As roosters crowed outside, the sleepy but excited Indigenous teens started filing into the large dance studio in Brant, Ont., on second day of rehearsals for theTheir mix of shy uncertainty and travel fatigue immediately dissipated when the beat dropped, and the teens hit the floor.bills itself as the largest annual Indigenous performance in the country, with 175 youth participants.
Outside Looking In was founded in 2007 by Tracee Smith, a member of Missanabie Cree First Nation, with the goal of supporting youth though arts programming. Last year, she handed the reigns over to chief executive officer Hope Sanderson, who is Métis, who said she was drawn to the company because of how it’s grown and succeeded in its goals over the years. There are now 30 communities on the waitlist to join the program, Sanderson said.
“It’s already such an intense experience for them to leave home, some of them it’s the first time leaving their communities, some the first time on planes, and then you ask them to come to the biggest city in Canada,” said Tamara Podemski, the multi-skilled performing artist who is producing this year’s showcase, co-ordinating the performances and dancers into a cohesive theatrical experience.
To prepare for Meridian Hall, students rehearsed in person during the last week of April in a barn renovated to accommodate a dance studio, at Tim Horton’s Foundation Camp in Brant, Ont. Final rehearsals take placeAt the rehearsal in Brant, choreographer Nino Vicente was on site to direct the dancers. Vicente has been withwith each community.
and warm rapport. Vicente says the impact the program has on the youth makes his job special. “They start to believe in themselves even more, and believe that they can make a change and help others around in their community.”Cohen Ouskun of Tataskweyak Cree Nation gets her makeup done by Aiyana Nahwegahbow during rehearsals for the Outside Looking In Showcase on May 8.Take Hosiah Turtle, 19, for instance.