Another successful Centre for Indigenous Theatre Summer Program South at Trent University will come to a close with the performance Bezaanteg Jibwaa Biidaabang (Silence Before Dawn). Directed by theatre veteran Muriel Miguel and featuring the Program's students, the presentation will take Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23, 2005 at 8 pm at NOZHEM: the First Peoples Performance Space at Enweying – Peter Gzowski College, Trent University. Admission is by donation.

Bezaanteg Jibwaa Biidaabang (Silence before Dawn) explores personal transformations as we move through life. It looks at the portals and thresholds we enter and cross over in order to move to a different reality and heightened awareness. Students, Patrick Bird, Candace Brunette, Brent Debassige, Alex Lindsay French, Jasmine Manning, Liz Osawamick, Patti Shaughnessy, Lisa Abel Simard, Dale Sebastian, James Whetung and Marnie Williams were instrumental in the creation of this piece. In the course of Ms. Miguel's acting and story creation classes, students explored stories in a dramatic form through improvisation exercises and reflection on traditional tales, myths or personal experiences. Each individually created story distinctively uses the drum, voice, movement and dance to speak to the audience developed through training in those areas.

This is the third Summer Program The Centre has held in Peterborough in partnership with Trent University. The focus of the Program is to give Indigenous students a taste of the performing arts from an Indigenous perspective. The Program's intensive training focuses on acting, story creation, voice, movement and dance rooted in cultural teachings and Indigenous Knowledge. Students experience the actor's process and establish an ensemble for the work leading to the final presentation. As with all The Centre for Indigenous Theatre's programs, the Summer Program's instructors are talented, dedicated professionals. In addition to Muriel Miguel, this year's teaching roster includes Joeann Argue, Penny Couchie, Paul de Jong, Don Kavanaugh, Mark Lavallee, Edna Manitowabi and Barb Rivett.

Based in Toronto, The Centre for Indigenous Theatre offers high caliber post secondary performing arts training to people of Indigenous ancestry rooted in Indigenous Knowledge. Along with the Summer Program in Peterborough, The Centre also offers a North Program in Yellowknife, NWT in partnership with Stuck in a Snowbank Theatre and the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, as well as a three-year Full-Time Program in Toronto, for which it is currently accepting applications.

The Centre for Indigenous Theatre is generously supported by The Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontario Arts Council, The Toronto Arts Council, the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, Baagwating Community Association (Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation), Bank Of Montreal Financial Group, Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training, The Cultural Human Resource Council, The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation and the Suncor Energy Foundation.

Click here to open pdf of poster.

Photo: Cast of "Kokomisnaanik Gipawaanaawatmanito'.When Grandmothers Dream of Spirits.", Penny Couchie and Naomi Chambers (centre), The Centre for Indigenous Theatre's Summer Program South 2004.

Bezaanteg Jibwaa Biidaabang (Silence Before Dawn)

Date and Time: Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23, 2005 at 8 pm

Location: NOZHEM: the First Peoples Performance Space, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario

Cost: By Donation at the door

Information: Please contact The Centre for Indigenous Theatre at 416 506-9436 or citmail@indigenoustheatre.com

Posted July 20, 2005