Dancers of Damelahamid

Raven Mother

2024-11-20 20:00 2024-11-22 23:00 60 Canada/Eastern 🎟 NAC: Dancers of Damelahamid

https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/36099

In-person event

Raven Mother is the Dancers of Damelahamid’s newly choreographed dance work in honour of late Elder Margaret Harris (1931 – 2020). Raven Mother illustrates the vast impact Elder Harris had on the revitalization of Indigenous dance along the Northwest Coast, and the integral role of women in holding cultural knowledge. It celebrates the mothers who created the stronghold of these artforms and influenced the next generation of women. Raven Mother illuminates the profound leadership of...

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Azrieli Studio,1 Elgin Street,Ottawa,Canada
November 20 - 22, 2024
November 20 - 22, 2024
8:00 pm EST

November 2024

  1. Nov 20 2024
    Wednesday

    8:00pm

  2. Nov 21 2024
    Thursday

    8:00pm

  3. Nov 22 2024
    Friday

    8:00pm

Close schedule
A side profile of an Indigenous dancer in a Gitxsan raven mask.
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Chris Randle
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Chris Randle
1-damelahamid-ravenmother-credit-andrew-grenier
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Andrew Grenier
2-damelahamid-ravenmother-credit-andrew-grenier
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Andrew Grenier
3-damelahamid-ravenmother-credit-andrew-grenier
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Andrew Grenier
Family programming Indigenous arts Dance Contemporary
A side profile of an Indigenous dancer in a Gitxsan raven mask.
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Chris Randle
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Michael Slobodian
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Chris Randle
1-damelahamid-ravenmother-credit-andrew-grenier
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Andrew Grenier
2-damelahamid-ravenmother-credit-andrew-grenier
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Andrew Grenier
3-damelahamid-ravenmother-credit-andrew-grenier
Dancers of Damelahamid, Raven Mother © Andrew Grenier
“Raven Mother is the Dancers of Damelahamid’s most ambitious production and will be the culmination of generations of artistic and cultural work.” Istvan Reviews
  • In-person event
  • ≈ 70 minutes · No intermission
NAC Co-production

Raven Mother is the Dancers of Damelahamid’s newly choreographed dance work in honour of late Elder Margaret Harris (1931 – 2020). Raven Mother illustrates the vast impact Elder Harris had on the revitalization of Indigenous dance along the Northwest Coast, and the integral role of women in holding cultural knowledge. It celebrates the mothers who created the stronghold of these artforms and influenced the next generation of women. Raven Mother illuminates the profound leadership of mothers, their essential contribution in this resurgence, and the force and transformation of this awakening.

Raven Mother is the Dancers of Damelahamid’s most ambitious production and will be the culmination of generations of artistic and cultural work. With Raven Mother, movement, song, regalia, sculpture, and design, are interwoven with the embodied narrative. The Raven crest, manifested in multiple forms, embodies transformation, the strengthening of culture, the unveiling of a new spirit, and breathing life into a promise made to the children of generations to come.

Raven Mother speaks to the current Indigenous realities, drawing from a rich lineage of teachings and insights. Innovation is conditional upon revealing the truths of today to pursue cultural endurance and intergenerational sustenance. The work is a tangible remembrance of a woman’s spirit, marking the shift between generations that has sparked a new role for daughters as the force to hold their grandmother’s vision.


Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund.

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Nov 18
Nov 19
Nov 20
  • 8:00 pm
Nov 21
  • 8:00 pm
Nov 22
  • 8:00 pm
Nov 23
Nov 24

Artists

  • Margaret Grenier
    Artistic director and choreographer Margaret Grenier
  • Artistic direction and choreography Margaret Grenier
  • Set design and artwork Andrew Grenier
  • Regalia designer and creator Rebecca Baker-Grenier
  • Wardrobe Assistant Stevie Hale-Jones
  • Song composer and Vocalist Raven Grenier
  • Collaborating composer Ted Hamilton
  • Composers of the song Strong Woman Derrick Keeswood, Verrona Keeswood, and Lawrence Trottier
  • Lighting design Jeff Harrison
  • Projection design Andy Moro
  • Collaborating director Charles Koroneho
  • Northwest Coast artists David A. Boxley, David R. Boxley, Jim Charlie, Raven Grenier, Kandi McGilton, Dylan Sanidad
  • Elders Betsy Lomax, Lawrence Trottier
  • Performers Margaret Grenier, Rebecca Baker-Grenie, Raven Grenier, Nigel Baker-Grenier, Tobie Wick
  • Production and stage management Andy Grenier
  • Technical direction Jeff Harrison
  • World Premiere: October 9, 2024, The Cultch Theatre, Vancouver, Canada
  • Creation and production Dancers of Damelahamid
  • Collaborating Producer & Agent Eponymous