Special Preview Presentation of Passage at Trent University on July 6 & 7 at 8:00 p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Featuring New Scenes from Major New Dance Work
by Christine Friday-O’Leary

Tuesday, July 3, 2007, Peterborough

Indigenous Performance Initiatives (IPI) invites the community to attend a special preview presentation of Passage, a major new dance work under development on July 6 and 7 at 8:00 p.m. in NOZHEM: First Peoples Performance Space at Trent University.

This public presentation has emerged from a three-week creation residency supported by IPI as part of a two-year process to develop Passage by artistic director Christine Friday-O'Leary. Ms. Friday-O'Leary has been developing Passage since June 2006, a deeply personal dance piece which she describes as "a journey of discovering and defining one's true self."

"There are many traditional Anishinabeg stories that can be brought forward to the present time where an understanding of one’s own spiritual force and nature can become awakened. This new work will offer insight and an appreciation for teachings and oral traditions that complement both contemporary and traditional worldviews," said Ms. Friday O'Leary.

A highlight of the presentation is the music that Ms. Friday-O'Leary had especially produced for this new work. "I wanted the musical experience of Passage to be as powerful as the performance itself," she explained. "The music has been specifically composed for this piece by Edgardo Moreno along with three original compositions by Eddy Robinson and Gabe Gaudet, hand drum singers and will include a round dance song, an old man song and a straight song."

Ms. Friday-O'Leary is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Teme-Augami located in Northern Ontario. She has toured across Canada, Aruba and New York City with Desrosier Dance Theatre and with In the Land of Spirits. She is the recipient of numerous dance awards.

Passage is performed by professional Indigenous dance and theatre artists Waawaate Fobister, Don Kavanaugh and Brandon Oakes, as well as local dance and theatre artists from the Peterborough area including Howard Adler, Mayelin Lovet Semmler, Patti Shaughnessy, Liana Waboose-Tootoosis and Hilary Wear. Mentorship was provided by Don Kavanaugh and Daystar/Rosalie Jones; Don Kavanaugh also provided cultural support.

Christine Friday O'Leary and IPI gratefully acknowledge the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage/Arts Presentation Canada, The Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontario Arts Council, The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, Baagwating Community Association, Theatre Trent, the Indigenous Studies Department, Trent University, Peterborough New Dance and Public Energy.

Formally initiated in 2004 to animate NOZHEM: First Peoples Performance Space, IPI supports Indigenous artists to create and perform their stories through dance, music, theatre and video. The theme that guides IPI is the development of Indigenous performance practice that bridges traditional cultural practices and contemporary expression, to encourage enhanced access, professional development and performance opportunities for Indigenous artists.

NOZHEM: First People Performance Space is located at 2510 Pioneer Road, on the east bank of Trent University’s Symons Campus. Directions can be found here. Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can basis but must be reserved in advance by calling (705) 748-1011 x 7921.

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For further information, please contact:

Brittany Cadence, communications officer, at 705-748-1011, ext. 6185