≈ 1 hour and 15 minutes · No intermission
A Note From the Producer Emerita, NAC Dance
We are thrilled to be welcoming this beautiful project, Matriarchs Uprising, to the NAC in partnership with Indigenous Theatre. Together, we acknowledge and make space for these amazing women to engage and exchange with our audiences and with each other. A unique festival curated by Olivia C. Davies, Matriarchs Uprising creates a platform for Indigenous women to share their stories through dance, music and storytelling. These three unique evenings of performance bring together artists whose roots span Turtle Island and whose work promises to enlighten and energize us all.
A Note From the Managing Director, NAC Indigenous Theatre
Where there's a song, there’s a dance; where there's a dance, there's a story. NAC Indigenous Theatre is honoured to collaborate with our partners in Dance to celebrate the beauty, strength and resilience of Indigenous women. The program that Olivia C. Davies has helped us bring together is a beautiful example of all we have to celebrate as Indigenous women. We are grateful as always for the gifts these artists bring. Thank you for joining us in this celebration!
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A Note From the Curator, Matriarchs Uprising
It is my honour to welcome you to Matriarchs Uprising, a celebration of Indigenous women in performance. Witness these embodiments of ancestral legacy, blood memory, and individual expressions of Indigenous sovereignty carried onto the stage. Each woman weaves threads of unique cultural identity into performance - roots that draw on Algonquin, Métis-Assiniboine, Ktunaxa (Kootenay), Mi'kmaq, and Nehiyaw (Cree) heritage. The curation also blends emerging and experienced choreographers and performers together in each program. We give our respect to our hosts here on Algonquin-Anishinaabe territory and raise our hands to NAC Dance and NAC Indigenous Theatre for welcoming us. Miigwetch, thank you!
The Cris Derksen Quartet
Last updated: April 4, 2023
A household name to many Contemporary Indigenous choreographers, Derksen’s Orchestral Pow Wow album can often be heard in rehearsal studios across Turtle Island, inspiring movement explorations that dive deep into the depths of the heart and pull forward blood memories living beneath the surface. Weaving together the vibrancy that exists within the moment of improvisation between live music and dance, we have invited our Matriarchs Uprising choreographers to bring their unique forms of storytelling through movement to the Quartet’s live concert with a celebration of Indigenous culture, sound, and dance.
Cris Derksen
Juno-nominated Cris Derksen is an Internationally respected Indigenous Cellist and Composer. In a world where almost everything—people, music, cultures—gets labelled and slotted into simple categories, Cris Derksen represents a challenge. Originally from Northern Alberta, she comes from a line of chiefs from NorthTall Cree Reserve on her father’s side and a line of strong Mennonite homesteaders on her mother’s. Derksen braids the traditional and contemporary, weaving her classical background and Indigenous ancestry with new school electronics to create genre-defying music.
As composer Derksen has a foot in many worlds, 2019 compositions include Maada’ookii Songlines – a Mass Choral piece for 250 singers Commissioned by Luminato Festival. Rebellion—a short symphony commissioned by the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Iron Peggy – a Theatre piece commissioned by the Vancouver Children’s Festival. A new performance art piece commissioned by the National Art Gallery of Canada, Ikumagiialit. Her 2018 works include the DORA Award for Best Sound Design for Theatre 2018; Kiinalik: these sharp tools, TIFF Premier Biidaaban (the dawn comes) Short Animation Film by Amanda Strong, Ka:hawai Dance Company production of BloodTides, Kamloopa Theatre production, 2018 Banff Centre for the Arts String Quartet Residency White Mans Cattle and Wood Quintet International 5 bucks per head.
As a performer, Derksen performs nationally and internationally solo and with some of Canada’s finest, including Tanya Tagaq, Buffy Sainte Marie, Naomi Klein, and Leanne Simpson, to name a few. Recent destinations include Hong Kong, Australia, Mongolia, Sweden, and a whole lot of Canada—the place Derksen refers to as home.
Stefan Schneider
Raised in Ottawa, Stefan studied classical percussion and jazz drumming at university and has been working as a professional musician across Canada for the last twenty-two years. He performs and tours nationally and internationally with many artists, including Jeremy Dutcher, the Juno award-winning instrumental ensemble Bell Orchestre, and Richard Reed Parry’s Quiet River of Dust. Stefan is an original member of the Toronto Based 12-piece chamber ensemble, The Queer Songbook Orchestra, comprised of top queer and allied musicians. He has been a member of the indie group The Luyas for over 13 years. He has recorded and toured with various other artists, including Jorane, Safia Nolin, Thus Owls, Sarah Neufeld, Amon Tobin, Elisapie Isaac, Random Recipe, Jason Sharp and René Lussier.
Credits
NAC Indigenous Theatre Team
Artistic Director
Kevin Loring
Managing Director
Lori Marchand
Producer
Samantha MacDonald
Associate Producer
Sage Nokomis Wright
Indigenous Cultural Resident
Mairi Brascoupé
Education Coordinator
Kerry Corbiere
Technical Director
Spike Lyne
Assistant Technical Director
Taylor Blanchette
Communications Strategist
Ian Hobson
Marketing Strategist
Jenna Spagnoli
Senior Marketing Manager
Bridget Mooney
Associate Producer #ReconcileThis
Paula Chinkiwsky
NAC Dance
Executive Producer
Caroline Ohrt
Senior Producer
Tina Legari
Special Projects Coordinator and Assistant to the Executive Producer
Mireille Nicholas
Company Manager
Sophie Anka
Education Associate and Teaching Artist
Siôned Watkins
Technical Director
Brian Britton
Communications Strategist
Julie Gunville
Marketing Strategist
Marie-Chantale Labbé-Jacques
NAC Dance Producer Emerita
Cathy Levy, C.M.
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Official Hotel Partner for NAC Dance
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Indigenous Theatre Season Partner
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Official Hotel Partner for Indigenous Theatre
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Presenting Partner #ReconcileThis
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Lead Donor
