Discounted tickets available for GBC students interested in attending Canada’s largest indigenous performance.
More than 250 indigenous youth participants from thirteen different communities will showcase dance performances at Meridian Hall on May 13.
The 16th annual showcase organized by Outside Looking In (OLI), an indigenous-led organization that supports and empowers indigenous youth in remote communities through dance.
The idea behind the performances is to empower the participants as well as educate audience on what indigenous communities and their artforms look like.
“The 250 youth participants have been in our program since September 2022, working towards this special performance. So, it’s really a celebration of their achievements and a celebration of the empowerment that each of the individuals has achieved by working so hard,” Jordan Martinez, marketing and communications manager at OLI, shared.
The showcase will have individual community dances as well as large collaborative dance performances. Additionally, musical performances by indigenous artists such as Mattmac, Logan Staats, and Boogey the Beat will be featured.
OLI’s work in indigenous communities starts with identifying partner communities each year and establishing a dance program in those communities.
Youth included in the program are all students in grades seven through ten. They are taught dance by professional choreographers and the programs are then looked after by volunteers from within the community.
GBC students can also get involved with OLI and its programs as volunteers or mentors.
“We always put out a call for supporting the organization by volunteering for this showcase or throughout the year in other capacities. And we like to tailor volunteer opportunities to match the skill set of our volunteers,” said Martinez.
The 8-month dance program culminates in the annual showcase, giving youth participants a sense of commitment and skills development.
“The youth participants are practicing dance multiple times per week in an organized setting and they’re also taking that home with them,” Martinez said.
Audience can expect to witness the passion, emotions, and skills of the performers as well as learn more about the indigenous youth and their communities.
The showcase start at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are priced between $30 to $80 but GBC students can use the promo code “OLIPROMO” to get discounted tickets at $25.99 here.
More information about the annual showcase and the organization can be found on their website.
