The sixth edition of Matriarchs Uprising Festival, presented by O.Dela Arts, in partnership with The Dance Centre, is a celebration of contemporary dance by Indigenous women artists. Offering live performances, conversations, masterclasses, workshops and an online dance film series at The Dance Centre, Morrow and online February 19th to 25th.
Curated by Olivia C. Davies, this year’s theme of Noojimo’idizo – she cures herself, is woven through the exciting program of new contemporary dance works and offerings from Louise P?tiki Bryant, Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo, Raven Spirit Dance, Sandra Lamouche, Tin Gamboa, Sophie Dow, Samantha Sutherland, Kelly Nash, Raven Grenier, Patti Shaughnessy, Lindsay Delaronde, Erynne Gilpin, Yvonne Chartrand, & more.
The Matriarchs Uprising program includes:
February 22: An Evening with Raven Spirit Dance features Confluence with special guests Sandra Lamouche’s (nehi-yawewin) and dance film KARISKIS by Tin Gamboa.
Confluence, by Raven Spirit Dance, is a dance work that weaves the artist’s perspectives, histories and bodies to create somatic tapestry that speaks to the resilience of Indigenous women.
(nehiyawewin) by Sandra Lamouche is inspired by the cree language in relations to her family and her journey of learning her language – turning loss into healing.
KARISKIS, by Tin Gamboa, is a dance film inspired by how we till the soil for future generations, prune out weeds, plant new seeds, give the land time to rest, and dance for abundance and fertility.
February 23 & 24: Niizh niimiwinan – two dances, a double bill of solo dances by Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo (Tiohtià:ke/Montreal) and Louise Potiki Bryant (Aotearoa/New Zealand).
WHAT WE CARRY by Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo (A’nó:wara Dance Theatre), explores the many accumulated experiences we carry in the bundle of body, mind and spirit. Sometimes painful, sometimes joyous, Barbara shares with us the path she walks that her ancestors started and the next generations continue.
P?heke (M?ori for “to flow”) is a new solo work by Louise P?tiki Bryant emerging out of her personal journey towards healing from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) / M?uiui whakaauau. As part of her healing journey Louise has utilised mindful illustration and movement tools inspired by the movement of water and atua w?hine (female deities / ancestors) from Te Ao M?ori.
Find more information and Pay What You Can tickets online at matriarchsuprising.com