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2017/2018 Season Weesageechak

Kristy Janvier:

“Show what we want to see in the world”

In celebration of Indigenous contemporary dance, we welcome Kristy Janvier from Flin Flon, Manitoba to W30.

This is Janvier’s first festival premiering her latest work-in-progress, Forest Floor. “The idea came to me on a long walk in the bush. I began to think about the idea of decay.”

“I’ve always loved the crunch below my feet as I walk through the bush behind my secluded cabin. No electricity. No running water. You get there by boat. This land was my great grandparents…”

“As leaves fall, trees rot, fungus grows…I love the smell of decay as a natural part of life cycles, reminding me that I too will leave my body so it can be returned to the earth.”

Janvier will bring the outdoors into an indoor space, decorating the stage floor with spruce roots and others of her findings from the bush.

See the stage come to life through Kristy Janvier’s dance piece, Forest Floor on Thursday, November 23rd.


More from Kristy Janvier

Who is your Indigenous role model? How do they inspire you?
All of them! Growing up, I didn’t see many, and I feel as though I’ve been waiting for this day to arrive. There are so many people doing work across the country and my vision is to bring more of it to Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and beyond.

Where do you find your inspiration for your creative work?
In nature and in meditation.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Turn it over.

Do you have any advice for new Indigenous creators just coming onto the scene?
Try! I went to my first audition when I was 17 years old just to see what an audition was about. That changed my life path from becoming an accountant to a performer in Tokyo, Japan.

Even if the answer is no, each experience builds on each other and will lead to something.

What are your thoughts on addressing political topics through Indigenous art?
For some artists and audience, it’s important to address these issues through art. I also think it’s important to show our stories of resilience and what we want to see in the world, not just what’s wrong with it.

What is coming up next for you?
I’m based in Northern Manitoba so I will be returning there for awhile with a few possibilities of collaboration in 2018.


You can catch Kristy Janvier’s Forest Floor on
Thursday, November 23rd @ 7:30pm
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