One of Canada’s most esteemed dance artists will lead a three-day workshop at the Scotiabank Dance Centre from May 5 to 7. Santee Smith / Tekaronhiáhkhwa is the founding and managing artistic director of Kaha;wi Dance Theatre. In 2022, she became chancellor of McMaster University in Hamilton for a three-year term.
Vancouver-based Co.ERASGA will present Smith’s event, Moving in the Direction of the Forever, in partnership with her and the Dance Centre.
Her artistic work focuses on identity and Indigenous narratives. Smith is from the Kahnyen’kehàka (Mohawk) Nation, Turtle Clan from Ohswé:ken (Six Nations of the Grand River).
“In her workshop Santee Smith shares insight and aspects of her performance, movement and energetic practices inspired by natural patterning, knowledge encoded within cultural symbols and the grounded pulse of Onkwehon:we style of dance,” Co.ERASGA states in its announcement.
It describes this style as “supple and activated spine with call and response as a reciprocal process”.
The workshop will run from noon to 5 p.m. each day. Moreover, it will involve working outside on the land as well as in studio. In addition, it features work with clay as “an embodied expression of ‘we are made of the earth’ and Santee’s thematic creative research on ‘Claywomxn’.”
According to her biography, Smith has McMaster bachelor’s degrees in physical education and psychology. She augmented her education with a master of arts in dance from York University.
“Recovering from two broken legs, she completed six years of training at Canada’s National Ballet School, undertook theatre training and earned her degrees,” her bio states. “She returned to dance in 1996 as a choreographer and dedicated six years to create and produce her first dance work, Kaha:wi, a family creation story.”
For tickets to Moving in the Direction of Forever, visit Eventbrite. Follow Pancouver on Twitter @PancouverMedia.
