Weesageechak Begins to Dance 37

Annual Development Festival of Indigenous Work

November 21- December 1, 2024. Aki Studio

The 37th edition of Weesageechak Begins to Dance will bring together 13 Creators from across Turtle Island and beyond to develop and showcase new work and works in development. Join us for public sharings of some of these works between November 21 to December 1, 2024, as well as fun ancillary programming throughout the festival, including conversations around artistic practice and artistic process, music and comedy performances, a book launch, and more!

We invite you to join us in this continued celebration of Indigenous theatre, dance, and multidisciplinary works!

The Weesageechak Begins to Dance 37 Creators are Aleria McKay (Haudenosaunee & Teme Augama Anishnabai mother/ Red River Métis & Dene Tha’ father), Candace Brunette-Debassige (Mushkegowuk Cree Nation/ member of Peetabeck in Treaty 9 Territory / Settler), Daniela Carmona Sanchez (Tenochtitlán), Julie Lumsden (Manitoba Metis Federation/ Settler), Kenneth T. Williams (George Gordon First Nation in the Treaty 4 territory), Lacey Hill (Oneida/Mohawk, Wolf Clan, from Six Nations of the Grand River Reservation), Montana Adams (Akwesasne), Robyn Grant-Moran (Métis), Smokii Sumac (ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa), Natasha Barlow (mikmaw), PJ Prudat (Métis/nehiyaw), the wâhkôhtowin project” (Yvette Nolan and Joel Bernbaum), and The NDN Act (Samantha Mandamin, Denise B. McLeod, Lena Recollect, and Jamie Whitecrow).

Festival Schedule

  • 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Lobby

    Niizh Book Launch

     7:30 PM | Aki Studio

    W37 Welcome + Drum Performance by Nicole Joy-Fraser

    Deserters     by Kenneth T. Williams

    $15

     Followed by an opening-night reception. 

  • 4:00PM – 6:00 PM | Artshub Boardroom #1 (585 Dundas St E #7 Third floor)
    Ontario Arts Council Grant Info Session

    5:00PM – 6:00 PM  | DAI Studio

    Discussion: Caring For All Our Relations

     

    Presentations:

    7:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Aki Studio

    Son Semilla by Daniela C. Sanchez

    flight by Candace Brunette-Debassige

    $15

  • 7:30-8:45 PM | Aki Studio
    Music Night with performances by: Lacey Hill, Amy Desjarlais of SpiritWind Hand Drum Collective, Zeegwon Shilling, and Evan Redsky.
    $15 

  • 11:30AM – 1:30 PM | Artshub Boardroom #1 (585 Dundas St E #7 Third floor)
    Canada Council For The Arts Grant Info Session

    Presentation:
    2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Aki Studio
    Climate Play (Toronto) by the wâhkôhtowin project 
    $15 
    Followed by a brief talkback and break 🙂

    POST-BREAK | Aki Studio 
    Climate Action Panel
    Moderated by Angel Levac

    4:00 – 5:00 PM | Lobby
    CultureBrew.Art Info Session

  • 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM | DAI Studios
    Animikiig Open Rehearsal: Montana Summers

    3:00 PM – 6:00 PM |  3rd Floor
    Craft & Chill Event  

    Presentations:
    7:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Aki Studio 
    homecoming by Aleria McKay 
    Y.A.N.A (You are Not Alone) by Lacey Hill 
    $15 

  • 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM | DAI Studios
    Animikiig Open Rehearsal: Jessica Zepeda

    6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Lobby 
    Playwrights Canada Press Booth 

    Presentations:
    7:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Aki Studio 

    Thunder by Natasha Barlow 
    kiskisiwin nimihko/my blood remembers by PJ Prudat 
    Followed by a 30-minute moderated discussion with Brian Quirt.
    $15 

  • Presentations:

    7:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Aki Studio 
    Presentation of works by Animikiig Creators: 
    Conditions to Strike by Montana Summers
    mi historia que no es única by Jessica Zepeda 
    Followed by a 30-minute talkback. 
    $15 

  • 7:30 PM – 7:45 PM | Aki Studio 
    Opening Performance by Meg MacKay 

    7:45 PM – 8:15 PM | Aki Studio
    The NDN Act Presents: NDN Projects
    $15 

    8:15 PM – 9:00 PM | Aki Studio
    Laugh is Medicine Panel
    Moderated by Yolanda Bonnell
    Featuring Meg MacKay and Denise McLeod

  • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Aki Studio
    Relaxed Performances of:
    The NDN Act presents: NDN Problems
    Thunder by Natasha Barlow
    $15 

    3:30 PM – 4:15 PM | Aki Studio
    Voices of Aki Panel/Discussion
    Moderated by Joelle Peters
    Featuring Theresa Cutknife, Rose Stella, Cole Alvis, Keith Barker, and Denise Bolduc
    Snacks and refreshments will be available.  

  • In addition to our public presentations, our workshop stream also includes:

    Seven and One Heart by Smokii Sumac

    tiny tracks by Julie Lumsden

    Bastard by Robyn Grant-Moran

    The Falls by Montana Adams

W37 Festival Team

Festival Producer
Yago Mesquita 

Assistant Producer
Stephanie Fung 

Festival Stage Managers 
Caitlin Farley
Angela Mae Bago 

Festival Head Technician
Ryan Davy

Festival Lighting Designer
Aidan Jackson-Hoag 

Festival Technical Director
Julia Howman 

Festival Lighting Design Intern
Angelina Bomberry 

Festival Stage Management Intern
Jiwon Park 

Festival Photographers
Kaytee Dalton
Jayson Gallop

Festival Marketing Assistant
Trinity Lloyd