Kaha:wi Dance Theatre Presents
in association with the Woodland Cultural Centre
CONTINUANCE:
Yonkwa’nikonhrakontáhkwen – our consciousness continues unchanged
As a part of the NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE GRAND ACTS OF THEATRE
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre is honoured to once again be working creatively and in response to the site of The Mohawk Institute. We acknowledge the Survivors who attended the school and their ancestors and descendants. We acknowledge the treaty lands of the Six Nations of the Grand River.
Continuance is the state of remaining in existence. “Continuance - Yonkwa'nikonhrakontáhkwen / Our Consciousness Continues Unchanged” multimedia performance Grand Act of Theatre is an embodiment of resilience. A celebration of Indigenous continuance the drive-in theatre shines light, 3D mapping on the dark oppressiveness of the Mohawk Institute Residential School. With an immersive interplay with live intergenerational Haudenosaunee performers, the new media incorporates ancient-future imagery illuminating that the 142 year history of the school did not destroy cultural perpetuity. Disintegrating the façade of the school into images portraying cultural strength, beauty and iconic Haudenosaunee imagery. Coded within our iconographies are meaningful ways to live in the world with balanced harmony. The concept of continuance in Kanien'kéha - Yonkwa'nikonhrakontáhkwen (Yonh-gwah-knee-gon-rla-goon-dah-gwen) is an important the concept as it references the continuance in mind, body and spirit
Artistic Director Santee Smith’s vision for the Grand Act of Theatre is to illuminate an antithetic experience from the intended purpose by the architects of the Residential School. She states, “The specificity of the site is crucial in the conceptual design and embodied storytelling. Our Grand Act rebukes the evil intent that the schools were designed to more easily remove Indigenous people from their lands and will communicate Indigenous bodies, knowledges and connection to land persist. The 142 year history of the school did not destroy cultural perpetuity. Encoded within our iconographies are meaningful ways to live in the world with balanced harmony to which society can looked to for guidance. It is my hope to offer community inspiration to regain a sense of balance and harmony in life, to promote pride, connect with spirituality through our symbols and bring awareness to our collective memory. Continuance is opportunity to remove grief and restore the ability to see, hear, speak and ingest beauty and strength, traditional words and concepts.”
BIOGRAPHIES:
Photo by Ian R. Maracle
SANTEE SMITH / TEKARONHIAHKWA
Santee Smith is a multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Turtle Clan, Six Nations of the Grand River. She trained at Canada’s National Ballet School, completed Physical Education and Psychology degrees from McMaster University and a M.A. in Dance from York University. Santee premiered her debut work Kaha:wi - a family creation story, in 2004 and one year later founded Kaha:wi Dance Theatre which has grown into an internationally renowned company. Smith’s artistic work speaks about identity and Indigenous narratives. Her body of work includes 14 productions and numerous short works which tour nationally and internationally. Her commissions include choreography for the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, North American Indigenous Games, among others. She is the recipient of the K.M. Hunter Award; Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award; John Hobday Award; Hamilton Music Award for Kaha:wi; Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Choreography in Dance for Susuriwka – willow bridge, REVEAL Indigenous Arts Award, and the inaugural Johanna Metcalf Prize for the Performing Arts. Her work Blood Tides received Outstanding Production and Outstanding Performance Ensemble in Dance at the 2019 Dora Mavor Moore Awards and 5 Dora Mavor Moore 2020 awards went to her production of The Mush Hole. Santee is a sought-after teacher and speaker on the performing arts and Indigenous performance and culture. Her life and works have been the topic of TV series and films and most recently on CBC Arts - The Move II. Smith is the 19th Chancellor of McMaster University.
RAELYN METCALFE
Raised in Vancouver and currently based in Toronto, Raelyn is from Plains Cree descent from Saskatchewan. She is a graduate of The Conteur Dance Academy. Her love of performing began with ballet and transitioned her into other styles, including musical theatre. She has trained with The Richmond Academy of Dance, MOVE: the company, and The Conteur Academy. In 2015, Raelyn had the pleasure of working with Conteur Dance Company, a preview development show under the direction of artistic director Eryn Waltman. Raelyn has also worked with Aria Evans who is the artistic director of Political Movement. In 2017, Raelyn performed Aria’s work Voice of A Nation, commissioned by the Toronto Concert Orchestra. Revisiting her identity and background, Raelyn had the opportunity to perform as a dancer at the 2018 Indspire Awards along with Santee Smith, the Founding Artistic Director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre. Following her passion for performing both on stage and on film, Raelyn is a dedicated dance artist who wishes to continue to inspire others.
MONTANA SUMMERS
Montana Summers is from the Oneida First Nation of the Thames. Montana began training and exploration in Indigenous and contemporary dance when he was accepted into the Indigenous Dance Residency (2015) and Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s Summer Intensive (2016). Montana has worked and toured with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Santee Smith in productions since 2016 including The Mush Hole; The Honouring, Medicine Bear; I Lost My Talk (National Arts Centre Orchestra multi-media); Wakentos (Dreamcatcher Gala Awards); Indspire Awards 2018 and the North American Indigenous Games Opening Ceremony (Toronto). Montana also collaborates with The Chimera Project in a new creation Omen (2018) and has participated in previous work of the company entitled Bear, Stars and Trees (2017). Montana also focuses on creating and teaching workshops/classes for all ages in his home city of London, Ontario.
