Program Information
Kealy Atkinson, Kanako Uzawa, Gabriela Garcia Ortiz in Conditions to Strike, Intercultural Indigenous Dance Showcase, Banff Centre 2022. Choreographer: Montana Summers, Composers: Andrew Wenaus, Christina Marie Willat. Photo by Rita Taylor.
Overview
The Indigenous World Dance Residency provides Indigenous dance groups with the time, space, and resources to work on a current project. Under the guidance of Alejandro Ronceria and Santee Smith, participants will receive access to a Banff Centre dance studio to work on their proposed project. During the second and third weeks, artists will have access to Banff Centre's Jenny Belzberg Theatre to experiment with stage access and lighting in their projects. At the end of the program, participants will present a short excerpt of their work in progress on stage during a public performance.
What does the program offer?
The Indigenous World Dance program offers Indigenous choreographers and their dance groups from around the world the opportunity to create alongside Banff Centre’s dance faculty and production teams - including dramaturgy, choreography, sound composition, and other design – to workshop and apply initial production elements to their dance project. Participant choreographers will develop their creative concepts, and engage in one-to-one and group mentorship in choreography and dance as well as deep dramaturgical exploration to further their project. Through examination of voice and the process of re-embodiment, including daily movement work, choreographers and dancers will experiment with developing and re-defining their own body histories and language. The residency will also provide integrated opportunities for critical feedback, and creative dialogue circles with fellow choreographers and dancers.
Additionally, this program is pleased to offers senior choreographers the time and space to work solo on a research or written project referencing aspects of Indigenous World Dance in a vibrant and creative atmosphere.
Who should apply?
This residency is open to Indigenous dance groups from around the world, seeking to develop new and in-progress projects, and Senior Choreographers looking for the space and time to further a research project. We especially welcome applications from mid-size dance groups, with a maximum group size of ten. Applicants must be ages 18+ at the time of the program start date.
We welcome the following categories of applicant:
- Indigenous World Dance projects - new works or further development of a work in progress - choreographers should apply as the lead applicant for the group and include details of all dancers who will accompany them to Banff.
- Senior choreographers applying as individuals focused on research, writing, and studio investigation, should have a minimum of 10 years professional or relevant artistic experience, with a substantial body of work and recognition from relevant communities.
Indigenous World Dance Residency invites applications from Indigenous choreographers and their dancer groups, from anywhere worldwide and artists of all ages (18+), backgrounds, gender identities, and expressions.
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Faculty
Janine Windolph
Janine Windolph (Atikamekw/Woodland Cree) is a Saskatchewan-based filmmaker, video editor, educator, fine-craft artist, and storyteller. She is the Director of Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Prior, Janine was the Curator of Community Engagement at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan. She has her Master of Fine Arts: Interdisciplinary in Indigenous Fine Art and Media Production.
Janine was a co-producer for RIIS Media Project Inc wherein she co-directed RIIS from Amnesia: Recovering the Lost Legacies (feature-length documentary) that features the history of the Regina Indian Industrial School (RIIS).
Janine’s filmography includes roles as producer, director, narrator, writer and/or editor. She directed Stories Are In Our Bones, Lifegivers: Honoring Our Elders and Children, The Land of Rock and Gold, Ayapiyâhk ôma niyanân “Only us, we are here at home,”
Janine is working with Buffalo Mountain Banff; a community group to Buffalo Mountain, and providing production support to the Buffalo Mountain Video Project that is part of her sons’ homeschooling.
Director of Indigenous Arts
Alejandro Ronceria
Alejandro Ronceria is an internationally acclaimed director/choreographer/dance dramaturge based in Toronto. He directs and produces dance/theatrical productions internationally and mentors Indigenous choreographers and productions.
Ronceria was the co-founder/Program Director of the first Aboriginal Dance Program in North America at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. During his five-year tenure, the groundbreaking program brought together Indigenous and Inuit performers from across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Greenland, and New Zealand. His dance films have screened at TIFF and Sundance. Classically trained in ballet in Colombia, he holds an MFA in Dance Dramaturgy from York University. Ronceria was inducted into the Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame.
Director of Dance Programming
Santee Smith – TEKARONHIÁHKWA
Santee Smith – TEKARONHIÁHKWA
Santee Smith, Tekaronhiáhkhwa/Picking Up The Sky is a multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Ohswé:ken/Six Nations of the Grand River. Her debut work Kaha:wi - a family creation story premiered in 2004 and one year later she founded Kaha:wi Dance Theatre which has grown into an internationally renowned company. Santee’s artistic work speaks about identity, Indigenous narratives, creative process, and representation. Conceiving and directing numerous productions, she also spearheads international Indigenous collaborative projects. She is the recipient of numerous awards and commissions and works as a guest curator/director. Smith's recent work includes Gardiner Museum's Indigenous Public Art for Talking Earth, 2022-23, Homelands Harbourfront Centre premiere and the theatreical premiere of SKéN:NEN 2024, presented by TOLive at the Bluma Appel Theatre. Santee resumes touring The Mush Hole, her production based on the truths of Canada's first Indian Residential School. Santee is a sought-after teacher and speaker on the performing arts and Indigenous performance, arts and culture. She is a leader in Indigenous land-based and creative research through her “Inviting the Land to Shape Us” series. She is the 19th Chancellor of McMaster University.
