The Bulkley Valley Concert Association is bringing the Dancers of the Damelahamid to perform a traditional Gitxsan masked dance at the Della Herman Theatre this Thursday.
In a bid to encourage community engagement, the BVCA has also invited local Wet’suwet’en drum and dance group Ewk Hiyah Hozdli, who will perform with them.
“They’re performing a beautiful contemporary dance work called Spirit Transforming and we’re really excited to bring Margaret Grenier, who’s the artistic director,” said BVCA board member Miriam Colvin. “We haven’t had the opportunity to present many professional First Nations dance works, or First Nations performers in general, so we’re really excited to bring this quality of performance to our stage.”
A BVCA press release added that the dance celebrates “diversity and the depth of time of indigenous cultures across Canada.”
“It does show a process of transformation in the piece,” said Colvin. “What I found really amazing when I watched it is that it brings the audience through a process and really invites our imagination into this world that she has created.”
“There’s a point where they use animation in the performance. They have masks that transform and change as the people transform and change.”
Colvin said getting Ewk Hiyah Hozdli on board allows both groups to experience each other’s repertoire and build relationships. They will perform a welcome to the Dancers of Damelahamid and the audience before the main performance.
“We try to create opportunities for community engagement,” said Colvin. “In this case, it’s more appropriate to have time together to share both what we’re doing here and see what they’re doing with their dance company.”
Tickets at Mountain Eagle Books: $25/Adult, $20/ Senior, $16/Student
