Native Earth Performing Arts

🎨 Meet our season illustrator, HANNAH SAGE LAFORME ✍️

Every year, Native Earth Performing Arts commissions an artist to create images for all the shows in our season. This year, we are so happy to showcase Hannah’s beautiful work throughout our website, social media, posters, merch, and basically anywhere else we can!

We are happy to announce our continuing partnership with Café ZUZU for our 2024.2025 Season! ☕️

Show your SAME-DAY ticket stub or electronic ticket confirmation for any Aki Studio performance to receive 15% off all food/non-alcoholic beverages. 🍽️

more info: https://cafezuzu.com

⭐️ Announcing the Animikiig Creators Unit 2024-2025 ⭐️

Going into its 13th season, the Animikiig Creators Unit is a two-year development program for emerging Indigenous creators. Animikiig is dedicated to the diversity of Indigenous voices on their journey to production as performance becomes increasingly cross-disciplinary, incorporating music, dance, technology, and performance art.

https://www.nativeearth.ca/animikiig/animikiig-creators-2024-25/

📢 Applications are open for Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators!
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We are happy to announce that we are once again accepting applications from Ontario-based emerging and established theatre and multidisciplinary Indigenous creators, artists, and collectives to develop new work.
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Submission Deadline: Friday, January 10, 2025
More Details: nativeearth.ca/rgtc

RGTC is supported by the Ontario Arts Council - Conseil des arts de l'Ontario

Introducing Native Earth Performing Art’s 2024-2025 Season:
https://www.nativeearth.ca/season/2024-2025-season/

Featuring:
Weesageechak Begins to Dance 37
https://www.nativeearth.ca/shows/w37/

What We Carry (Pt. 1 of the Niimi’iwe Dance Series)
https://www.nativeearth.ca/shows/what-we-carry/

There is Violence and There is Righteous Violence and There is Death or, The Born-Again Crow
https://www.nativeearth.ca/shows/there-is-violence/

Paprika Festival 2025
https://www.nativeearth.ca/shows/paprika24/

Black Ballerina (Pt. 2 of the Niimi’iwe Dance Series)
https://www.nativeearth.ca/shows/black-ballerina/

2-Spirit Cabaret
https://www.nativeearth.ca/shows/2-spirit-cabaret/

Visual Art by Hannah Sage LaForme

2024-2025 Season Announcement

Read the full statement from our Artistic Director, Joelle Peters: https://www.nativeearth.ca/2024-2025-statement/

and learn more about our upcoming season: https://www.nativeearth.ca/season/2024-2025-season/

Photos from our CLIMATE PLAY workshop last Saturday, where the participants explored using verbatim theatre to discuss the climate breakdown 🌎

Thank you so much to “the wâhkôhtowin project” (Yvette Nolan and Joel Bernbaum) and Dean Stockdale for facilitating this workshop at Native Earth Performing Arts, and including us in this nationwide project.

Stay tuned for phase two of this work! 🤭

APPLICATIONS EXTENDED until WEDNESDAY, JULY 31st!!! Apply now!!

Call for Applications: Climate Play

Climate Play is a one-day workshop for writers, artists, and environmentalists who want to explore creating verbatim theatre pieces on the climate crisis.

Facilitated by Yvette Nolan and Joel Bernbaum, under the name of their new larger project: “the wâhkôhtowin project”.

Application Deadline: Monday, July 29, 2024
Dates: 1-day workshop on Saturday, August 17, potential for a 1-week workshop in November

Full details available on our website (https://www.nativeearth.ca/call-for-applications-climate-play/)

Any questions can be sent to: [email protected] .

BIG THANK YOU to everyone who attended our annual 2-SPIRIT CABARET last month! ✨

And congrats to all the incredible artists in our line-up including: Rhinestone Chickadee,
Madame Ode’miin Surprise, Michaela Washburn, Ravyn Wngz, Zachariah Highgate, Nina Boujee, and our host: Chelazon Leroux

And thank you to: DJ Fawn Big Canoe

Photos by: Jayson Gallop :)

Call for Applications: Climate Play

Climate Play is a one-day workshop for writers, artists, and environmentalists who want to explore creating verbatim theatre pieces on the climate crisis.

Facilitated by Yvette Nolan and Joel Bernbaum, under the name of their new larger project: “the wâhkôhtowin project”.

Application Deadline: Monday, July 29, 2024
Dates: 1-day workshop on Saturday, August 17, potential for a 1-week workshop in November

Full details available on our website (https://www.nativeearth.ca/call-for-applications-climate-play/)

Any questions can be sent to: [email protected] .

