Beverley Jacobs, Law Professor/Sr. Advisor to President of Indigenous Relations & Outreach, University of Windsor
Chief Stacey LaForme of Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation
Sandra Laronde, Executive & Artistic Director at Red Sky Performance
Cliff Cardinal, award-winning writer and performer

On October 23, 2023, join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion on the meaning of a Land Acknowledgement. Indigenous leaders discuss the importance of recognizing traditional territories and the cultural and spiritual relationship to the land. This is a unique opportunity to learn and engage in a lively dialogue with Indigenous leaders. How can a Land Acknowledgement be a first step? How can it also be a call to action?

On September 27, 2023 at 12 noon, Red Sky facilitated a conversation with SOCAN about reconciliation for children and families. Sandra Laronde discussed the importance in creating stories for children and families on the topic of reconciliation and walked through a study guide for a deeper understanding on how to explore reconciliation as a family.

Zoom

On September 5, 2023 at 12 noon, Red Sky facilitated a unique opportunity for SOCAN to hear from Indigenous leader Michael DeGagné, President & CEO of Indspire, as he takes us on a journey through Indigenous modern history. We learn about the impact of residential schools and work towards self-governance. Moderated by Sandra Laronde, we discover what reconciliation means today from Michael’s perspective directly.

Zoom

On September 8, 2023, Red Sky performed an excerpt of Miigis at the 50th Anniversary of the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia.

NCCABC is a critical organization that provides direct support to two First Nations Courts in the province of B.C: Westminister and Duncan. They provide culturally-appropriate services to Indigenous people and communities consistent with their needs in the criminal justice system where people are treated with dignity and respect.

Four Red Sky contemporary dancers travelled to Vancouver to perform in celebration of this epic 50th anniversary achievement.

Vancouver, British Columbia

The Indspire Awards represent the highest honour the Indigenous community bestows upon its own people, recognizing Indigenous professionals and youth who demonstrate outstanding career achievement on a national level.

As an award-winning arts innovator, multidisciplinary artist, and leader Sandra Laronde has been changing the cultural landscape across Turtle Island – and around the world.

Sandra is the founder of game-changing arts organizations, including Red Sky Performance, a leading company of contemporary Indigenous performance that has won numerous awards and created an enduring worldwide legacy.

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On February 10-12 and April 21-23, 2023, director, choreographer and teacher, Carlos Rivera visited the University of Kansas to take part in a collaborative program sponsored by the Lied Center of Kansas (and other KU departments) and the Kansas Creative Arts Industries. This collaborative, mentor-based program connects young Indigenous artists to professional Indigenous artists working in performance art, visual art and film. His visit helped to expand the collaborative program to include dance and theatre. In that season, three professional artists took part including Musician, Martha Redbone; Visual artist, Reyna Hernandez and Dance/Theatre artist, Carlos Rivera.

Lawrence, Kansas

On March 8 & 9, Fifteen architectural students & 3 faculty members from Columbia University visited Temagami, northern Ontario where they learned about Anishinaabe culture, history, and worldview

Temagami, northern Ontario

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

March 1, 2023 at 7 pm

Red Sky Performance held an intermediate dance class at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, facilitated by dancers Mio Sakamoto and Daniela Carmona.

Washington, DC

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

March 1, 2023 at 4 pm

Red Sky Performance held a masterclass at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, facilitated by dancer Eddie Elliott.

Washington, DC

University of Oregon

February 27, 2023

Red Sky Performance held a masterclass at the University of Oregon’s Dance Department, facilitated by dancers Eddie Elliott and Daniela Carmona.

Eugene, Oregon

On November 4, 2022, Sandra Laronde was appointed to the Order of Ontario for 2021 for her outstanding contribution to arts and culture in Ontario and elsewhere. The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Chancellor of the Order of Ontario, will bestow the province’s highest honour to the new appointees at a ceremony to be held on November 21, 2022.

https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1002448/ontario-celebrates-2021-order-of-ontario-appointees

October 15, 2022

Artistic Director Sandra Laronde is a plenary speaker at the Dance Studies Association 2022 Conference, Dancing Resilience: Dance Studies and Activism in a Global Age.

As one of our plenary speakers, she spoke on issues around Race, Resilience, and Representations of Diversity in a Global Context. 

 Vancouver, B.C.

September 15, 2022

Artistic Director Sandra Laronde was invited to participate in an Ontario Arts Council event for the new Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Nina Chiarelli. The event consisted of a presentation focused on Indigenous and Francophone arts programs.

Toronto, ON

Guest Lecture on Contemporary Sociocultural  

April 1, 2022

Red Sky Performance Artistic Director Sandra Laronde gave a guest lecture on “Contemporary Sociocultural” at Denison University.

