Full Circle: First Nations Performance presents the 10th Annual Talking Stick Festival taking place over 13 days, February 1 – 13, in venues across the city. The Aboriginal community will gather to partake in a wide range of disciplines – the traditional, contemporary and blend of the two, which include dancing, drumming, hip hop, fiddling, comedy, live music, performance poetry, storytelling, and more.
In celebration of the 10th year, the 2011 festival will play its opening week (February 1 – February 6) at the Roundhouse Community Centre before moving into the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver (until February 13) and will feature diverse programming, highlighting the talents of participating artists from Ontario, the United States and the Yukon Territories, and as well as our talented artists here in Vancouver.
The festival kicks off with the traditional Gala Opening Celebration on Tuesday Feb 1 at 7pm at the Roundhouse. The continuing 13 days are filled with traditional and contemporary Aboriginal arts. There is the ever popular Ab-Original Cabaret – featuring performers like Leanne Goose (Yellowknife), Digawolf (Yellowknife) and Murray Porter (Vancouver) and comedians Ryan McMahon and Elaine Miles. Dance works include the contemporary dance piece Fragments, by Laura Kramer (Quebec) and a Métis social night where you can stomp your feet, clap your hands and kick up your heels. Programming includes a soulful evening of jazz and an evening of slam poetry night, From Talking Stick to Microphone. There are also a number of Professional Development workshops, Artist Talks, and a wide variety of events for the whole family.
Also, on exhibit at the Roundhouse from Feb 1 – Feb 9, is a photographic exhibition by Nadya Kwandibens of Red Works Studio (Toronto). Nadya Kwandibens is of Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) / French heritage from the Northwest Angle #37 First Nation in Ontario, Canada. She is a self-taught, dynamic photographer specializing in artistic natural light portraiture, fashion, promotional sessions, and event photography.
For tickets visit ticketstonight.ca or call 604-684-2787 – Ticket prices range from $12 – $25, Festival passes – $96 adults, $77.43 for Seniors/Student. For further details and the full schedule of events visit, please visit www.fullcircle.ca
