Since June 2018, presentation networks CanDance, La Danse sur les Routes du Québec, and Ontario Presents have collaborated with Mohawk dance artist, Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo, and experienced presenter and arts manager, Lee Bolton, on a project to promote the work of dance artists from Indigenous and racialized communities through coaching, facilitating communications, and organizing meetings between the artists and presenters in Ontario and Québec.
In the spirit of reconciliation and with the desire to increase representation of Québec and Ontario artists who self-identify as members of an Indigenous nation or a racialized community were selected to take part in this free program from July through December of 2018. The artists received assistance, through individual consultations and peer sharing, to develop/create marketing materials that support their artistic vision/practice and inform presenters of their work.
We also worked with presenters to communicate and educate them about alternative/diverse/different cultural approaches, methods, and views of dance. Meetings were arranged between presenters and the first cohort, with the intention is to cultivate new connections, understanding and relationships between dance artists from Indigenous and racialized communities and presenters.
Since 2018, we have welcomed a second cohort of artists, as well as continuing to work with the first cohort to provide relationship-building and professional development opportunities.
Find out more about the first cohort here.
Find out more about the second cohort here.
This project is made possible thanks to the support of the Government of Quebec, the Government of Ontario and the Conseil des arts de Montréal.