Staff announcement: Looking back at our 23-24 season, we are so grateful to have had the support of our outgoing Marketing Coordinator Andi Canales, who is now leaving NEPA to pursue their own creative ventures. We deeply appreciate their hard work over the past year and we look forward to seeing them around the TO theatre community! Chi miigwetch Andi.

We are pleased to welcome Zoe Marín to the NEPA team as our incoming Marketing Coordinator!

In Zoe’s words: “It’s magical to be employed. Love NEPA! Can’t wait to work on this upcoming season :)”

You’ll be seeing Zoe around Aki Studio in a few weeks as she directs “GRINGAS” at the Toronto Fringe Festival 💜

Calling all night owl audiences for The Night Shift! 🦉

Our friends at The Theatre Centre are presenting a community sharing, offering selected artists a chance to showcase their work or exploration after working in The Theatre Centre from June 10-15.

This year, The Night Shift will be hosted by Thomas McKechnie. Come join us for this community sharing on June 15, 2024 at 11:59pm and support your local night owl artists! 🦉The community sharing is FREE and open to the public! We will have a short talk back following the sharings.

RSVP Now: theatrecentre.org/event/night-shift/

We're so excited to celebrate our 2 Spirit and Indigiq***r relatives with Buddies In Bad Times Theatre 🧡 Join us for this year's 2 Spirit Cabaret at Buddies June 13th!

The cabaret starts at 8:30, but get there early for a pre-show DJ set by Fawn Big Canoe and FREE food by Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed the People) 🎉🎉🎉

Visual Art by Mishiikenh Kwe

We're so excited for the Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival from May 30- June 2! Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/indigenous-fashion-arts-79711067783

Tickets for the 2024 Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival, presented by Rogers, are now on sale! Visit our website to get yours before they’re gone!

This year’s theme, REVERENCE & CONVICTION, showcases collections driven by unconditional care, unwavering cultural continuity, and unapologetic assertions of existence.

Join us for four evenings of after-hours runway shows and a massive weekend marketplace at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, plus the Fashioning Resurgence Symposium and Workshop series at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Full programming details are available on https://buff.ly/4450Ilk

Photographer: Kali Spitzer
Designer: ReeCreeations
Model: Ellyn Jade
Stylist: Kikki Guerard
Hair: Israel Garcia
Makeup: Summer Faith Garcia

Check it out! Presented by our friends at Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre on May 24 + 25!

Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents Fleeting—a mesmerizing showcase of cutting-edge contemporary dance from across North America ⭐

Featuring premieres by Roderick George and Cherice Barton + works by Jennifer Archibald, Deborah Lundmark, and Chantelle Good.

"simply breathtaking"
- Michael Crabb, Dance International

📌Fleeting
May 24 & 25, 8:00pm
Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre
207 Queens Quay West - Third Floor

📌Click the link below for tickets!

www.ccdt.org/fleeting

Photo by David Hou of "Lacrimosa" by Nicole Caruana
Dancer: Marie-Elena LeBlanc Bellissimo
Graphics by JCBowman Design

Check it out! Nominations close June 9th! More info: https://siminovitchprize.com/nomination-process/

Do you know a mid-career theatre designer whose outstanding work is making a significant impact in their community? Give them the platform to grow, develop, and expand their artistic practice through a nomination for the Siminovitch Prize! The nomination portal is open until June 9th - learn more about the nomination process by visiting the link below.

Nominate | Nominer → https://siminovitchprize.com/nomination-process/

Connaissez-vous un concepteur.trice en milieu de carrière dont le travail exceptionnel a un impact significatif sur sa communauté ? Donnez-lui la possibilité de grandir, de se développer et d'élargir sa pratique artistique en proposant sa candidature au Prix Siminovitch ! Le portail de nomination est ouvert jusqu'au 9 juin. Pour en savoir plus sur le processus de nomination, consultez le lien ci-dessus.

Check it out! Our friends at Paprika Festival are hiring an Artistic Producer! More info: https://paprikafestival.com/join-our-team-paprika-festival-artistic-producer/

The Paprika Festival is excited to announce its search for a new Artistic Producer! 🩷

Are you an emerging artistic leader with a passion for mentorship, theatre creation, and new work development? Do you love working with young and emerging artists? Are you excited by collaborative producing and partnership building? We'd love to hear from you! This position is ideal for a community-engaged artist, passionate about youth mentorship, who is looking to take on their first leadership role. The Artistic Producer is responsible for the co-leadership of a part-time staff team at a small non-profit arts organization, for the curation of festival participants and program facilitators, the oversight of year-round training and mentorship programs, and the producing of the annual Paprika Festival.

