By Roger White

Personal journey leads to Dekker Centre stage

Feb 22, 2017 | 4:20 PM

Since its debut in 2014, the Kawa: Wi Dance Theatre’s performance of NeoIndigenA has been adored by critics and audiences alike as raw, break taking, transcending, and magical.

On Friday night, Battleford-area residents will have an opportunity to see the Kawa: Wi Dance Theatre’s World Premiere performance of NeoIndigenA all from the heart and mind of artistic director and performer Santee Smith.

“We are very excited to be here at the Dekker Centre,” Smith said in an interview with BattlefordsNOW. “I think we are going to give people and audiences a different take on what they may think of dance or Indigenous dance and really blow some people’s expectations away.”

As a member of the Mohawk Nation, Smith said she feels the 70-minute solo performance is a personal journey.

“Even the show’s name has a personal significance,” Smith added. “Neo is actually a play on the word “new” and IndigenA means reviving Indigenous knowledge of the past, present and future.”

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NeoIndigenA is not your typical dance performance either. As the lone performer on stage for the entire production, Smith must focus on engaging the audiences with every move, with every word.

“I go through many different milestones through the piece and I have a structure that constantly keeps me activated with the performance. I don’t have time to be pre-occupied during the show. There is even a segment of the show which is free-form so that keeps me focused and in the moment with live energy.”

Dekker Centre General Manager Moe McGinty is thrilled to have Smith and NeoIndigenA on stage Friday night.

“We try to offer very diverse programs to reflect the demographics of the community,” McGinty said. “This is a First Nations production and may be of interest to the Battleford and area First Nations Community. We are very happy to have this performance on the Dekker Centre stage.”

NeoIndigenA plays Friday night at the Dekker Centre at 8 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 306-445-7700.

Email: roger.white@jpbg.ca