Page 29 - ECF-LIA-June-Summer-2024-flipbook

Moving
Over
Barriers
Helping youth discover their love of dance
By Odvod Staff
FOR AS LONG AS HUMANS have existed, we’ve danced. From ballet to powwow and everything in between, the art form is one of humanity’s truly universal languages, helping to channel inner creativity and communicate across cultural, geographic and linguistic divides.
But access to this Rosetta Stone of human expression isn’t always equal
— especially in the modern era, where many families face significant barriers to practicing dance. Tearing down those barriers is why a new program was created to connect Indigenous youth to the art of dance.
A partnership between the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta (ISCA) and Alberta Ballet, the program offers six weeks of free dance training for
Indigenous youths who might otherwise not be able to explore their creativity in the medium. The program splits six one- hour classes into two parts: 30 minutes of ballet followed by 30 minutes of powwow dance instruction.
“We wanted to introduce youth to dance, but not just exclusively ballet,” says Taryn Samson, the Director of Community Programming with Alberta Ballet. “Incorporating Indigenous dance practices allows students to experience both sides of dance culture through that universal language.”
Christie Nepoose, one of the instructors who teaches the traditional powwow dance and a Cultural Engagement Coordinator with the ISCA, says combining the two practices gives youth a chance to express
themselves while also allowing them space to explore their development and passions in life.
“You get to express yourself with both styles and tell your own story,” she says. “A lot of youth are still learning who they are and the way social media runs everything, it kind of pressures youth to know who they are right now. I wanted to let kids know they’re still developing and learning who they are and what their passions are.”
Beyond exposing youth to a variety of dance types, combining the two disciplines was a conscious decision to help tackle some of
the cultural barriers, as well as financial ones. →
Photos Alberta Ballet Staff
ecfoundation.org 29