JULIANNE BLACKBIRD
Julianne Blackbird is from the Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan and resides at Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Julianne attends McKinnon Park Secondary School in grade 12. Julianne has been dancing since age 3, in all genres including Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Hip hop, Jazz, Lyrical, and Tap. Julianne danced in The Gift, in Toronto, in 2014 for Mercedes Bernardez. She danced with Santee Smith at the opening ceremonies of the North American Indigenous Games, World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education closing ceremonies (2017), Indspire Awards (2018) and is a core member of The Mush Hole. Julianne appeared as an extra in the documentary Desert Between Us & Them: Raiders, Traitors, and Refugees in the War of 1812 (2013).
ASCENSION HARJO
Ascension Aton:wa Harjo is a 19 year old Mohawk, Kickapoo, Seminole from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. He started dancing as soon as he could walk, soon after at the age of 2 he started Hoop Dancing like his father before him. Ascension’s passion is Dance! Whether it be powwow, smoke, hip hop modern or hoop he is always dancing and has performed with the likes of Nelly Furtado, World Champion Hoop Dancer's Tony Duncan and Lowry Begay and Kaha:wi Dance Theatre to name a few. He performed in the closing ceremonies of the 2015 Pan Am Games (Toronto), the opening ceremonies of the North American Indigenous Games with Taboo from Black Eyed Peas, and the 2018 INDSPIRE AWARDS. Ascension won the Teen Division Hoop Dance World Championships in 2018 making him one of the most elite Hoop Dancers on Turtle Island. He won the tittle at the World Championships of Hoop Dance held at the Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ. Ascension’s hope is to keep dancing and to maintain a healthy lifestyle and promote a positive self image for himself and his culture.
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
Production: Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
Presentation Partner: Woodland Cultural Centre
Artistic Producer/Director/Performer: Santee Smith
Advisor: Roberta Hill
Kanienʼkéha Translator: Tehahenteh Miller
Performers: Julianne Blackbird, Montana Summers, Raelyn Metcalfe, Ascension Harjo
Opening Address and Singer: Biine Kwe Elijah
Greenscreen/Video Performers: Montana Summers, Santee Smith, Olivia Cooke, Gyeho Thomas, Cameron Sault, Deacon Sault, Kristine Hill and family
Multimedia Mapping Design: AVA - Animation & Visual Arts Co-Directors: Emma Lopez, Pedro Narvaez
Composition/Arrangement: Adrian Dion Harjo
Songwriter: Semiah Smith, Jennifer Kreisberg
Recorded Singers: Ascension Harjo, Imani Mitten, Blayze Longboat, Lindyn Hill, Santee Smith, Biine Kwe Elijah, Smith, Jennifer Kreisberg
Costume Designer: Adriana Fulop
Lighting and Stage Designer: Lindy Kinoshameg
Cinematographer/Editor: Jon Elliott
B-Camera Operator: Owen Deveney
Production Stage Manager/Mentor: Candace Scott-Moore
Production Stage Manager Mentee: Donika Stonefish
A/V Production: Solotech, Greg Wilkie
Site logistics/ Green Screen Videographer: Shane Powless at Thru The Red Door
Marketing Coordinator: Carley Gallant-Jenkins
Photographer: Ian R. Maracle
Security: Nighthawk Protection Services, Stuart Player
Board of Directors: Janis Monture, Danbi Cho, Paula Laing, Jessica Powless
Image permission: Six Nations Public Library and the Don Lynch Collection
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre acknowledges the generous support of company funders: Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council.
Nia:wen to Nighthawk Protection Services for donating their services to support Continuance.
Woodland Cultural Centre
Executive Director: Janis Monture
Curator: Patricia Deadman
Manager of Operations: Andrea Nechita
Facility Maintenance: Cole Tourangeau
Marketing: Layla Black, Jessie Hill
Visitor Services: Jessie Hill
Finance: Deb Lickers
Special Events Team: Adam Moffatt, Stage Manager; Stephanie Smith, Event Associate; Kassi Bernier, Parking Attendant; Shawna Porter, Parking Attendant
Landscaper: R & W Consulting
Woodland Cultural Centre acknowledges the generous support of Indigenous Services Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council.
National Arts Centre English Theatre’s
Presented by: National Arts Centre English Theatre’s Grand Acts of Theatre Marking this Moment
As the performing arts sector continues to face unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Arts Centre has responded with Grand Acts of Theatre, an initiative to bring Canadian artists and audiences together. Eleven of Canada’s most innovative theatre companies have been engaged to create and perform large-scale, new works in response to these times, which will be performed outdoors in front of live audiences in various Canadian locations, filmed, and later shared online. For more information on Grand Acts of Theatre and the companies involved please visit nac-cna.ca/GrandActsofTheatre
The National Arts Centre Foundation wishes to thank RBC Foundation as Presenting Partner of Grand Acts of Theatre.
Grand Acts of Theatre is also made possible thanks to the support from The Jenepher Hooper Fund for Theatre at the National Arts Centre Foundation, established as a result of a generous gift from the estate of Jenepher Margaret Hooper.
