Grounded in Community: Carrying it Forward (2023)
Grounded in community: carrying it forward
The Carnegie Dance Troupe & Karen Jamieson Dance
2023
About
Work In-Progress Performance
Heart of the City Festival
November 5, 2023
Goldcorp Centre for the Arts - SFU Woodwards
Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre
The Carnegie Dance Troupe acknowledges that our dancing takes place on the unceded Territory of the
Coast Salish People; ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh)
Since 2006 the principle supporting The Carnegie Dance Troupe is absolute inclusivity. Performances are created through a process of collaboration, seeking to connect us to our body, to our breath, to the energy of the earth, to each other and our diverse communities.
Exploring themes through dance, music and poetry, this work-in-progress weaves together new material brought forward by the Carnegie Dance Troupe members with living archival material carried forward from 18 years of Karen’s collaboration with the community. Through a process of co-remembering and welcoming contributions, we focused on the ensemble as a whole, with troupe members that are present, and those who have passed. We honour:
Ricky Lavallie, Sarah Good, Peter Siah III, Roger Howie, Dean Obrol, Joan Morelli, Robyn Livingstone.
A sense of gratitude, adventure and joy emerges from our practice of connection to our bodies and together as a group. We hope the witnessing of this process also transforms you in that way.
The People
Choreography – Rianne Svelnis, Karen Jamieson and The Carnegie Dance Troupe
Workshop Facilitator – Rianne Svelnis
Mentor and Project Support - Karen Jamieson
Music Director - Mike Richter
Musicians - Mike Richter, Chong, Su Chol, Cindy Fedora
Songs, Dances, Poems
‘Gathering Song’ – Shared by Sarah ‘Salautia’ Good (Snunneymuxw) performed by Deborah Charlie (Lillooet) with permission and blessings from Sarah Good’s family.
‘An Ode To Chinese Canadian Pioneers’ – Poem read by Swallow Zhou:
華僑到加百年（一八五八 — 一九五八）紀念：華僑頌
林青華 • 一九五八 • 緬尼土巴省、宛尼辟市
萬里迢迢渡重洋，異地他邦也為鄉。
卑詩省段鐵路險，菲沙河域金礦涼。
橫蠻頭稅全侮辱，高潔人格自堅强。
百載辛勞勛績累，華僑前輩功無疆！
Translation:
On the 100th Anniversary of the Chinese in Canada, 1858-1958:
‘An Ode to Chinese-Canadian Pioneers’
Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 1958
Translated by the author, William A. Lim 林青華, himself
Vancouver, BC. July 2000
You crossed an ocean of thousands of miles from yonder shore,
And made a home in a land unknown to you before.
You toiled in building the BC section of the Canadian Pacific Railway where there was full of peril,
And worked in the Fraser River Basin gold fields enduring immense sorrow.
Unjustly, you were handed an insult supreme: Head Tax so barbaric.
But you faced the insult with head held high, and character heroic.
A century of back-breaking labour, great deeds galore,
O Chinese-Canadian pioneers, you'Il live in our hearts for evermore!
Encountering, by Noh Sa Yeon – Sung by Chong, Su Chol
만 남 Translated by Chong, Su Chol
우리 만남은 우연이 아니며 그것은 우리의 바램이었어. 잊기엔
Our encounter was not a coincidence, it was our destiny. It will
너무나 나의운명 이었기에 바랄수는 없지만 영원을 태우리.
be difficult to forget you, but I will remember you forever.
돌아보지 마라 후회하지 마라. 아, 바보같은 눈물 보이지 마라.
Do not regret, do not look back on me. Never show your tears.
사랑해, 사랑해 너를 너를 사랑해.
I love you. I love you forever.
사랑해, 사랑해 너를 너를 사랑해.
I love you. I love you forever.
‘Friendship Dance’ – Dance shared by Deborah Charlie (Lillooet). Song contributed by Arlene Bowman (Dene)
Performers, Workshop Participants, Contributors
Deborah Charlie (Lillooet)
Dallas (Cowichan)
Swallow Zhou
Heather Blais
Henry Wong
Arlene Bowman (Dene)
Lance Lim
Rianne Svelnis
Paddle carved and painted by: Ron Laprise (Dene Nation, Saskatchewan)
Paddle gifted to Karen Jamieson by: Dallas (Cowichan)
Photo & Video: Chris Randle
Production Assistant: Charlotte Leonard
Project Management: Pamela Tagle
The Carnegie Dance Troupe is part of Karen Jamieson Dance
Thank you! Heart of the City Festival
Partners: Carnegie Community Centre and SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement.
Funders: Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, Province of BC, City of Vancouver
