Sky Dancers

Sky Dancers is a new multidisciplinary dance piece that explores the impact of the Quebec Bridge disaster of 1907, which killed 33 ironworkers from the Mohawk community of Kahnawake. The fallout was felt around the world and the aftermath still echoes across generations.

Choreographer Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo’s great-grandfather, Louis D’Ailleboust, was one of the men who perished in the tragedy. More than a century later, she explores from an Indigenous perspective, not only the impact the loss had on her community, but also shines a light on the strength of the community, the resilience of the women and the contributions the people have made to society.

Through the integration of dance, video projections, theatre, sophisticated set design and a mix of contemporary and traditional music, Sky Dancers puts a human face to a story that represents many of the struggles that Indigenous peoples have had to rise above.

Company

A’nó:wara Dance Theatre is led by Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo. Originally from Kahnawake and now living in Montreal, Barbara is Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) and has been a dancer and choreographer for more than 25 years. She specializes in combining traditional First Nation’s dance and contemporary styles, and her goal is to inspire others, encourage cultural pride, uplift the spirit, and increase education and communication.