End of Winter Progress

I recently returned from a two week stint at Talking Stick: Canada’s premiere Indigenous Performing Arts Festival. The creation of new Ahwisgvsgo'i elements and the premiere of choreography and poetry from the project were at the heart of my experience in the homeland of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tseil-Waututh peoples.  A recap -

1. I was given a spacious rehearsal studio, 5 performing artists and 12 hours... :)    
Using the Ode to the Sun I poem and the Daughter of the Sun story as inspiration, we created the beginnings of a new work. It premiered at the Roundhouse Performance Centre and was followed by an intense 

Q & A/critical response/discussion between the dancers, the audience and myself. We talked about the creation process, the lessons learned and ideas generated while developing new work. I have an excellent start and was gifted with new insight from the dancers and the audience.  I will be spending the next few months revisiting the lessons and footage to make something new.
 

2. The international debut of "Color of the Earth" & "Ode to the Sun II" alongside work of Justin Many Fingers & Brian Solomon and the Git Haysetsk Dancers. I was delighted to be part of such a distinguished showcase, which was followed by a question and answer session.
 

3. Facilitated a 2-hour master class at the Scotiabank Dance Centre exploring how to generate choreography from narrative and introducing students to the movements done while making corn mounds.  I now have some new ideas to work with to flesh out the "Seeds are Like Babies" poem.
 

4. Taught 3 children's workshops using dance games to explore movement response concepts and creating a group dance based on their reactions to a traditional Cherokee story.
 

5. Sat on a choreographer's panel discussing the space we claim and define with our choreography and Indigenous dancing bodies.
 

6. Participated in a series of arts industry meetings with the end goal being the creation of an Indigenous touring network.
 

7. Attended numerous professional development sessions: traditional west coast song & dance, Metis jigging, marketing and various contemporary aboriginal dance workshops.
 

8. Saw excellent and rejuvenating dance, theatre and musical performances.

9. Was touched by many a beautiful and powerful spirit.

10.  Left feeling very excited about the momentum generated and the things to come...