The Cultch and New Works Present: Powwow Boot Camp
The Cultch and New Works are pleased to offer Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s (KDT) high-energy Powwow/dance training class. This is an intensive, as well as fun, boot camp style workout for people interested in maximizing their physical fitness led by Artistic Director Santee Smith. Get your tickets here.
KDT’s Powwow Boot Camp allows participants to learn or practice skills in Indigenous dance forms of Powwow and Onkehon:we (Iroquois) social dances. These dances are performed in combination with exciting and challenging cardiovascular/physical conditioning exercises, contemporary dance, as well as incorporating the Muscle and Bone system. Focusing on body and spatial awareness through full-bodied movement sequences Powwow Boot Camp targets core strength in addition to muscularity of the legs. Move, dance, sweat, energize your body-mind-spirit, while listening to fabulous music in a social and invigorating environment.
Powwow Boot Camp is designed for people ages 16 & up. Please wear workout clothing, no shoes are required and make sure to bring plenty of water for hydration.
“Celebrate being alive and be prepared to sweat!”
Santee Smith, Founder and Artistic Director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
Santee Smith (Tekaronhiáhkhwa) is Onkwehon:we from the Kenien’kehá:ka (Mohawk Nation), Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River. Santee holds degrees in Physical Education and Psychology from McMaster University as well as a Masters degree in Dance from York University. Her dance journey began early including attending Canada’s National Ballet School. In 1996 the opportunity to choreograph ignited her creative force and she produced her first choreographic work, Kaha:wi in 2004. As a result of this work and her desire to pursue and define a career in contemporary dance, Santee founded Kaha:wi Dance Theatre , a vehicle for her artistic voice in 2005.
Santee believes in maintaining the fundamental Onkwehon:we understanding of performance, body and role of artist. There is value in celebrating and loving our bodies and the spirit housed within. Santee created Powwow Boot Camp to promote dance, physical fitness and life affirming body expression while incorporating Onkwehon:we values.
“I hope that through our work at KDT we can ignite passion for live arts and through the action of physical training, individuals may come to know that their body, voice and imagination matters – that they may come to understand their innate creativity as it applies to performing and their life.”
New Works programs are held with gratitude and respect on unceded Coast Salish Territory. This edition of our workshop series is presented with the generous support of The Cultch, as a part of their Indigenous Youth Initiative.
The Cultch acknowledges the ancestral, traditional and unceded Aboriginal territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, and in particular, the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh Nations on whose territory we stand.