Weesageechak Begins To Dance 27

Official Festival Announcement
Festival Schedule

weesageechak_logo_distressedNovember 12-22, 2014
Aki Studio Theatre 

Weesageechak Begins to Dance celebrates the new work of emerging and established Indigenous artists from across Canada and around the world. The festival includes live theatre, dance performances, and staged readings.

The festival began with senior Indigenous artist Gloria Miguel’s Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue; Jani Lauzon’s I call myself Princess; and Paddle Song by Dinah Christie & Tom Hill featuring Cheri Maracle.

The second week featured eleven playwrights, six dancers, New Zealand’s Tawata Productions, and also four emerging playwrights from our intensive training program – Animikiig. Included Monique Mojica, Tantoo Cardinal, Daniel David Moses, Santee Smith, Drew Hayden Taylor, emerging playwright Cliff Cardinal, and more.


Full Festival Lineup

November 12, 14 @ 7:30pm
November 16 @ 2pm
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue by Gloria Miguel with Steve Elm. Performed by Gloria Miguel, and presented in partnership with Native Women in the Arts and Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance (IPAA).
Originally produced and created by Spiderwoman Theater.

Thursday, November 13 @ 7:30pm
I Call Myself Princess by Jani Lauzon

Friday, November 14 @ 1pm
Don’t Feed the Indians (A Divine Comedy Pageant) by La MaMa (from New York via live broadcast)

Saturday, November 15 @ 1pm
Spiderwoman Theater – A Retrospective & Panel Discussion with Muriel Miguel and Gloria Miguel of Spiderwoman Theater
Murielle Borst-Tarrant, Monique Mojica, & Jill Carter

Saturday, November 15 @ 7:30pm
Paddle Song; A Hill, Christie, Maracle Production
by Dinah Christie & Tom Hill, featuring Cheri Maracle

Tuesday, November 18 @ 7:30pm
Side Show Freaks and Circus Injuns
by Monique Mojica
Victorian Secrets by Spy Dénommé-Welch & Catherine Magowan
The Last Few Steps to My Death by Keith Barker
Romanceship by Cliff Cardinal
Inua by Naja Dryrendom Graugaard
No Fixed Address by Tantoo Cardinal

Wednesday, November 19 @ 7:30pm
Emerging Artists from Animikiig Playwrights’ Program

Cheyenne Scott
Jessica Lea Fleming
Darla Contois
Cathy Elliot
followed by Perdida by Lilia Leon

Thursday, November 20 @ 7:30pm
Crazy Dave Goes to Town by Daniel David Moses
Waka/Ciimaan by Tawata Productions – Māori Whānau, Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Friday, November 21 @ 7:30pm
Re-Quickening by Santee Smith
Spine of the Mother by Starr Muranko
RESURGENCE by Christine Friday
What’s Left of Us by Justin Many Fingers & Brian Solomon

Saturday, November 22 @ 7:30pm
The Boneyard Blues by Drew Hayden Taylor
Awowakii by Sable Sweetgrass
In Care by Kenneth T. Williams


Weesageechak Begins to Dance 24
Photos by Scott Benesiinaabandan


Supporters of the Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival
AMICUS Logo

The Chawkers Foundation and The Mclean Foundation