Casting Call: Weesageechak Begins to Dance 39

Native Earth Performing Arts is seeking Indigenous performers for our 39th Weesageechak Begins to Dance. We are currently casting roles for performers who are: 

• Métis (with strong ties to Métis culture), Cree, Mohawk, Anishinaabe, and/or Blackfoot

• Gumbaynggir, Kabi Kabi, and/or other Indigenous Australian nations

• Samoan, Māori, and/or other Indigenous Polynesian nations

• Able to sing (the ability to sight read is a plus!)

While we are primarily looking for identity-specific actors, we would love to see submissions from artists of all Indigenous performers and performing disciplines.

This is a paid opportunity open to CAEA and non-Equity performers of all levels of experience. Performers will be hired on an CAEA CTA contract. Fees are determined according to CAEA CTA standards. Ideally, performers will be based in Tkaronto or the GTA at the time of the Festival. The Festival dates this year are:

Festival Dates

Workshop Stream between October 12 – 25, 2026

Presentation Stream Rehearsals between November 2 – 18, 2026
Presentation Stream Presentations between November 19 – 29, 2026

Locations

Workshop Stream: Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5V 2R2)

Presentation Stream: Aki Studio (585 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON M5A 2B7) 

Performers are needed for a minimum of two in-person calls for the October dates and/or a minimum of four in-person calls for rehearsals, tech rehearsals, and presentation/s for the November dates.

Please fill out and submit the requested information below by Sunday, August 30th at 11:59 PM EST.
Selected performers will be contacted directly in late August/early September.

If you have any questions about this form or require an alternative method for your submission, please contact W39 Producer Yago Mesquita at yago@nativeearth.ca.

For more information on Weesageechak Begins to Dance, please visit our festival page.

For more details and to apply, click here.