www.kahawidance.org
@kahawidance
@santeesmith
Photo credit: Make Emarthle/Shutter Shell Studios
Faculty
Sonny-Ray Day Rider
Sonny-Ray Day Rider (B.A. Music) is a Blackfoot composer, pianist, from the Kainai Blood Tribe. Sonny-Ray has a broad musical palate working with many genres. He is currently pursuing advanced studies (M.mus) in music composition at the University of Lethbridge. He shows great promise in the field, having accumulated a large breadth of significant creative projects as an emerging Blackfoot artist in an impressively short time span. Day Rider has had works premiered and performed by the Penderecki String Quartet, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. He has formerly held a seat on the Indigenous Advisory Circle to the Library and Archives Canada and is guest faculty alumni to Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
Composer
Edgardo Moreno
Edgardo Moreno is a Canadian-Chilean composer based in Hamilton, Ontario.He has been commissioned for projects in Canada, Venezuela, Mexico, Sweden, Norway, Argentina, Colombia, England and USA. He has worked extensively with contemporary dance choreographers and artists including Penny Couchie, Justin Manyfingers, Alejandro Ronceria, Allen Kaeja, Karen Kaeja, Olga Barrios, Tara Butler, Lilia Leon, Norma Araiza, Rulan Tangen, Starr Muranko,Tasha Faye Evans, Jeanette Kotowich, Carlos Rivera, Sara Roque, Diana Lopez. He is presently working in creating video and live sound pieces that are part of his Fireflyproject. www.musicamoreno.com www.fireflyproject.ca
Composer
David Sweeney
David is a freelance lighting and video designer as well as audio/visual specialist for CAMH in Toronto, through which David works with Workman Arts as Technical Director. Some of David's recent production credits include lighting design for Highlands Opera Studio’s production of La Boheme in 2018 and Cosi Fan Tutte and Mishaabhooz Realm in 2017, lighting and video design for Manidoog with Trio D'Argento and Barbara Croall, lighting design for Amalgama which was part of the Panamania presentation in Toronto in 2015, and lighting design for Spirit of The Drum presented at Northern Scene at the National Arts Centre in 2013. When David is not working on projects, he spends time photographing nature/wildlife and historic subjects, as well as volunteering for a heritage railway.
Lighting Designer
What's Included
Single Room
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Your program fee includes a single bedroom on the Banff Centre campus for the duration of your program.
Get connected with other artists on campus and focus on your projects in a creative environment while we take care of the day-to-day essentials.
Full Flex Meal Plan
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Using a credit-based system to dine on campus, our flexible meal plans allow you to select meals according to your own needs during your stay. Banff Centre can respond to most dietary requests.
The Full Flex meal plan is equivalent to $70 credit per day, equivalent to breakfast, lunch and dinner at our Buffet service.
Scholarship
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A full scholarship to cover tuition, accommodation at Banff Centre and meals while in the program.
Showcase your work
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This program offers opportunities to showcase your work in one of our performance venues.
Gym Membership
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Your program fee includes free access to the swimming pool, climbing gym and fitness suite as well as discounted rates for classes at the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre.
Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives
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Access a wide range of publications, books, music and films in the Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives, open 6 days a week.
Box Office Discounts
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Enjoy special artist rates for ticketed performances or complimentary access to events.
Participant Resources
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Enrich your experience and get to know other artists on campus by taking advantage of the activities and support provided by our Participant Resources team.
Fees & Financial Assistance
Application fee: $35
Application Fees are non-refundable.
Individual group members must pay an additional registration fee of $35 on acceptance.
*Scholarship of 100% is available and will be applied to cover tuition, meals and accommodation costs.
If you would like to be considered, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials.
Banff Centre will issue official tax receipts for eligible tuition fees and financial assistance and awards as required by the Income Tax Act. You will receive a T2202 (Tuition and Enrolment Certificate) for eligible tuition fees paid and a T4A (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) for applicable financial assistance and awards.
Help fund your experience at Banff Centre. View a compiled list of national and international opportunities here.
How to Apply
Learn more about the steps to Complete Your Application.
Resume
A one-page resume or C.V. describing academic, professional, and other relevant experience. Lead applicants should self-identify as emerging, professional or senior artists.
Project Proposal
Dance groups:
Please provide a one to two page outline describing the project that the group proposes to work on during the Indigenous World Dance residency, and how the residency could be expected to further the project. Participants should outline in detail what tech expectations they have for their residency and highlight any particular elements that they wish to explore during the stage sessions.
Senior Choreographers:
Please provide a one to two page description of your research or written project, and how this could be supported by inclusion into the Indigenous World Dance program.
Resource Request
Outline all studio, equipment, software, facility, or staff support requested in our upload tool. Final resource allocation is at the discretion of the department.
*not required for Senior Choreographers applying with research projects.
Portfolio
You may submit audio or visual material that you feel will support your application (maximum three, not exceeding 15 minutes total).
Note: Senior Choreographers applying with a research project should include an excerpt of the work in progress (up to ten pages) as PDF and may submit other portfolio material to supplement.
Adjudication
Participants are selected by impartial adjudicators on the basis of their submitted material. In addition to artistic merit, consideration will be given to the likelihood that the artist's work will benefit from the program. Applicants will be notified of their status as soon as adjudication is complete.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be of Indigenous descent and 18 years of age or older.
- All international and Canadian Indigenous choreographers and dance groups are welcome to apply.
Note:
All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Program fee is subject to applicable taxes. Non-refundable fees and deposits will be retained upon cancellation. Any other fees are refunded at the discretion of the Banff Centre.
Contact Admissions
For questions on preparing your application, please contact Admissions:
Toll Free Number (Canada + USA)
1.800.565.9989
Phone
403.762.6180