Native Earth Performing Arts returns to the Aki Studio in Toronto to host the 36th edition of Weesageechak Begins to Dance taking place Nov. 6-19, 2023.
The Weesageechak Begins to Dance festival has doubled the number of artists from last year's festival. Weesageechak Begins to Dance will host over 22 artists across Turtle Island, showcasing modern Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, & Inuit) art in disciplines such as theatre, dance, opera, visual art and multidisciplinary works plus many more. The festival can be enjoyed in person or online.
-
- Philip Jonah Logan Geller is a Métis (Red River) and Jewish (Ashkenazi) theatre artist, director, and educator Photo submitted by Damien Nelson.
-
- Dakota Ray Hebert is a Dene comedian, actress and writer from Canada. Photo submitted by Damien Nelson.
Artists presenting at the Weesageechak Begins to Dance 36 Festival include: Brefny Caribou, Damion LeClair, January Rogers, Lisa Nasson, Nova Courchene, Philip Geller, and Sophie Dow, plus performances by Denise McLeod, Lacey Hill, Zachariah Highgate, Jennifer Alicia Murrin and Montana Adams Lena Recollet, Trina Moyan, Lee Maracle, Dakota Ray Heber, Aren Okemaysim, Raven Grenier, Monique Mojica, Lindsay Lachance and more.
"The Weesageechak Begins to Dance festival includes Indigenous peoples from other regions including South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Greenland," according to the Native Earth Performing Arts website.
Native Earth Performing Arts is a long-standing Indigenous theatre company that helps in the production & development of sharing artistic expressions of the Indigenous experience in Canada. Native Earth helps the artistic vision of artists, by offering help with script development, apprenticeships, and internships.
For more information, visit the festival website.