Weesageechak Begins to Dance 35

Annual Development Festival of Indigenous Work

NOVEMBER 10 – 20 2022, IN PERSON & ONLINE

Native Earth is excited to announce the 35th edition of Weesageechak Begins to Dance! This year’s festival gathers over 15 artists from across Turtle Island to develop and showcase contemporary Indigenous performances both in-person at our Aki Studio and online. Join us for conversations about artistic process, excerpts from new work in development, musical performances by Lacey Hill and Rebecca Hope, a mini pop-up market, and more! From our Animikiig Creator’s Unit, to our 40 Seeds for 40 Seasons project and beyond, there’s lots of exciting new work to witness.

We welcome you to join us in a celebration of vibrant, new Indigenous theatre, dance, and multi-disciplinary creations!

#Weesageechak35

TICKETS
Online Free
Single Tickets $15

Tickets available now!

All online presentations will be available online until the end of the festival, November 20, 2022, 11:50 PM!
All times listed are in EST.

MINI POP-UP MARKET
Happening on Opening Night, Nov 10 and Saturday, Nov 12!
Vendors include: Pacha Arts, Ocean Kiana, Two Hearts Beadwork,  Saga Kwandibenz, and Janet Antone

Festival Schedule

Event poster showing three women and event details for an art exhibition opening night on November 10th at 7:30 PM, featuring Celeste Sansregret, Alexa Black, and Frances Koncan.
A promotional graphic for a theater or film event featuring two women, one in color and the other in black and white. The color photo shows a young woman with light brown hair and a neutral expression, while the black and white photo shows a woman with long dark hair looking to the side. The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 17 at 7:30 PM, and the production titles are 'kaqwéi' by Samantha Sutherland and 'Kisiskâciwan' by Jeanette Kotowich.
Event poster for Saturday, November 12 at 7:30 PM featuring IndigoBabes Burlesque: Not Your Sacred Objects, with performances by Denise B. McLeod, Rebecca Hope, and Lacey Hill. The poster includes photos of three women, one sitting among others in a theater, one standing outdoors in the snow, and a headshot of a smiling woman with dark hair.
Event announcement for Animikiig Night on Wednesday, November 16 at 7:30 PM, featuring in-person streaming of Animikiig digital presentations.
Event details for Thursday, November 10 at 7:30 PM, digital event. Features Medea's Masquerade by Frances Koncan, an Indigenous dance panel with Brian Solomon, Samantha Sutherland, Waawaate Fobister, moderated by Jeanette Kotowich. Also presents 'Animikii', exploring the origin and current status of the Animikii Creators Unit with Yvette Nolan and Lindsay Lachance.
Event poster with the date November 11 at 7:30 PM, featuring two headshots of a man with long dark hair and a woman with long straight hair, promoting a conversation moderated by Katey Wattam about works by Jeremy Proulx and Pesch Nepoose.
Event poster for Wednesday, November 16 at 7:30 PM, digital Animikig. Features photos of four women and a playlist including 'A Day in the Life with Danica Charlie,' 'Superparamagnetism by Caleigh Crow,' 'The Ice that Floats By' by Montana Adams, and 'To Go Home' by Jennifer Alicia Murrin.
Event poster with two women, one with curly hair and a blue striped shirt on the left, and the other with long black hair in black and white on the right. Text indicates the event is on Friday, November 18 at 7:30 PM, featuring "And Then They Came" by Cole Alvis and "Kisiskâwîn" by Jeanette Kotowich.
An artistic infographic for a concert, featuring a black wolf with red eyes and mouth, with branches of blue berries and green leaves behind it. The top section displays the date and time "Sunday, November 20 | 7:30 PM" in bold white and gold text, with a yellow arrow icon.

W35 Festival Team

Festival Co-Producing Team:
Lucy Coren
Rinchen Dolma

Associate Producer (Digital):
Yago Mesquita

Production Manager:
Julia Howman

Festival Designer:
B.C. Batty

Festival Head Tech:
Alexander Mackay

Festival Understudy:
Chanin Lee Payea