering her up; the other text from her own reflections, queries and ruminations as an adopted child.
photo Chris Randle
Sophie Dow
TRAILER
ARTIST BIO
Treaty 1-born Sophie Dow is a multidisciplinary creator, inspired by dance, music, film, collaboration and her Red River Michif & French/Ukrainian/German roots. An avid adventurer, Sophie exudes passions for busking and traveling on top of holding a degree in Dance Performance and Choreography from York University. Sophie presently fulfills roles as: artistic associate of O.Dela Arts/Matriarchs Uprising, The Chimera Project & V’ni Dansi/Louis Riel Métis Dancers, fire spinner with Ember Arts Fire Society, a licensed practitioner of Traditional Thai Massage, a trained facilitator & student of BreathWave, a freelance dancer/choreographer/musician/producer/clown and a puddle jumping trickster.
Performance History & Upcoming Performances
Premiere: Matriarchs Uprising Festival, The Dance Centre, February 2023, Vancouver
Other Presentations:
>Nozhem: First Peoples Theatre, November 2023, Peterborough
>W36 Festival, Native Earth Performing Arts, November 2023, Toronto
>NextFest, The Roxy Theatre, June 2024, Edmonton
>Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance’s Intertribal Gathering, November 2025, Vancouver
>Matriarchs Uprising Tour, June 2026, Kelowna (Rotary Centre for the Arts); Victoria (Dance Victoria)
Project Created by: Sophie Dow
Key Artistic Collaborators:
Performance & Choreography: Sophie Dow
Sound Design: Sophie Dow
Text: Sophie Dow & Caroline C.
Piano: Chris Zabriskie, Asher Fulero, Emmit Fenn
Costume & Set Design: Sophie Dow
Lighting Design: originally by Andie Lloyd - adapted for touring
Stage Manager: originally by Kayleigh Sandomirsky - adapted for touring
Mentors: Olivia C Davies
Special thanks to Caroline, Marielle, Ed & all my ancestors
Performance type: THIS WORK IS BUILT FOR THEATRE
How do you define this work: Contemporary Indigenous Dance / Music / Storytelling
Length of performance: 17 minutes
Audience type: General Audience
Number of Performers on tour (including choreographer): 1
Number of Support Staff on Tour: 1-2
Availabilities: 2027 Spring Season (Mar - June),2027/28 Season,2028/29 Season
Project Details
Community Engagement
General Technical Requirements: >Standard Lighting plot with specials
>Standard Sound playback
>Black backdrop
>A raised bar or boom that is hidden in the upstage right corner, that a piece of 40 ft. light-weight elastin fabric can be tied to (the maximum pulling weight >5lbs)
Set/Props (provided by artist):
-A pair of shorts
-a pair of scissors
-A figure 8 of 23 pieces of paper laid out spanning the entire stage
- 40 foot white elastin braid
Required amount of time for tech set up: 1-2 hours
>”Journals of Creation” - 2-5 day creation process (3 hours/day + breaks)
“Journals of Creation” is a 2-5 day intensive approach to telling our body-creation stories through movement, music & embodied story telling. Informed by Sophie’s background in dance, theatre, Michif history & culture, bodywork & clown, this process invites participants to explore the potency of expressing & sharing aspects of their heritage, beyond the use of words. This process is suitable for ages 16+ and available for ability ranges from community to professional performers.
Outreach Activities
>”Who’s Your Mother?” - 90 minute storytelling & movement workshop
“Who’s Your Mother” workshop is a 90-minute storytelling & movement workshop that invites participants of all ages & abilities to consider their matrilineal heritage through the body. Informed by Sophie’s background in dance, theatre, Michif history & culture, bodywork & clown, this workshop holds space for gentle, embodied reflection on where we come from individually & as a collective.