Intergenerational Canadian Dancers of Damelahamid to mesmerise audiences at Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival

The Dancers of Damelahamid, an intergenerational group of Canadians, are in town to share stories, songs and dances that celebrate the richness of the Gitxsan and Cree cultures – the indigenous peoples of the Pacific North West. Picture supplied

Those lucky enough to snap up free tickets to see The Dancers of Damelahamid tomorrow are in for something special, according to Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival chief executive and artistic director Tama Waipara.

The intergenerational Canadian dancers will share stories, songs and dances that celebrate the richness of the Gitxsan and Cree cultures — the indigenous peoples of the Pacific North West.

The group are on a nationwide tour and are part of a growing number of indigenous arts presenters who are forming a strong international and collaborative network that has its basis in a tri-nations collective between New Zealand, Australia and North America.

“This is a family collective whose art forms tell the story of intergenerational connections and the links between this type of storytelling feels very connected to ours here in Aotearoa, New Zealand,” Mr Waipara said.

“The design and the costumes are incredible and are another way of reinforcing storytelling that we are exploring as artists and as a region.”

Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival decided to put on the free concerts as a nod to all those who have been affected by the cyclones and other weather events.

The Spirit and Tradition shows — both of which are now fully booked — are a part of the wider Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival which includes The Haka Party Incident (July 4-5), Pīpī Paopao (July 6) and — in collaboration with Eastwoodhill Arboretum and Creative NZ, Houpapa — an artists’ residency sculpture symposium which will be led by Sir Derek Lardelli.

“The cyclones have meant we too have had to make adjustments, so these are smaller offerings than we had originally planned, but nonetheless, are all so special in their individual ways.”

Planning for the summer season festivities, in late September and early October, is well under way. For more information head to https://tetairawhitiartsfestival.nz/events/ .

The Dancers of Damelahamid have two shows tomorrow, in the Lawson Field Theatre, at 10.30am and 1pm.