Join us for an Open Studio Sharing on May 25th at the Evergreen Cultural Centre at 8PM for an evening of new works by our company and some of our Pakitinam artists.
Book tickets here
Pakitinam: Choreographers Circle provides resources and mentorship to emerging Indigenous choreographers as they develop a work and spark of inspiration of their choice. The program first began as a pilot project in early 2021. After such a positive response from participants we decided to create a permanent program within RSD for emerging Indigenous choreographers called Pakitinam.
The program embraces and celebrates RSD’s mission statement and values which are:
Our mission is to empower & elevate Indigenous voices. We do this by sharing stories from an Indigenous worldview through Creation and Performance, Mentoring, Sharing Opportunities, Nurturing Relationships and Advocacy.
Pakitinam is an act of demonstrating the power of Indigenous artists coming together to share stories, knowledge and resources in a space of care and empowerment for all in the circle. We’re thrilled to continue the journey into the second year with these six artists who are part of our Pakatinam Choreographers Circle: Cameron Peal, Madelaine McCallum, Nick Miami Benz, Raven Grenier, Samantha Sutherland, and Sarah Prosper.
This year, we’re privileged to have the following Indigenous artists leading our mentorship circle: Alvin Erasga Tolentino, Brian Solomon, Christine Friday, Jeanette Kotowich, Lisa Gelley-Martin, Michelle Olson, Star Muranko, and Yvette Nolan. Tasha Faye Evans and Jeanette Kotowich will co-host and facilitate the online choreographers’ gathering, ensuring their creative seeds are nurtured throughout this process.
Our past Pakitinam alumni include: Cherith Mark, Dakota Camacho, Sandra Lamouche, Sasha Rochon and Sophie Dow.
Meet the artists
Cameron Peal
Cameron Peal (he/him/his) is a Vancouver based (Musqueam, Squamish, and Tseil-Waututh territories) theatre artist, from the Nisga’a Nation of Northwest BC. His current passion is in exploring the abstract; “how can I express something beyond the
boundaries of what’s literal, what’s already clear?” His work looks to blur the boundaries between art forms and genres. He has had the pleasure of working, so far, for companies such as Electric Company Theatre, Savage Production Society, Zee Zee Theatre, Pi Theatre, Neworld Theatre, Pacific Theatre, Raven Spirit Dance, Rumble Theatre, Touchstone Theatre, Ruby Slippers Theatre, Firehall Arts Centre, and Studio 58 (to name a few). Most recently, he was assistant director on Hurricane Mona (Touchstone Theatre, Ruby Slippers Theatre). Actor/director/writer, Studio 58 graduate.
Madelaine McCallum
Madelaine McCallum is a gifted dancer, motivational speaker, facilitator, and MC — a true, multi-faceted creative. She is from Ile a la Crosse, Saskatchewan and brings passion with a gentle yet powerful presence to the stage whether she is there to share one of her inspiring speaks or she has been asked to dance, or MC. While life was not always easy for Madelaine, she left her home community with the goal to break unhealthy cycles of addiction — her story of survival is inspiring. When Madelaine dances, you feel her connection. When she speaks, you feel her authenticity. She shows you and helps you feel the invisible lines of connection we all share, through her stories and her life experiences.
Nick Miami Benz
Nick Miami Benz is a performing artist whose work fuses dance, theatre and singing. Nick transitioned their love of sports to attending dance school in New York City. Between studying and auditioning they worked as an equestrian for The Metropolitan Opera. This experience inspired them to delve deeper into the world of theatre, developing their craft as an actor and vocalist.
Nick’s stage credits include roles in “God’s Lake,” “Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer,” “In My Day”, and “Blackhorse,”. Nick Miami Benz has collaborated with organizations such as Atomic Vaudeville, Mascall Dance, Netflix, VIFW and John Fluevog. Beyond their artistic endeavors, Nick Miami Benz is also dedicated to holistic wellness, sharing their expertise in movement through Gyrotonic, Pilates and movement coaching in Vancouver.
Raven Grenier
Raven Grenier is an emerging choreographer, Indigenous contemporary dance artist, singer, and visual artist in formline design including printmaking, and her upcycled Indigenized attire. She is a 4th year Indigenous Studies student at UBC and the artistic and administrative assistant for Dancers of Damelahamid. Her artwork is available at Lattimer gallery and Coastal Peoples Gallery in Vancouver, and at her exhibition at the Scotiabank Dance Centre. Her film spanochnonga was commissioned by FORM where it premiered in 2023 and was shown at Matriarchs Uprising 2024. Her new EP and music video wolverine will premier in late 2024 produced by Earthchild and in collaboration with Pakitinam cohort through Raven Spirit Dance.
Samantha Sutherland
Samantha is a contemporary dance artist, choreographer, and teacher based in Tkaronto. Her ancestry is Ktunaxa and Scottish. She grew up on Coast Salish Territories and graduated from the Arts Umbrella Dance Diploma Program in 2018. Samantha has been choreographing solo works since 2021 and has had the pleasure of presenting in festivals across Turtle Island. Some include the Matriarchs Uprising Festival by O.Dela Arts with presentations both in Vancouver and at the National Arts Centre, Sharing the Stage with The National Ballet of Canada, Night Shift by Fall for Dance North, Dance Made in Canada, and Weesageechak Begins to Dance by Native Earth Performing Arts. She has danced in new works by Alejandro Ronceria and Jera Wolfe. She is currently an Artistic Associate with O.Dela Arts.
Sarah Prosper
Sarah Prosper is a Mi’kmaq Multidisciplinary movement Artist raised in the Mi’kmaq community Eskasoni First Nation. BSc in Therapeutic Recreation, MA Leisure Studies, and professionally trained dancer with Mocean Dance Company and Artist in Residency / Mentorship Programming. Sarah is an award winner of the 2022 Nova Scotia Indigenous Artist Recognition Award, while she performs and creates for community, she is also known for debuting solo land-based works on National stages in collaboration with renowned artists. Sarah is also the outstanding performance Merritt Award winner for their first production SAMQWAN (4 nominations). Prosper’s practice encompasses a lens that deepens the threads of respect and reciprocity to dance, movement, Indigenous wellness, social sciences, social justice, mental health & the land. “An integral relationship with the land is our bodies’ understanding of where we are rooted from, healing begins within, but never without…”