Join us for a drop-in conversation circle, led by a visiting Indigenous Deaf artist, on telling stories with intention. This workshop has a flexible format informed in the moment by health, weather, and who chooses to sit with us.

Carbon Movements is an example of risky storytelling undertaken by already-marginalized artists. Connor portrays the journey of an alienated Deaf settler rediscovering and reigniting their relationship with the land. This would not be possible without the guidance of Chad Wolfe and the Nehiyaw insight he brings to this work. This performance becomes a model for non-Indigenous community members to continue deepening their understanding of Treaty responsibilities, and taking actions of Reconciliation even further.

Facilitated by Chad Running Bear Wolfe.

Workshop design by The Invisible Practice.

FOR: Deaf/hard of hearing/hearing artists, and Deaf/hard of hearing/hearing Indigenous community members.

ACCESS: Facilitation is in Plains Indian Sign Language and American Sign Language.

Participants must request if they require the following access:

• ASL to spoken English interpretation
• ASL to LSQ interpretation
• ASL to spoken French interpretation
• DeafBlind interpreter and/or co-navigator

WHAT TO BRING: 

• Personal water bottle.
• Comfortable clothes for movement work. They may get dirty but all materials used in Carbon Movements wash out in laundry.
• A notebook or device for recording your personal thoughts and reflections.

reservation

Tough and authentic conversations around Truth & Reconciliation are not often available to the Deaf community. By bringing together community members and Indigenous Deaf peers, we can foster deeper bonds of understanding, support, and – critically – action.

While Carbon Movements features a white settler-descendant performer, the layers of storytelling reveal a profound journey from disconnection to unity. This serves as a metaphorical model for non-Indigenous members of the Deaf community.

Using Carbon Movements as an example of an unorthodox and risky approach to Reconciliation, we encourage other Deaf artists to consider how Indigenous worldviews and values can be integrated into their practices.

Join us for a half-day session of casual conversation about what the heck “contemporary performance” is, plus some once-in-a-lifetime hands-on experimentation with the actual Carbon Movements stage that shakes and rumbles underfoot!

You’ll learn about Connor and Ainsley’s journey together through the contemporary dance landscape before taking your socks off and literally dipping your toes into the world-shaking realm of Carbon Movements. They’ll guide you as you get used to the custom-built stage and the immersive tactile elements, and then release you to explore and develop your own little piece of contemporary choreography that you can capture and share on video!

reservation

Facilitated by Connor Yuzwenko-Martin and Ainsley Hillyard.

Workshop design by The Invisible Practice.

FOR: Deaf/hard of hearing artists with an active practice, and Deaf/hard of hearing community members who want to challenge themselves and try something new.

ACCESS: Facilitation is in American Sign Language.

Participants must request if they require the following access:

• ASL to spoken English interpretation
• ASL to LSQ interpretation
• ASL to spoken French interpretation
• DeafBlind interpreter and/or co-navigator

WHAT TO BRING:

• Personal water bottle.
• Comfortable clothes for movement work. They may get dirty but all materials used in Carbon Movements wash out in laundry.
• Video recording device (phone, camera, etc) and other recording equipment if desired. A tripod will be available in the studio.

Enjoying and understanding contemporary dance and performance is a learned skill. While many Deaf people and artists have keen senses that catch visual detail and emotional nuance, translating those observations into rich, critical, and informative discussions takes a vocabulary that is not always available to the Deaf community.

We provide this opportunity in order to share and democratize the knowledge and technical discoveries of this production, and provide starting points of inspiration for local Deaf artists to develop their own approaches to contemporary performance. Participants will also be able to more readily interpret and investigate the Carbon Movements performance, contributing to deeper engagement during talkbacks and a more memorable experience.