Stage Door News
Stage Door News
– Luminato’s opening evening pays homage and respect to Indigenous creativity, presence, and voice in a large-scale celebratory experience. Tributaries represent connectors and for many, artists are the connectors of change. Featuring over 60 artists who pay tribute to the resilience of Indigenous women and the power of land and water, Luminato opens its second decade with Tributaries on June 14 from 6 to 11 p.m. in David Pecaut Square (215 King Street W.). This is a free and open event.
Born of Luminato’s new Artistic Director Josephine Ridge’s vision to acknowledge the First Peoples of this country by offering space for Indigenous artists and voices, Tributaries is curated and produced by Creative Producer Denise Bolduc and Associate Producer, Erika A. Iserhoff in partnership with Native Women in the Arts.
The evening also launches the opening of The Famous Spiegeltent at Luminato with Tributaries’ presentation of A Cree Cabaret, featuring the brilliance of Tomson Highway. From 7 p.m. onwards, David Pecaut Square comes alive as Tributaries moves outdoors with a diversity of performances in a four-part program: Roots, Resurgence, Reclamation, and Emancipation.
TRIBUTARIES LINE-UP
OPENING: A Cree Cabaret, 6–7 p.m.
FREE By reservation only as limited seating available. Click here to book a seat >
Tomson Highway is a world-renowned Cree playwright, composer, musician, novelist and language advocate. His best-known works include the plays The Rez Sisters, Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing, The (Post) Mistress, and his best-selling novel, Kiss of the Fur Queen. This program features highlights of Highway's musical canon performed by Highway on piano with vocalist Patricia Cano and Marcus Ali on saxophone. A Cree Cabaret is a lively, world-class cabaret and the opening show in The Famous Spiegeltent.
PART 1: Roots, 7 - 8 p.m.
“Tributaries branch, fork and feed into larger waters, and these water systems are the keepers of land knowledge as they interact with the environment. Tributaries’ mainstage program kicks off with its first tribute to the knowledge keepers in the ROOTS program.” – Denise Bolduc
Alberta-based seven-time Grammy-nominated Northern Cree and recent winners of The Lifetime Achievement Award (Indigenous Music Awards, Manito Ahbee Festival, Winnipeg) launch the evening’s outdoor program. Considered the world’s premier Pow-Wow singing group and the undisputed ambassadors of Round Dance music, Northern Cree open the evening, welcoming audiences to join them in the centre of the square. Following their opening song, multidisciplinary artist, cultural intellectual, and celebrity, Dr. Duke Redbird, through spoken-word will present a new commissioned poem paying tribute to the land, and the traditional and territorial Nations.
Continuing to inspire togetherness and goodwill, Northern Cree returns to the stage with their distinctive popular rhythms. In this last half hour, Laura Grizzlypaws and Norma Araiza enter the square performing their rarely seen dance styles. Grizzlypaws, of the St’át’imc Nation (BC) and Bear Clan, has a creative, metaphorical relationship of the spirit of the bear. Feeling his/her pleasure, pain, anger, hope and freedom, she dances the Bear Dance. Norma Araiza, Yoeme (Yaqui) (Mex), envokes the feeling of freedom by honouring the natural world and the white tail deer through her presentation of the Yaqui Deer Dance, or La Danza del Venado.
PART 2: Resurgence, 8 - 9 p.m.
Part two of Tributaries programming, Red Tidal Resurgence reflects the emergence of voices representing the power and resilience of Indigenous women. Created specifically for Tributaries, this new production features solo vocal performances by Iskwe, Jennifer Kreisberg, Cheri Maracle, Leanne Betasamasake Simpson and Tanya Taqaq, supported by a seven-piece band and a nine-member choir led by operative tenor, Jeremy Dutcher. Musical Direction and arrangement is driven by the vision of cellist and composer, Cris Derksen. The song list directly links to the Tributaries themes and includes existing work by each solo artist, Jeremy Dutcher and Cris Derksen.