Denison University, Granville, Ohio

Master Class on Dance, Wellness, and Public Health

March 31, 2022

Red Sky Performance held a master class on Dance, Wellness, and Public Health at the Thorsen Dance Studio at Denison University, facilitated by dancers Lindsay Harpham and Jessica Mak.

Denison University, Granville, Ohio

Guest Lecture on Women and Organizational Leadership

March 31, 2022

Red Sky Performance Artistic Director Sandra Laronde gave a guest lecture on Women and Organizational Leadership Class at Denison University.

Denison University, Granville, Ohio 

Somatics

March 31, 2022

Red Sky Performance held a Somatics master class at the Thorsen Dance Studio at Denison University facilitated, by dancers Lindsay Harpham and Jessica Mak.

Denison University, Granville, Ohio

Fundamentals of Contemporary Dance

March 31, 2022

Red Sky Performance held a master class in the Fundamentals Contemporary Dance at the Thorsen Dance Studio at Denison, facilitated by dancers Lindsay Harpham and Jessica Mak.

Denison University, Granville, Ohio

Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00pm EST / Online

Red Sky Performance, in collaboration with Earl Haig Secondary School, presented a REDTalk with Dr. Michael DeGagné (Anishinaabe) who spoke about what Truth & Reconciliation means today, the impact of residential schools, and Indigenous modern history. This special REDTalk was focused on themes of TRC for educators, students, artists, and their families.

Dr. Michael DeGagné is the current President and CEO of Indspire and former President and Vice Chancellor of Nipissing University, the first Indigenous president named to a public university in Canada. Dr. DeGagné is a recipient of the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the founding Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. He holds a PhD from Michigan State University. He is Anishinaabe from Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation in Ontario.

January 19, 2022

As part of the Business / Arts Speaker Series, Red Sky Executive and Artistic Director Sandra Laronde joined a panel conversation about responding to risk and navigating uncertainty in the arts sector.

The panel features arts leaders from across the country to discuss how the current wave of the pandemic is affecting arts and culture organizations, and their response to rapidly changing restrictions and realities. Speakers included:

Alex Sarian, President and CEO, Arts Commons
Belinda Bale, Director of Marketing and Communications, The National Ballet of Canada
Sandra Laronde, Executive and Artistic Director, Red Sky Performance
Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist and Founder, Nanos Research

November 27

Regina Symphony Orchestra Music Director Gordon Gerrard will sit down for a pre-show chat with Sandra Laronde, director of Red Sky Performance. This is a great way to get some in-depth knowledge about the evening’s performance, Adizokan.

Adizokan is a unique, genre bending performance that shares Indigenous principles and connects the audience to the natural world through dance and music, featuring Indigenous artists and the musicians of the RSO.

Access to the pre-show chat is included with show ticket.

November 26

Red Sky Performance is hosting a Masterclass at Simon Fraser University’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (Fei & Milton Wong Experimental Theatre). Instructors will be Trace performers Lindsay Harpham and Jessica Mak.

Participation is free with registration. Register here

November 23

Executive & Artistic Director, Sandra Laronde, gave a lecture on Indigenous contemporary dance at Simon Fraser University to a group of 50 students in the Dance program at SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts.

November 1

Red Sky Performance hosted an open rehearsal of Trace during our residency at the Del E. Webb Center in Wickenburg, Arizona. 25 people attended, getting an exclusive look into the rehearsal process.

October 28

Executive & Artistic Director Sandra Laronde participated in a 1.5-hour interview for a crowd of approximately 40 people at the Del E. Webb Center in Wickenburg, Arizona.

October 27

Red Sky Performance hosted an open rehearsal of Trace during our residency at the Del E. Webb Center in Wickenburg, Arizona. A dozen people attended, getting an exclusive look into the rehearsal process.

October 6, 2021

Executive & Artistic Director Sandra Laronde participated in a forum on “Building the Narrative of Toronto” for the City of Toronto and Destination Toronto. This forum focused on what the narrative of Toronto is, and how we make Toronto a better city.

October 2, 2021

After a performance of Trace at Dance Place in Washington, DC, a Q&A session was held with Red Sky Performance Executive & Artistic Director Sandra Laronde, Dance Place Artistic Director Christopher K. Morgan, musician Rick Sacks, and dancers Connor Mitton and Jessica Mak.

September 30, 2021

Red Sky Performance, in collaboration with Dance Place (Washington, DC) held a conversation and masterclass at City Dance Center in Maryland. The conversation with Red Sky’s Executive & Artistic Director, Sandra Laronde, was followed by a masterclass for approximately 40 diverse dance students led by Red Sky dancers.

September 27, 2021

A 60-minute virtual workshop on Truth & Reconciliation designed for educators was held with Carlie Chase of Nawaska Consulting and Cobblestone Collective. The workshop explored ways that educators can support Indigenous students and honour Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing in the classroom. Click here to see the recording of that lesson.