The fee for this role is $40,000 annually for a part-time position of 24h/week less applicable deductions, with flexible hours and paid vacation weeks.

Applications are due by May 25. 2024.

Please see our job posting for more details!

https://paprikafestival.com/join-our-team-paprika-festival-artistic-producer/

Check it out! From our friends at Obsidian Theatre Company in association with Crow's Theatre ! More info & tickets: https://www.obsidiantheatre.com/show/7-methods/

Get your tickets, invite your squad, and strap in for a drama filled production of seven methods of killing kylie jenner by Jasmine Lee-Jones presented by Obsidian Theatre in association with Crow’s Theatre. 🎭

Close friends Cleo and Kara grappling with the pervasive influence of social media and celebrity culture in their lives. This powerful and provocative play explores ownership of Black bodies, cultural appropriation, social media and female friendships. 🫂

Don’t sleep on this! The drama begins May 12, grab your tickets! 🎟️ 🔗

seven methods of killing kylie jenner
Written by: Jasmine Lee-Jones
Directed by: Jay Northcott
📅 May 12 -26, 2024
📍Streetcar Crowsnest, Studio Theatre, 345 Carlaw Ave

Check out this amazing opportunity from our friends at Theatre of the Beat!

JOB POSTING ALERT! 📢

Attention Beatniks: we're looking for up to four (4) emerging producers to join our team this summer ☀️

Producers will work closely with Artistic Director, Cedric Martin, in planning, scheduling, and executing events related to Theatre of the Beat’s Emerging Producers Festival on August 22nd, 23rd, and 24th.

What is TOTB's Emerging Producers Festival? We're glad you asked! 🎉 This is an exciting new initiative that will unfold in two phases:

⭐ First, a 10-week residency program will provide hands-on training for up to four emerging producers to gain practical experience in curation, production, and community engagement from an established theatre company.

⭐ Emerging producers will be paired with experienced mentors to learn the intricacies of arts administration. Emerging producers will be paired with one of the following mentors: Indrit Kasapi from Theatre Passe Muraille, Himanshu Sitlani from Native Earth Performing Arts, Laura McCallum from Outside the March, or Daniel Chapman-Smith from Project: Humanity.

⭐ In the second phase (festival phase), emerging producers will curate and produce a multidisciplinary theatre festival, presenting original productions on themes of social justice and community impact.

You can find the full job description & application instructions on our "Work With Us" webpage here: https://theatreofthebeat.ca/workwithus

This opportunity is made possible with the generous support of Canada Summer Jobs. Candidates must be between 19-30 years of age and be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

💙💛❤

We are saddened to share the passing of community elder Pauline Shirt.

Grandma Pauline truly believed in the power of storytelling, and always strived to uplift and empower Indigenous voices. Often providing openings for projects and rehearsals, or being invited into processes, Pauline was a kind, strong, and incredibly generous leader; her impact on our community is immeasurable.

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to Pauline’s family, and her many friends and loved ones. Chi miigwetch, nookomis Pauline. We thank you, we miss you, we honour you.

Check it out! From our friends at Citadel + Compagnie , tickets are SOLD OUT for week 1. Get your tickets for week 2 while they last!

Citadel LIVE 23.24 presents “Living Dances”

Choreographed by James Kudelka

May 8-18, 8pm @ The Citadel

“Living Dances” opens tomorrow and we are thrilled to announce that week one is sold-out!

Exquisitely crafted and deeply moving, this is a program that is not to be missed.

Tickets are still available for week two. Get them while they last!
https://www.citadelcie.com/event/living-dances-by-kudelka/

Photo by Steven Pisano
Design by Laura Wills
Dancers: Sully Malaeb Proulx, Connor Mitton

Join the Native Earth team!

We are seeking a part-time Marketing Coordinator to plan and execute the company’s day-to-day marketing strategies and initiatives.

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Start Date: Immediately
Full details are available on our website: nativeearth.ca/jobs

Any questions about applying can be sent to [email protected]

Applications for the Rising Tides 2024 Mentorship Program are now open!

Rising Tides is a paid, multi-faceted skill development and mentorship platform designed for IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour) performing arts administrators and managers. The initiative intends to fill a gap in the Canadian performing arts sector around the training and mentorship of developing and mid-career IBPOC administrators and managers by providing a program specific to the needs of this underserved community.

Through one-on-one pairings, seven pairs of mentees and mentors will engage with each other, focusing on skill development in theatre administration and tailored to meet each participant’s expressed learning goals in areas such as human resources, budgeting, governance, contracting, strategic planning, and production support. These pairings will meet online regularly from September 2024 to May 2025, supported by four full-cohort virtual meetings, culminating in an in-person event at PACTcon in May 2025.