PART 3: Reclamation, 9 - 10 p.m.
One of the world’s most singular voices, Lila Downs’ (Mixteca) poignant storytelling transcends all language barriers. Raised in Minnesota and Oaxaca, this global superstar’s exquisite artistry bridges traditions from across the Americas, with influences ranging from the folk and ranchera music of Mesicao and South America to North American folk, jazz, blues and hip-hop. As a passionate human-rights activist, Lila’s lyrics often highlight issues relating to social justice, sharing stories that too often go untold.
PART 4: Emancipation, 10 - 11 p.m.
Tributaries culminates with a DJ-VJ ‘Call & Response’ interaction across David Pecaut Square with Bear Witness (Cayuga) and Lido Pimienta (Afro-Columbian, Wayuu). These two dynamic artists will call on each other to express messages through music, visual imagery and vocals (Pimienta). Each artist will demonstrate their distinct style in response to Roots, Resurgence, Reclamation and Emancipation. Joining the stage are b-boy/b-girl dance performers, Krystal Froman aka Krystal Riverz, Tristan Martell aka ShaMantan, Juan Esguerra aka Siez Swift, Brianna Olson aka Briskool, and Jared Robillard aka JayRobi.
Bear Witness is a multimedia artist, DJ, filmmaker, producer and member of electro-rap DJ collective, A Tribe Called Red (ATCR), based in Ottawa. He remixes appropriated images and sound to claim visual sovereignty over Indigenous representation and imagined Indigenous futures. Lido Pimienta (aka Soundsister) is a Toronto-based interdisciplinary artist who exists in a roulette of musical journeys from traditional Columbian percussion to darker avant-garde electronica soundscapes united by her explosive yet heart-warming voice.
PROGRAM DETAILS
•Artwork for Tributaries is created by Haudenosaunee artist Monique Bedard (Aura): http://auralast.wixsite.com/auralast
•Bimmadiziwing Tattoo Parlour: Red Pepper Spectacle Arts will offer the emblematic image of the Ode’min/Heartberry in the form of an airbrush tattoo. Free to attending public.
•Note: Ode’min Giizis (pronunced ‘o-DAY-min Gee-zis): meaning the Heart-berry Moon or Strawberry Moon
•Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available throughout the night in The Famous Spiegeltent.
•Luminato’s opening night is presented by Ontario 150 and TD Bank Group.
•
FESTIVAL INFORMATION
Luminato runs June 14 to 25 at venues across Toronto. The heart of the festival returns to David Pecaut Square, featuring an ornate 1920s travelling pavilion The Famous Spiegeltent with a diverse line-up of nightly programming featuring music, theatre, spoken word, and cabaret. The full program features two Canadian-made world premieres, dance, music, multi-media performance and more. To purchase tickets or for more information visit: luminato.com.
