For the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Live Art Dance and the Prismatic Arts Festival co-present Sky Dancers by A’nó:wara Dance Theatre at the Spatz Theatre, Halifax, Thursday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m.
Indigenous choreographer Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo’s multi-media show of dance, theatre and film is inspired by the death of her great-grandfather in a 1907 Quebec construction disaster that killed 75 men.
On Aug. 39, 1907, the world’s longest cantilever bridge being constructed from Quebec City to the south shore (now the site of Levis) collapsed just at the end of the shift; 33 of the 75 men killed were Mohawk, high steel workers from Kahnawake. They left behind 24 widows and dozens of children.
According to a press release, the bridge collapse led to further tragedy. “After the event, the Quebec government and Roman Catholic Church conspired together and descended on Kahnawake and coerced many of the recently widowed women into giving up their children to residential schools. The effects of this reverberate to this day.”
Sky Dancers “explores the impacts of the Quebec bridge disaster and the resulting consequences that spread across the whole world. The piece not only shows the tragedy, but also the contributions the Mohawk people have made to society, the strength of the women and the resilience of the community.”
Choreographer Diabo’s great-grandfather was Louis D’Ailleboust (Diabo). She lives in Kahnawake and most of the cast members in this show by A’nó:wara Dance Theatre – eight dancers and two musicians – are Indigenous.
For further information and tickets got to: https://liveartdance.ca/ Proof of double vaccination is required for entry.
The Prismatic Arts Festival Home – Prismatic Festival , a national, multidisciplinary arts festival showcasing innovative work by Indigenous artists and artists of colour from across Canada, runs Sept. 28 to Oct. 10.
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