We are excited to be welcoming some of the most groundbreaking artists from across the country to our theatres here in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Over 10 days audiences are invited to experience innovative performances, workshops, film and artist talks offered in a variety of spaces throughout the community.
Red Sky Performance is a leading company of contemporary Indigenous performance in Canada and worldwide.
Led by Artistic Director Sandra Laronde of the Teme-Augama-Anishinaabe (People of the Deep Water), we are currently in our 18th year of dance, theatre, music, and media.
Our mission is to create inspiring experiences of contemporary Indigenous arts and culture that transform society. We create, produce, and disseminate new creations and events that illuminate themes, aesthetics, and values of importance to Indigenous peoples.
We significantly influence the evolution of Indigenous-made work and share our work across Canadian provinces and territories and with the world.
Touring since 2003, we have delivered over 2,253 performances across Canada including international performances in 17 countries on four continents, including landmark events such as at two Cultural Olympiads (Beijing and Vancouver), opened Canada at World Expo in Shanghai, and opened UNCEDED: Voices of the Land at the Venice Biennale.
We are the recipient of eight Dora Mavor Moore awards and nominations, two Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, three International Youth Drama Awards from Shenzhen, China, and the Smithsonian Expressive Award, among other recognitions.
The Wind in the leaves collective was conceived in the spring of 2009 over the course of a series of conversations between poet charles c. smith and choreographers Olga Barrios and Kevin A. Ormsby that resulted in the creation of a number of performance works focusing on the African Diaspora, and have since explored both the personal and collective impact of Black history in the US and Canada in a wide array of topics related to power and marginalization; working with a diverse and ever-growing cast of artists and collaborators.
The Wind in the leaves collective is a dynamic and diverse group of accomplished, passionate artists who come together to create rich and evocative multi-disciplinary performances centered on the poetry of artistic director charles c. smith – performances that take artistic risks, push genre boundaries and engage artists and audiences from diverse backgrounds and artistic practices.
The collective is guided by the belief that art leads change, and community outreach and engagement is at the very core of the collective’s mission. They are deeply engaged in a variety of projects designed to inspire and to support the teaching of cultural literacy and creative expression in the underserved communities across Ontario.
Their approach provides for a rare view into a multi-disciplinary collaboration and exchange amongst artists on contemporary issues where each creates and shares, bringing her/his roots, practice and sensibilities to the collective’s work; a unique way of artistic exploration.
Solo Chicken was formed in March of 2004 with a mandate to create and support the creation of new works of physical theatre, engage in community collaborations and to develop innovative educational programs. The company was formed in Toronto but relocated to Fredericton, NB in 2010 where it is now permanently based. In 2015 in response to a growing need in NB to support the growth of both emerging and professional artists, Solo Chicken launched the initiative, the coop, that aims to create professional works with touring potential that utilize the wealth of NB based artists.
Solo Chicken Productions inhabits a unique space in Fredericton and New Brunswick’s arts ecology as the only physical theatre Anglophone company in the region. In addition to bringing our expertise on community arts and arts education to the region we also aim to provide professional and emerging artists with economic and artistic opportunities.
Solo Chicken Productions aims to foster the creative arts through the creation & development of new works, community collaboration and educational programming. Solo Chicken Productions is committed to creating performances and opportunities for engaging with the arts that are challenging & delightful.
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Posseseom Paul
‘Possesom’ [Ba-zaz-um] is a Wolastoq artist and cultural educator. Notable work includes, the upcoming first ever Wolastoq ballet ‘Samaquan,’ in partnership with the Atlantic Ballet and Jeremy Dutcher. St John’s Spirit Song Festival, ‘We are Wolastoq,’ the New Beaverbrook Art Gallery Opening, Area 506 Festival, Choreography alongside Toronto famous Gadlfy Urban Dance Company, and the Detroit Concert of Colors. ‘Possesom’ has been featured in Canadian National Geographic, Globe and Mail, and CBC.
He is a forerunner of Atlantic development of different work that bring a spotlight to the vibrant art form of indigenous dance and performance. He has worked with artists as Jeremy Dutcher, City Natives, and Santee Smith of Kaha:wi Dance Theater, and even performed alongside the late Ray Charles.
‘Possesom’ is a major contributor and resource to the world indigenous artist community, a chief advisor in developing and improving the Atlantic pow-wow scene, to running and managing many events as staff, head dancer, and master of ceremonies.
Charles C. Smith
Charles C. Smith is a poet, playwright and essayist who has written and edited fourteen books. He studied poetry and drama with William Packard at New York University and Herbert Berghof Studios, drama at the Frank Silvera’s Writers’ Workshop in Harlem. He won second prize for his play Last Days for the Desperate from Black Theatre Canada, edited three collections of poetry and his poetry has appeared in numerous journals and magazines, including Poetry Canada Review, the Quille and Quire, Descant, Dandelion, Fiddlehead and others. He has received grants for writing from the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts
Charles is the Executive Director of Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario and Artistic Director of the wind in the leaves collective. His recent books include: travelogue of the bereaved, The Dirty War: The Making of the Myth of Black Dangerousness, and, whispers (2014) and destination out (2018). His next book of poems, Searching for Eastman, will be released in September 2021 by Mawanzi House.
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Founding Partner
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20th Anniversary Sponsors
Thank-you to our IMPACTfest Partners
Thank you to our Holding Space, Holding Change Partners
Questions?
Get in touch with us and we are happy to answer any questions you may have.