Download the Luminato 2017 Festival Guide >
FULL COMPANY DETAILS
PART 1: ROOTS
Opening Song: Northern Cree
Spoken word/poem commission: Duke Redbird
Bear Dancer: Laura Grizzlypaws
Deer Dancer: Norma Araiza
PART 2: RESURGENCE /RED TIDAL RESURGENCE
Musical direction and arrangement: Cris Derksen
Choir lead: Jeremy Dutcher
Solo artists: Iskwe, Jennifer Kreisberg, Cheri Maracle, Leanne Betasamosake Simspon, Tanya Taqaq Choir: Rose Stella, Michelle St. John, Rosary Spence, Semiah Smith, Jai King-Green, Mya King-Green, Rebecca Benson, Kateri Gauthier
Band: Cris Derksen (Lead/Cello), Melody McKiver (Viola), Marie-Josée Dandeneau (Bass), Jesse Baird (drums), Diane Doig (French Horn), Raha Javanfar (viola), Cathy Stone (trombone)
Joining Leanne Simpson's performance: Nick Ferrio and Ansley Simpson
PART 3: Reclamation
Lila Downs (Headline/Vocals)
Band: Paul Cohen (Saxophone), Edgardo Serka Mimica (Drums/Percussion), Luis Guzman Venegas (Bass Guitar), Rafael Gomez Nunez (Guitars), George Saenz Jr (Trombone/Accordion), Sinuhe Padilla Isunza (Jarana/Guitar), Josh Deutsch (Trumpet), Marcus Lopez Ayala (Percussion)
PART 4: Emancipation
DJ/VJ: Bear Witness, Lido Pimienta
Dancers: Krystal Froman aka Krystal Riverz, Tristan Martell aka ShaMantan, Juan Esguerra aka Siez Swift, Brianna Olson aka Briskool, and Jared Robillard aka JayRobi
ABOUT DENISE BOLDUC (Creative Producer)
Denise Bolduc is an accomplished creative leader recognized for her significant contributions and involvement within a multitude of diverse arts disciplines locally, nationally and internationally. Notable projects: Beyond 150 Years: An Acknowledgement of Indigenous Film (Vancouver, BC 2017), Miiyuu Pimaatswin (Native Women in the Arts, TO 2016), Songs in the Key of Cree (TO, 2015), Maadaadizi/Summer Journeys (Grand Finale, Pan Am Games Art Relay, TO, 2015), Thunderbird Marketplace (One of Kind Show, TO, 2014), and as the founding Artistic Director, Planet IndigenUS (2004). She is a sought after guest speaker/presenter, host and moderator, an instructor with the Centre for Indigenous Theatre, a consultant, and a mentor to numerous artists and arts leaders. Denise is a member of the Batchewana First Nation / Lake Superior Anishinaabeg.
ABOUT ERIKA A. ISERHOFF (Associate Producer)
Erika A. Iserhoff is a multi-disciplinary artist of Omushkego/Eeyou Cree ancestry. She is the Artistic Producer for Native Women in the Arts, and is founding member of the Chocolate Woman Collective, and the Co-Artistic Director for the Setsuné Indigenous Fashion Incubator Collective. Erika works to collaborate with artists, communities, and reflect Indigenous cultural practices within her art and design work. She is a graduate from the OCADU with a degree in Design where she now teaches as a sessional professional within the Indigenous Visual Culture Program.
ABOUT NATIVE WOMEN IN THE ARTS
Native Women in the Arts was founded in 1993, is a not-for-profit organization for First Nations, Inuit and Métis women who share the common interest of art, culture, community and the advancement of Indigenous peoples. About Native Women in the Arts: http://www.nwia.ca/
TRIBUTARIES: ARTIST LINKS
A Cree Cabaret
Tomson Highway: http://www.tomsonhighway.com
Patricia Cano: http://www.patriciacano.com/
Marcus Ali: http://www.marcusali.com/
Roots
Northern Cree: http://www.northerncree.com
Dr. Duke Redbird: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Redbird
Laura Grizzlypaws: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyipqFoe31c
Norma Araiza: http://www.normaraiza.ca/
Resurgence: Red Tidal Resurgence
Cris Derksen: http://crisderksen.virb.com/
Cheri Maracle: http://www.cherimaracle.com/
Tanya Taqaq: https://tanyatagaq.com/
Iskwe: https://iskwe.bandcamp.com/
Leanne Simpson: http://www.leannesimpsonmusic.com
Jennifer Kreisberg: https://www.last.fm/music/Jennifer+Kreisberg/+wiki
Reclamation:
Lila Downs: http://www.imnworld.com/artists/detail/352/Lila-Downs
Emancipation:
Bear Witness: http://atribecalledred.com/
Lido Pimienta: https://soundcloud.com/lido-pimienta
Photo: Patricia Cano.
2017-05-24
Toronto: Luminato opens June 14 with a four-part celebration of Indigenous performance