Weesageechak Begins to Dance 36

Annual Development Festival of Indigenous Work

November 6-19, 2023

The 36th edition of Weesageechak Begins to Dance will bring together 22 Creators from across Turtle Island to develop and showcase their work. Join us for excerpts from these new works in development, and conversations about artistic process, both in-person at our Aki Studio and online. In addition, we will have fantastic ancillary programming during the festival of various performers.

We invite you to join us in this amazing celebration of Indigenous theatre, dance, and multi-disciplinary works!

See Festival Schedule and links to show information below! All In-Person Shows are $15 and located at Aki Studio unless otherwise indicated.

All online presentations will be available online until the end of the festival, November 19, 2023, 11:50 PM! 

All times listed are in EST.

Festival Schedule

  • 7:30 PM EST | Online 

    okimaw ᐅᑭᒪᐤ by Aren Okemaysim 
    Lax Yip by Raven Grenier 
    We Treaty People by Burnt Thicket Theatre (9 Audio-Dramas) 
    Digital Book Launch for Monique Mojica and Lindsay Lachance’s new anthology, Staging Coyote’s Dream, Vol. 3. 

    FREE 

  • 7:30 PM EST | Aki Studio
    Opening by Elder Whabagoon 
    who will save the night sky     by Philip Geller 
    Community Drum Circle led by Nicole Joy-Fraser
    Followed by an Opening Night reception with music DJ Fawn Big Canoe and catering by Pow Wow Cafe
    $15

  • 7:30 PM EST | Aki Studio 
    Savage is a Word in the English Dictionary by Brefny Caribou 
    Mischief by Lisa Nasson 
    $15

  • 7:30 PM EST | Aki Studio 
    Presentation of works by Animikiig Creators:
    As The Ice Floats By by Montana Adams 
    To Go Home by Jennifer Alicia Murrin 
    $15 

  • 7:30 PM EST | Aki Studio 
    journals of adoption by Sophie Dow  
    Blood Sport by January Rogers 
    $15

  • 3PM | Daniels Spectrum Lobby
    Craft and Chill Event
    Co-Facilitated by Emily Jung and Chanin Payea
    FREE 

    7:30 PM EST | Aki Studio 
    The Cave that Hummed a Song by Trina Moyan 
    Rougarou by Damion LeClair 
    $15

  • 6PM | Aki Studio
    Accessibility in Indigenous Creation and Performance Panel 
    FREE – Registration Required

  • 6 PM EST | Daniels Spectrum Lobby
    Book Launch of Monique Mojica’s Chocolate Woman Dreams the Milky Way: Mapping Embodied Indigenous Performance
    Monique Mojica in conversation with Joelle Peters
    FREE event 

    7:30 PM EST | Aki Studio 
    Waawaashkeshiwag Wabano by Nova Courchene 
    Dreamer & the Turtle by Dakota Ray Hebert 
    $15

  • 7:30 PM EST | Aki Studio 
    journals of adoption by Sophie Dow
    who will save the night sky     by Philip Geller 
    okimaw ᐅᑭᒪᐤ by Aren Okemaysim (screening) 
    $15

  • 7:30 PM EST | Aki Studio
    Music and Comedy Night
    hosted by Denise McLeod, with performances by Lena Recollet, Lacey Hill, and Zachariah Highgate
    $15

  • Online presentations will be available online until 11:50 PM.

W36 Festival Team

Festival Producer
Lucy Coren

Assistant Producer
Yago Mesquita

Stage Manager
Caitlin Farley 

 Festival Head Technician
Theodore Belc

Festival Lighting Designer
Aidan Jackson-Hoag

Festival Production Manager
Julia Howman

Festival Production Assistant*
Emma Gray

Festival Photographer
Kaytee Dalton

Festival Marketing Assistant, Understudy
Cas Ward

 

 * made possible by funding from Studio Lab Theatre Foundation