What’s Happening - Aboriginal Arts at The Banff Centre

Aboriginal Arts Events and Programming (2010)

On September 17 and 24, Aboriginal Arts presented Readings & Spoken Word from Aboriginal Writers at The Banff Centre in celebration of Alberta Arts Days. Award-winning writers included internationally-renowned Maori writer Witi Ihimaera (New Zealand), Kinnie Starr (BC), Lee Maracle (ON), Marilyn Dumont (AB), Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm (ON), and Beverly Hungry Wolf (AB).
On September 25, Aboriginal Arts and Presentations presented a special evening with award-winning writer Witi Ihimaera. Of Maori descent, Ihimaera is one of the most acclaimed writers in New Zealand and is author of the novel, The Whale Rider, which became a highly successful film. Whale Rider has been seen in cinemas around the world, has won over 40 film awards in more than a dozen countries, and was named one of the best films of the decade. Following the film screening, there was an up-close and personal conversation about his life, his work, and his novel.
In September 2010, Aboriginal Arts offered a unique Emerging Aboriginal Writers program. Eight participants developed their writing and storytelling voices through one-on-one editorial assistance, amidst a community of Aboriginal artists during a two-week residency at The Banff Centre. The program continues on-line for 10 weeks as participants each develop a manuscript, working on-line with their editor.
On August 21 and 22, Aboriginal Arts presented Indigenous Territories. Seven professional dancers premiered a new work by acclaimed New Zealand choreographer Neil Ieremia, who mixes a high-velocity modern style with traditional dance movement from the South Pacific Islands. Audiences saw a solo performance by dancer and choreographer Marie-Claude Rodrigue, whose work evokes a contemporary rite of passage.
On August 8, Aboriginal Arts presented the documentary film Black Grace: From Cannon’s Creek to Jacob’s Pillow. When Black Grace, a dance troupe of Pacific Islander and Maori men, first burst onto the New Zealand stage in 1995, they were a revelation.
On August 7, Aboriginal Arts presented the documentary film Water Flowing Together, a compelling, intimate portrait of one of the most recognized and influential modern ballet dancers, Jock Soto. Of Navajo heritage, he was just 16 when George Balanchine selected him to join the New York Ballet company where he became an unexpected force.
From August 2 to 23, the Indigenous Dance Residency program featured a three-week intensive residency at The Banff Centre. Dancers participated in an exceptional artistic process with Indigenous artists from various nations, backgrounds, and countries.
From July 12 to 17, Aboriginal singers from across Canada participated in Diverse As This Land, a dynamic week-long voice intensive residency, at The Banff Centre. Led by vocal instructors Micah Barnes and Lyz Jaakola, participants explored singing as physical experience, breath control and capacity, resonance, understanding of the vocal apparatus, care of the voice, relationship to space and audience, and personal expression through interpretation of song.
On July 16, and 17, the popular Diverse As This Land concert series was presented as part of the Banff Summer Arts Festival. Revealing and dynamic, representing electronic, rock, folk, traditional, and contemporary musical genres, this summer’s Diverse as This Land concerts showcased the deep wonder of woodland songs from a diversity of Indigenous nations. This year's concerts featured M'Girl, Jason Chamakese and Robert Gladue, and Gloria May Eshkibok.
A group of professionals gathered at The Banff Centre June 27-29 for the Hi-Rez Storytelling Focus Group, to assist in the development of a new Indigenous documentary filmmaking and screenwriting program. This new program at The Banff Centre will support and strengthen the evolution of Indigenous storytelling into exciting digital and film media forms.
In June, Aboriginal Arts at The Banff Centre celebrated National Aboriginal Day with two outstanding events: the Kisageetin Cabaret with Tomson Highway on piano and mezzo soprano Patricia Cano, and Red Sky’s compelling theatre dance piece for family audiences, Raven Stole the Sun.
In June, led by guest instructor Michael Greyeyes, the Viewpoints training workshop in Theatre Arts introduced participants to the Viewpoints theatre training technique, which addresses essential performance concepts.
In May and June, led by senior playwright-in-residence Tomson Highway, the Banff Playwrights Colony in Theatre Arts provided playwrights the opportunity to develop a new work with the support of dramaturges and resident company of professional actors/readers during a five-week residency at The Banff Centre.
Aboriginal Arts and Film & Media hosted the Hi-Rez Storytelling Summit from March 11 to 14 at The Banff Centre. The goal of the Summit was to provide an opportunity for creators and collaborators to develop a new Indigenous screenwriting and filmmaking program in 2011 at The Banff Centre. The Summit featured two exciting public events — Hi-Rez Dialogues and Hi-Rez Films.
In January and February, the Towards Language visual arts residency took place at The Banff Centre. Under the mentorship and guidance of visual artist Greg Staats (Mohawk), the residency provided Aboriginal visual artists with the opportunity to examine the idea of artists as intermediary between First Nations, Métis, and Inuit languages and contemporary critical practices.

Past Aboriginal Arts Events and Programming

See Aboriginal Arts Events and Programming (2009)