19 days left until DanceWeekend!
Our countdown to DanceWeekend’22 continues with A’nó:wara Dance Theatre/Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo presented in partnership with the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance. A’nó:wara Dance Theatre will be showing DREAM IN WAMPUM Saturday July 16 at 3:30pm at the Fleck Dance Theatre.
FB: barbaradiabodance
IG: anowaradancetheatre
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself/your company?
A’nó:wara Dance Theatre is an Indigenous-run dance company that specializes in creating works that highlight Indigenous themes/stories/perspectives by combining powwow, Haudenosaunee dance, and mainstream contemporary styles to create a fusion of dance that speaks to many different populations and tastes. Artistic director and award-winning choreographer/dancer Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo is originally from the Kanien’kehaka (Mohawk) nation of Kahnawake. Some of her most recent work was performed at the National Arts Centre, the Banff Centre, the Montreal Olympic Stadium, the Confederation Centre for the Arts PEI, the First People’s Festival in Montreal, Place-des-Arts, Prismatic Festival Halifax, Festival Quartiers Danses, and other places across Canada and internationally. A’nó:wara Dance Theatre’s goals are to create high-quality dance works that inspire others, encourage cultural pride, uplift the spirit, and increase education and communication.
What will you be sharing at DanceWeekend’22?
I DREAM IN WAMPUM – work-in-progress excerpts
Description: Enter into a world of Indigenous Futurism as we follow Kahente, a Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) youth, on their dream-journey to the stars. After finding seven wampum belts from the constellation we call the Seven Dancers (Tsata Teienonniakhwa), otherwise known as Pleiades, they start their journey to each of these worlds to discover their ancestors and star-beings. If successful, this path can lead them to Sky World (Karonhiakehson Ohontsa), the place of their people’s origins, and bring them greater understanding of their past, present, and future. Let the journey begin…
How has the pandemic shifted your work as a professional dance artist?
I have become better at balancing action and quiet times. The pandemic gave me the time to look more inward, reflect on many things, and connect more with the earth – which is now reflected in my work. I also discovered the power of dance on film.
Please share what you are most looking forward to at Dance Ontario’s return to live performances at DanceWeekend?
The shared energy of live performance and audience – it is a powerful, profound happening.
In 1 or 2 sentences, what does dance mean to you?
Dance is good medicine for all.
Photo by Francois Leger-Savard