THERE IS MY PEOPLE SLEEPINg
work BY ROBIN POITRAS AND EDWARD POITRAS
JAMES VIVEIROS
PHOTO CREDIT: DANIEL PAQUET
work BY ROBIN POITRAS AND EDWARD POITRAS
JAMES VIVEIROS
PHOTO CREDIT: DANIEL PAQUET
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BIOGRAPHY of Robin Poitras C.M.
Robin Poitras C.M. is one of Saskatchewan’s most prolific dance and performance creators. Creating dance, performance and installation works, she has been actively engaged in contemporary dance practice since the early 80s. For many years Robin has traversed the formal worlds of dance and performance art. She co-founded New Dance Horizons in 1986, with Dianne Fraser where she continues to act as Artistic Director. With an interest in research into diverse fields of artistic and somatic practice she has developed a unique interdisciplinary approach. Robin’s works have been presented across Canada, in Spain, France, Germany, Mongolia and Mexico. She is a recipient of the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, 2021 recipient of the Order of Canada, 2016 Lieutenant Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2006 Mayor’s Awards for Business & The Arts’ Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2004 Women of Distinction Award for the Arts. About Robin’s creative process: My practice is rooted in a physical world comprised of choreography, dancing and actions/acts. My performance works often involve the use of found or formed objects, texts, images, sound and/or other media. I am curious about relationships and resonance among the worlds of art, science and nature and in exploring how these worlds feed back and forth in mythical, mysterious, elusive and sometimes obvious ways. |
BIOGRAPHY of Edward Poitras
Edward Poitras was born in 1953 in Regina, Saskatchewan and is a member of the Gordon First Nation. He studied with Sarain Stump at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural College in Saskatoon (1974) and then with Mexican Aboriginal artist Domingo Cisneros at Manitou College in La Macaza, Quebec (1975-1976). Poitras then became an instructor himself, teaching at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College in Saskatoon (1976-1978), the University of Manitoba (1978) and the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College at the University of Regina (1981-1984, 1989-1990, now First Nations University of Canada). Poitras has also worked as a graphic artist for New Breed magazine (1984-1985). Poitras's mixed-media sculptures and installations combine a variety of natural and human-made elements. His work explores themes including history, treaties, the effects of colonialism, and life in urban spaces and on the reserve. Poitras's work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across the country and in the United States and Finland, and has been included in nearly every major contemporary Aboriginal exhibition since 1980. In 1995, Poitras became the first Aboriginal artist to represent Canada at the Venice Biennale. A 2002 exhibition organized by Saskatoon's Mendel Art Gallery, “Qu'Appelle: Tales of Two Valleys,” included many of his recent works. Poitras's work is part of the collections of the Canadian Museum of Civilization (Hull, Quebec), Mendel Art Gallery (Saskatoon), Saskatchewan Arts Board, MacKenzie Art Gallery (Regina), Thunder Bay Art Gallery, and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, among others. In 2002, Poitras was awarded the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts. In November 2020, Edward joined Robin Poitras C.M. as the Co-Artistic Director of New Dance Horizons. |
Rania al-Harthi
General Manager BIOGRAPHY of Rania al-Harthi رانيا الحارثي
Rania al-Harthi works in theatre, film, installation, Palestinian embroidery, and Arabic calligraphy. Her studio production consists of collapsed objects that incorporate sound, film projection, and performance. Current projects explore themes of diaspora and cultural memory through film; documentary and animation. She worked as an independent artist in Palestine, Jordan and Tunisia before coming to Canada in 2012. Since then, she has earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Regina and has worked for several arts organizations, including Globe Theatre, Curtain Razors and the Mackenzie Art Gallery. |
Marcus Merasty
Production Coordinator BIOGRAPHY for Marcus Merasty
Marcus Merasty is a Nehithaw/Woodlands Cree dance artist from Pelican Narrows, Saskatchewan. His dance journey began with learning Métis jigging and Square-Dancing and continued under the mentorship of Robin Poitras & Edward Poitras. In 2021, Marcus graduated from The Professional Program of The School of Contemporary Dancers in Winnipeg, MB. He has participated two Indigenous Dance Residencies at The Banff Centre (2016, 2019) and has worked with Vancouver-based dance artist Jennifer Mascall (MascallDance). Marcus is currently based in Regina, SK working at New Dance Horizons as production coordinator. |
Tessa Rae Kuz
Marketing Coordinator BIOGRAPHY for Tessa Rae Kuz
Tessa Rae Kuz is a dance artist and choreographer based on the Treaty 4 Territory of Regina Saskatchewan. She holds a BFA in Dance Performance from the Toronto Metropolitan University. She is currently an active participant of Margie Gillis' Legacy Project, where she performs in both solo and group works. In 2022, she had the opportunity to further her development through Educate And Dance - a street dance training program led by Montreal hip hop pioneer Angelo Ameur. From 2019-2023 she was engaged in a long-term mentorship with Robin Poitras and Edward Poitras, which provided her with opportunities to perform, teach and gain experience working on the administrative side of the Arts & Culture sector. |
Robert Byers
Board Chair |
Lori Ireland
Treasurer |
Shelley Bindon
Member |
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Brigitte Hagues
Member |
Dr. Kathleen O'Reilly
Member |
Nimone Campbell
Member |
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Hours:
Mon - Thu: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sat - Sun: Closed Statutory Holidays: Closed Connect with us:
Phone: +1 306 525 5393 Email: info@newdancehorizons.ca Fax: +1 306 569 4649 |
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Address:
2207 Harvey St, Regina, SK S4N 2N2 Canada |
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