Coast Dance Festival goes virtual, celebrating resiliency of Indigenous communities

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It’s a celebration of the stories, songs, and dances of the Indigenous peoples of B.C.’s Northwest Coast and beyond. The Coastal Dance Festival is back for its 14th year, albeit in virtual form.

“It’s going to be all virtual and shared online,” Margaret Grenier, artistic and executive director of the festival, said.

“Our festival artists, however, are artists that have been part of the festival community in one way or another over the years. We wanted to really focus on our community and supporting our artists through these very challenging times,” she added.

Grenier says the performers are happy to be back, doing what they do best, even in this scaled-back format.

“Many of the artists have not put on the regalia since last spring. There’s been so much cancellation when it comes to gatherings and cultural celebrations. So, we really wanted to have this festival, even if it was in a smaller capacity and online,” she said.

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The festival supports and celebrates the resiliency of our Indigenous communities.

“I think that this time has also been a reminder of how important it is to continue the teachings and the legacy of our elders and the generation that really revitalized dance on the Northwest Coast” Grenier said.

The event features a world premiere performance from Dancers of Damelahamid in honour of the late Elder Margaret Harris. Harris, the founder of the company, passed away last year.

You can stream it at damelahamid.ca until March 18.