Dancers of Damelahamid, in partnership with the UBC Museum of Anthropology (MOA), present the Coastal First Nations Dance Festival -a weeklong celebration of the diverse stories, songs, and dances of the Indigenous peoples of the northwest coast from March 6 to 10, 2013 at MOA. This year’s celebration brings together a talented group of internationally celebrated artists and performers from throughout
British Columbia, Alaska, Washington, Quebec, and Ontario to share a memorable selection of song and dance traditions through a series of School Workshops, Signature Evening Presentations, and afternoon Festival Stage performances.
“We are honoured to be returning to the beautiful and inspiring Great Hall of the UBC Museum of Anthropology for a sixth year of cultural performance and celebration,” says Margaret Grenier, Executive and Artistic Director ofDancers of Damelahamid. “The festival is truly gifted this year with an expansive group of performers committed to the history and culture of their unique art form. From Inuit throat singers to Metis jiggers to Prairie hoop dancers and beyond, it is a rare opportunity tobe able to see such an array of disciplines in one place.”
The Coastal First Nations Dance Festival is a celebrationof the inspiring stories and dramatic dances of the Indigenous peoples of the northwest coast of North America.
Produced and presented annually by Dancers of Damelahamid, the festival transforms the UBC Museum of Anthropology’s Great Hall into a dazzling showcase of First Nations culture and compelling dance. The festival places particular emphasis on the vibrant traditions practiced by artists from coastal British Columbia, Manitoba, the Yukon, and
Alaska. In some years, the festival has also hosted international dance groups, hailing from as far away as Australia, to share their ancient and living traditions.
The Festival consists of three primary components:
Signature Evening Presentations -Ticketed gala events featuring headline performances from Dancers of Damelahamid and special guest artists.
Festival Stage Performances -Showcase presentations from visiting performers. The Festival Stage Performances take place on weekend afternoons and are included with admission to MOA.
School Group Performances -Weekday sessions introducing students to the rich history and traditions of First Nations dance, performance, and storytelling.
The 2013 Festival line-up hosts a range of returning audiencefavourites, as well as first-time festival performers, including: Chinook Song Catchers, Spakwus Slolem, Dakhká Khwáan, Git Hayetsk Dancers, Inuit Throat Singers Nukariik, Rainbow Creek Dancers, Hoop Dancer Alex Wells, Git-Hoan Dancers, Kwhlii Gibaygum, Kwa Kwa Ka Wakw, and Metis Jigger Yvonne Chartrand with Compaigni V’ni Dansi.
For additional information on the festival, please visit damelahamid.ca.
About Dancers of Damelahamid
Dancers of Damelahamid is a professional Aboriginal dance company from the northwest coast of British Columbia. The Gitxsan, ‘people of theriver of mists,’ are part of the coastal group of cultures that have the distinctive button blanket regalia. Their rich history of masked dance inspires a compelling performance, celebrating the diversity and time depth of the many beautiful Indigenous cultures across Canada. Through dramatic dance, captivating narrative, intricately carvedmasks, and elaborate regalia the Dancers of Damelahamid transform time and space, and bridge the ancient with a living tradition.
For more information please see Moa.ubc.ca/eventtickets or Damelahamid.ca
