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Quickening’s Toronto World Premiere Highlights International Indigenous Women’s Resurgence

Quickening's Toronto World Premiere Highlights International Indigenous Women’s Resurgence

Toronto, ON (Feb 11, 2016) – Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
(KDT), one of Canada’s leading contemporary dance companies, led by multi award-winning Artistic
Director Santee Smith, launches one of the most bold, timely, sonically and visually arresting
inter-disciplinary performances of the 2016 dance season.

Premiering as part of Harbourfront Centre’s 2015/16 Next Steps dance series, Re-Quickening takes
the prevailing discourse surrounding international Indigenous women’s issues and incites a tough
topical dialogue through performance, music and art, fuelled by re-constructing feminine power.
Does reconciliation mean the same thing to everyone, including those living on Turtle Island?
Re-Quickening goes there, while facilitating an artistic re-awakening of her-story. “By piecing
together fragments and shards of Indigenous knowing, this production acts as a reaffirmation of
life and healing from issues of violence against women and the Earth,” says Santee. She also makes
it clear that the driving force behind Re-Quickening are Indigenous voices, “It’s about our
experience and it’s our truth.”

View Re-Quickening video teaser here: https://vimeo.com/154773974

Devised from Indigenous methodology, Re-Quickening boldly goes where few dare, and is led by a
powerhouse team of international Indigenous women collaborators: Santee Smith
(Kenien’keha:ka/Mohawk Nation), Monique Mojica (Guna, Rappahannock Nations), Marina Acevedo
(Zapotec descent), Frances Rings (Kokatha Tribe descent), Louise Potiki-Bryant (Kāi Tahu, Kāti
Mamoe and Waitaha descent, Māori), Bianca Hyslop (Te Arawa, Ngati Whakaue, Maori), Nancy Wijohn (Te
Rarawa, Tuhoe/Ngati Paoa, Ngati Tahu, Māori), Cris Derkson (Cree descent). Guided by the words of
artist-activist leaders Leanne Simpson (Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg ancestry from Alderville First
Nation), Christi Belcourt (Métis), Alva Jamieson (Onkwehon:we), Leigh Smith ((Kenien’keha:ka/Mohawk
Nation) and elder Maria Campbell (Métis).

Inspired by narratives encoded in Indigenous symbol and iconography, and traversing the inner
scared landscape of Backwards woman, Changing woman, Skywoman, Claywoman and Earth Mother,
Re-Quickening deals with stripping away the layers of colonial imposition on women’s
body-mind-spirit and the re-affirmation of life, of voice, of body sovereignty. Re-Quickening aims
to open up pathways for re-storing internal fractures and to re-ignite feminine position and

presence – Mana Wahine, Konkwehon:we.
Known for award nominated scores KDT’s Re-Quickening will not disappoint with an original
score by collaborators: Cris Derksen (2016 JUNO Awards nominee), Humberto Alvarez (MX), David R.
Maracle (Kenien’kehá:ka/Mohawk Nation), Jesse Zubot featuring vocals by Polaris Prize award winner
Tanya Tagaq (Inuk), Eugene Draw and Santee Smith. Re- Quickening design includes: Lighting, Arun
Srinivasan; Video, Louise Potiki Bryant; Set, Andy Moro (Mushkegowuk Cree descent); Costumes,
Adriana Fulop; Props, Adrian Harjo and Steve Smith (Kenien’kehá:ka/Mohawk Nation)

Re-Quickening is a spiritual resurgence, tipping colonialism on its head. The performance touches
on themes of dislocation from land, body and voice; the history of violence against Indigenous
women since contact; residential schools; and the assimilative processes of the Indian Act towards
reclaiming women’s blood ties, rites, umbilical connection to land and healing.
Re-Quickening.

It’s time to re-awaken the giant within.
Re-Quickening runs April 28, 29, 30, and May 1st at Harbourfront Centre’s Fleck Dance Theatre (207
Queens Quay West, Toronto). All performances begin at 8:00 p.m. with the exception of the Sunday,
May 1st matinee at 3 p.m. There will be a post-performance circle for audience members to exchange
and engage on themes in response to the content of the performance. KDT will host Q&A’s after every
performance with special invited speakers and performers.

Tickets for Re-Quickening are $38 and can be purchased by calling Harbourfront Centre’s Box Office
at 416-973-4000. Tickets can also be purchased online at:

http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/boxoffice.cfm

About the company:
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre (pronounced Ga-HA-Wee) is one of Canada’s leading contemporary dance
companies that explores the intersection of Indigenous and new dance performance.
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre is renowned for artistry, creative excellence and collaboration.
kahawidance.org / #ReQuickening
About Harbourfront Centre:
Harbourfront Centre, on Toronto’s waterfront, is an innovative not-for-profit cultural organization
that creates events and activities of excellence that enliven, educate and entertain a diverse
public.

Kaha:wi Dance Theatre gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the
Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Miziwe Biik Employment and Training, and Grand
River Employment and Training. Thanks also to Re-Quickening production sponsors Creative New
Zealand and for creation residencies: Makeda Thomas – Dance & Performance Institute (Trinidad),
Woodland Cultural Centre and Native Earth Performing Arts’
Weesageechak Begins to Dance 2014.

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