Applications will be accepted until Sunday, June 16, 2024, at 11:59pm PT. Applications will be reviewed by a steering committee of IBPOC arts administrators, and all applicants will be notified by July 2024.

Learn more: nativeearth.ca/rising-tides

Rising Tides, led by Professional Association of Canadian Theatres in partnership with Native Earth Performing Arts, Belfry Theatre, Boca del Lupo, Nightwood Theatre, Obsidian Theatre Company, and Persephone Theatre, is proudly supported by Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada, through its Innovation and Development Program and the Metcalf Foundation’s Booster Fund: Supporting Racialized Arts Workers.

Join The Musical Stage Company for a celebration of creativity, innovation, and collaboration as they give audiences a glimpse of three of the Musical Stage Company’s musicals in development in the first ever Canadian Festival of New Musicals!

Featuring excerpts from IN REAL LIFE, AFTER THE RAIN, and COWBOY TEMPEST CABARET, the festival is an electrifying showcase that will give audiences a first look and listen at the new stories being created from some of our country’s most promising lyricist, composers, and writers. The festival will also provide opportunities for music theatre creators to meet new collaborators, learn more from experts in the field, and engage in the conversation around the development of new musical theatre in Canada.

May 22-26, 2024 at the Berkeley Street Theatre
Tickets: https://musicalstagecompany.com/shows/canadian-festival-of-new-musicals/

Presented by The Musical Stage Company in association with Canadian Stage.

Check it out! From our friends at Moonhorse Dance Theatre, classes for folks aged 45+! Register here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/1e8100df-a18a-4263-b20f-675bbf22fe90

🌻DANCING INTO SUMMER

We are excited to invite you to our next session of Dance Encounters classes!

✨ 🔗 REGISTER - https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/1e8100df-a18a-4263-b20f-675bbf22fe90

🌻These classes foster a “come as you are” exchange between all dance levels of participants.

🌻We invite any person 45+, encouraging folks both professional and non-professional to join us, in-person, on Wednesdays.

🌻Each class is designed to welcome mature moving bodies in an exploratory, inspiring environment.

This session you have the opportunity to move with
😍 Nova Bhattacharya (May 8, 15)
😍 Bee Pallomina (May 22, 29)
😍 Bonnie Kim (June 5)
😍 Michelle Silagy (June 12)

We look forward to moving with you!

The 2-Spirit Cabaret is back for its 8th edition! Presented in partnership with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, as part of their Q***r Pride Festival. The cabaret is a celebration of the strength, beauty, and talent of q***r and 2-Spirit Indigenous people. It will feature music, dance, drag, performance art, and comedy.

Lineup Announcement: This year's Cabaret will be hosted by Chelazon Leroux with performances by Nina Boujee (AKA Olivia Shortt), Zachariah Highgate, Madame Ode’miin Surprise, Rhinestone Chickadee, Michaela Washburn, and Ravyn Wngz.

Come early to mingle and enjoy FREE food! Native Earth merch will be for sale, pick up some totes & tees!

2-Spirit Cabaret
Presented by Buddies In Bad Times Theatre and Native Earth
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Doors at 7:30PM | Show at 8:30PM
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre | 12 Alexander St
Sliding Scale Tickets: $10 / $25 / $45 / $70
🎟️ https://www.nativeearth.ca/shows/2spiritcabaret-2024/



Visual Art by Mishiikenh Kwe

Reminder that submissions close on Tuesday April 30th!! Apply now!

Call for submissions deadline extended! Be part of Native Earth Performing Art’s Annual Development Festival of Indigenous Work, Weesageechak Begins To Dance. Going into its 37th year, this 2-week festival presents new works and works-in-development by Indigenous artists from across Turtle Island and beyond!

Dynamic and multidisciplinary art forms are highly encouraged, and we are continuing to welcome submissions for digital offerings! Please note that for a submission to be eligible, the primary artist(s) must identify as Indigenous.

Deadline extended to April 30, 2024
Details: nativeearth.ca/weesageechak

Check it out! Our friends at Theatre Direct are presenting the Forward March Festival! A weekend of kid-friendly programming on May 4 & 5!

Forward March Festival 2024 – Theatre Direct Forward March Festival 2024 Saturday May 4 and Sunday May 5, 2024George Chuvalo Neighbourhood Centre (GCNC)50 Sousa Mendes Street, Torontoin Partnership with the George Chuvalo Neighbourhood CentreAges: 7 to 12A FREE and fun-filled weekend of new plays for kids! Theatre Direct presents three new wo...