A festival celebrating Indigenous story, song and dance is coming to the Anvil Centre this February.
The 12th annual Coastal Dance Festival (formerly Coastal First Nations Dance Festival) is coming to the downtown New Westminster facility Feb. 20 to 24.
It has been held at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, but with the museum’s Great Hall undergoing seismic upgrades, a move was necessary.
Margaret Grenier, the festival’s executive and artistic director, called the Anvil Centre a “vibrant space that is an ideal backdrop for this year’s inventive program.”
A press release notes that the festival welcomes Indigenous artists from B.C., Yukon, Quebec, Alaska, Washington State and Australia. New performers include Montreal-based singer Émilie Monnet and Nahka Bertrand, whose work draws on the symbolism of dreams and mythologies to tell stories that address today’s world. Coming from Australia are the Wagana Aboriginal Dancers, led by Jo Clancy.
The Dancers of Damelahamid will perform an excerpt, in full regalia, from their new work Mînowin, which integrates movement, song, performance and new multimedia design.
Other highlights include Montreal-based dancer-choreographer Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo, with a tribute to Mohawk ironworkers; perennial festival favourite and Squamish-based dance company Spakwus Slolem, with songs and dances representative of their canoe culture; and the return of Flying Gwitch’in Fiddler Boyd Benjamin and singer-songwriter Kevin Barr.
The festival includes signature evening performances, which are ticketed gala events featuring performances from Dancers of Damelahamid and special guest artists, plus festival stage performances on weekend afternoons, which are offered by donation.
School group performances are also available for kindergarten to Grade 12 classes.
Signature performances are $30 regular, or $25 for seniors and students. For full schedule, see www.damelahamid.ca. For tickets, see www.ticketsnw.ca or call 604-521-5050.
