kaqwiⱡȼi is an exploration of bringing the Ktunaxa language to dance. This work finds ways to translate a traditional language into movement as a way for the artist to deepen her understanding with it.
Ojalá… (Hopefully…) explores the aftermath of interpersonal betrayal. When one who loves you deeply, hurts you deeply, two contracting truths begin to coexist: the love and lack thereof. “Ojalá…” is about two bodies who connect, stumble upon betrayal, and search for healing.
Rasamanjari: a garland of emotions is explored through the eyes of a south Asian female protagonist/ heroine in a Navarasa Pada varnam named “Angyar Kanni,” composed by Shri Lalgudi Jayaraman, choreographed by Bhavajan Kumar and performed by Stuti Mukherjee.
Choreographer/Performer
Samantha is a contemporary dance artist, choreographer, and teacher based in Tkaronto.
Read more +Her ancestry is Ktunaxa and Scottish/British Settler. She completed the Arts Umbrella Dance Diploma Program in 2018. She has worked as a guest artist with Ballet BC and an associate artist with Red Sky Performance. Samantha explored what aspects of her Ktunaxa culture, history, and traditional knowledge can be pulled into her choreography. She has presented works at Matriarchs Uprising by O.Dela Arts, and the Paprika Festival.
Choreographer
Sofía Ontiveros is an artist, performer, and choreographer based in Tkaronto, Ontario and Mexico.
Read more +She immigrated to Canada in 2017 from her native city and country Monterrey, México to pursue her dance studies. Sofía is a cis-gender, queer, white, Mexican, Latina woman, and carries these parts of her identity through her works by questioning and exploring social constructs and how they play on individual or interpersonal relationships. Sofia graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University’s The Creative School Dance Program in 2021, and was chosen for the Lipson Family Endowment Award for an Emerging Choreographer.
Performer
Stuti is a Bharatanatyam exponent based in Ottawa. She received her Diploma in Bharatnatyam from Kalamandalam Performing Arts, Kolkata, in 2005 and did her Arangetram in 2019.
Read more +Stuti continued her advanced dance training with Guru Kalakshetra Amarnath Ghosh. In 2019, Stuti performed at the Ottawa Arts Gallery for an emerging artist showcase commissioned by Canada Council for the Arts. She also performed at TEDx uOttawa and Parliament Hill events organized by senators. Stuti had the privilege to be a dance juror for the Ontario Arts council’s dance project 2020. Stuti was awarded a Fellowship in 2021 by Indian Raga dance productions, USA.
kaqwiⱡȼi
Choreographed and performed by:
Samantha Sutherland
Composition and Sound Design by:
Sophie Dow
Language Teacher:
Alfred Joseph
Voice:
Sophie Pierre
Voice:
Marie Nicholas
Mentor:
Sebastian Hirtenstein
Mentor:
Teneil Whiskeyjack
Lighting Designer:
Emerson Kafarowski
Production Stage Manager:
Helin Gungoren
Ojalá…
Choreographed by:
Sofía Ontiveros
Performed by:
María Riaño
Mikaela Rojas
Text by:
Sofía Ontiveros
Sounds:
freesounds.org
Driftnote (Omar David Rivero)
Juan Gabriel
Lighting Designer:
Emerson Kafarowski
Production Stage Manager:
Helin Gungoren
Rasamanjari: a garland of emotions
Choreographed by:
Bhavajan Kumar
Performed by:
Stuti Mukherjee
Vocals by: G. Srikanth
Nattuvangam: KP Rakesh
Mridangam: Kiran Pai
Violin: KP Nandini
Lighting Designer:
Emerson Kafarowski
Production Stage Manager:
Helin Gungoren