Aanmitaagzi will be wrapping up its Summer Arts Program (ASAP) with a presentation of Serpent People at Big Medicine Studio on August 4, 2017 at 7 pm.
Our ASAP students and community members have been working hard all summer putting together and touring this production, and we’re pleased to be presenting it here in our community to mark the 10th anniversary of the ASAP program.
The event is free, however we gladly accept donations. Please note that this performance contains mature content.
Material Witness performers (clockwise from top-left) – Donna Couteau, Cherish Blood, Ange Loft, Gloria Miguel, and Penny Couchie.
Aanmitaagzi will be back in Toronto next week to present Material Witness, Co-produced by Spiderwoman Theater, at the Living Ritual: International Indigenous Performing Arts Festival taking place at the Harbourfront Centre from July 25 – 27, 2017.
Material Witness, is a multi-generational, multi-disciplinary performance/installation project that explores stories of violence, healing and renewal in the lives of Indigenous women. Incorporating stories re-worked and refined by the performers (pictured above) through storyweaving sessions led by Director Muriel Miguel, and set/installation elements developed through the Pulling Threads workshops and Aanmitaagzi’s community-engaged artists, Material Witness will be presented in the Fleck Dance Theatre along with Thomas E.S. Kelly’s (MIS)CONCEIVE starting at 8:00 pm on July 27, 2017.
Tickets for the Thursday evening performances are $20.00, and can be purchased from the Harbourfront Centre on their website or by calling the box office at 416-973-4000.
For more information about the Living Ritual: International Indigenous Perfroming Arts Festival, or to obtain festival passes please visit www.kahawidance.org/living-ritual.
Aanmitaagzi will be hosting a House Concert Open Mic Fundraiser at Big Medicine Studio (161 Couchie Memorial Dr., North Bay, ON) featuring performances from the Serpent People ensemble on June 19, 2017 from 7 – 9 pm in support of our presentation of Material Witness (Co-Produced with Spiderwoman Theater) at the Living Ritual Festival in Toronto on July 27, 2017.
Admission is Pay-What-You-Can, all talent is welcome.
For more information, please contact Aanmitaagzi at 705.474.2227.
June 15 – 17, 2017 at 8pm
The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance
304 Parliament St. (Parliament & Dundas), Toronto, ON
$25 General Admission, $20 Students/Seniors/Artists
CLC Box Office: 416.364.8011 ext. 1 or Purchase Tickets Online here
Proudly presented by Coleman, Lemieux & Compagnie
Serpent People is an interactive community-engaged live theatre performance. Grounded in historic Anishinaabe stories of the Black Sturgeon from Nipissing, Serpent People gathers, reflects, and expresses stories and imaginings about the human condition.
Co-Directors: Penny Couchie and Sid Bobb
Storyweaving Director: Muriel Miguel
Choreographer: Penny Couchie
Composer: Edgardo Moreno
Assistant to the Composer: Gerald McComb
Voice & Acting Coach: Imelda Villalon
Lead Set and Installation Designers: Sherry Guppy and Megan Paulin
Set & Installation Assistant: Thaila Sarazin
Costume Designer: Meri-Lee “MJ” Helmer
Costume Assistant: Sylver Waukey-Chisel
Lighting Designer: Jennifer Jimenez
Film and Video Installation: Daniel Couchie
Multi-media: Clayton Windatt and Jacob Dayfox
Production Manager: Deborah Ratelle
Production Co-ordinator: Stephanie Fehr
Co-creators/Performers:
Darien Benjamins, Jossée Bernier, Sid Bobb, Miigwan Buswa, Penny Couchie, Binaeshee-Quae Couchie-Nabigon, Animikiikwe Couchie-Waukey, Jacob Dayfox, Carol Guppy, Gabriel Guppy, Casandra MacDonald, Darren Nakogee, Mckenzie Ottereyes-Eagle, Tasheena Sarazin, and Jodi Taylor
We’ve got a busy summer ahead at Aanmitaagzi! Our Summer Arts Program is now in full swing, and we’ll be putting everyone to work over the next few weeks as we develop and prepare the latest incarnation of the Serpent People project. Then we’ll be hitting the road to tour this dynamic collaboratively-created performance all across Ontario.
Grounded in historic Anishinaabe stories of the Black Sturgeon from Nipissing First Nation as told by one of Aanmitaagzi’s founding artists, Perry Mcleod-Shabogeesic, Serpent People gathers, reflects, and expresses stories and imaginings about the human condition. What are we consuming that gives us power? What are we consuming that is toxic? What has taken us away from ourselves and the essence of who we are? What would it take to transform us, and what transformations have we already undergone in our lives? Serpent People investigates these questions and explores our ability for self-reclamation and to transform for the positive.
Our first presentation will be at The Citadel as part of Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie’s Bright Nights performance arts series from June 15 – 17 at 8 pm. Tickets are $25 for General Admission and $20 for Artists, Students, Seniors, and can be purchased online or by calling the Box Office at 1-416-364-8011 ext.1.
Following that, Serpent People will be in Ottawa for the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, performing on June 25 at 3 pm at Vincent Massey Park. Admission is free and paid parking is available.
The last stop on our summer tour (unless we squeeze in a few more!) will be in Red Rock for the Live From the Rock Folk Festival from August 11 – 13. Camping sites are available for $20, and festival passes can be purchased at the gate or online.
Hope to see you on the tour!