February 14th to 19th, Olivia C. Davies, Artistic Director of O.Dela Arts, in partnership with The Dance Centre, presents the fourth edition of Matriarchs Uprising. The celebration of contemporary dance by female Indigenous artists, offers performances, master classes, workshops and circle conversations throughout the festival.
The festival brings together an exciting program of new Indigenous contemporary dance works from Jeanette Kotowich (Cree-Métis), Maura Garcia (non-enrolled Cherokee/Mattamuskeet), Animikiikwe Couchie-Waukey (Nipissing First Nation) with Bella Waru (Ma?ri), Christine Friday (Anishinaabe), Sophie Dow (Métis-Assiniboine), Sandra Lamouche (Cree), Samantha Sutherland (Ktunaxa), Sierra Tasi Baker (Squamish) and DTES Grandmothers Collective.
With online video works running February 14 to 19, Matriarchs Uprising’s featured live in-person performances will take place February 18 & 19 at 7pm at The Dance Centre.
The live performances feature a shared bill with KWE by Jeanette Kotowich and Ancestor Dances by Maura Garcia.
KWE is an ensemble led by Jeanette Kotowich reflecting and referencing Nêhiyaw cosmology, KWE is derived from iskwêw, Nêhiyaw for feminine Spirit and connected to the word iskotêw for Fire. Sparks of creation fuel this process. Through embodied narratives across multiple platforms, including unconventional locations and digital landscapes, KWE is a fluid container intended to amplify marginalized voices into space(s) in the dominant colonial and patriarchal society.
Maura Garcia shares Ancestor Dances, 7 small dances for 7 new ancestors. When we think of the ones who came before us, sometimes we are speaking of the ancient distant ones and collective community teachings. But the “new ancestors” also shared teachings.
On-Demand online works run for the duration of the festival, with pieces exploring Indigenous world views, identity, land, ancestors and connection. The week also includes an Opening Water Ceremony, Masterclasses and Community Workshops, Talking Truths Circle Conversations, and a Performance by DTES Grandmothers Collective.
For full details of the Matriarchs Uprising program, to register for events and tickets (by donation) visit oliviacdavies.ca/matriarchsuprising