About the Company
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre (pronounced Ga-Ha-Wee) is a an artist based company founded by Artistic Director/choreographer Mohawk Santee Smith. KDT creates professional dance productions and is committed to increasing awareness and understanding of Aboriginal culture through the work of the company.
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director has become known for her successful blend of traditional and contemporary dance elements. This new style of dance expression can only be described broadly as contemporary Aboriginal dance.
STATEMENT FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Kaha:wi means “she carries” in the Mohawk language. The name Kaha:wi is an ancient traditional name of my family. It is thousands of years old and it was the name of my maternal grandmother and is also the name of my daughter. This name Kaha:wi will be passed on to other individuals in my family for generations to come. The name is timeless...it spans past, present, future. It has sacredness attached to it and the connection to indigenous history. In the generic form, Kaha:wi means “to carry”. Therefore, the name implies a connection to ancient Mohawk family ways and the action of carrying. This in a sense is what the organization does carrying culture through dance and dance related activities. It connects to the past, present and future perpetuating the idea of the continuous cycling universe. Creativity and the continuation of cultural knowledge and practice is the foundation of my artistic expression.
VISION
Our vision is to be a dynamic force in Aboriginal dance in Canada and a centre for creativity, innovation, artistry and Aboriginal expression that reflects, honours and celebrates the integrity of Aboriginal culture.
MISSION
Our mission is to create, present and promote Aboriginal artistic expression to diverse audiences through the genre of dance and its associated disciplines of music, storytelling, theatre and design, drawing inspiration from contemporary and traditional Aboriginal dance forms.
AWARDS
KDT was nominated for two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for production A Story Before Time for Outstanding Production in the Dance Division and Outstanding Performance (Ensemble) in the Dance Division in 2008. KDT was nominated for a Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Performing Arts Series in 2008 for Here On Earth as a part of the dance series “Dancing with Spirit”. KDT received the National Museum of the American Indian Expressive Arts Award for TransMigration in 2009.
CORPORATE HISTORY
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre is founded on the artistic leadership of Mohawk artist Santee Smith. Ms. Smith is the Artistic Director and company choreographer for KDT. She is an innovative Aboriginal artist who is bridging the gap between contemporary and traditional dance in Canada. Under her leadership, KDT has become one of the most noteworthy Canadian contemporary dance companies. Operating as an artist-run sole proprietorship since 2001, KDT officially incorporated into a not-for-profit organization in June 2005 with governing Board of Directors: Jamie Hill, Selma Odom and Tom V. Hill. KDT received charitable status in 2006 and is currently located on Six Nations reserve and the National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto, Ontario.
COMPANY ACTIVITIES
PERFORMANCE
KDT’s repertoire include several major choreographic works including A Story Before Time, Kaha:wi, A Soldier’s Tale and Here On Earth. In 2007 and 2008, KDT produced several new works: A Constellation of Bones, The Threshing Floor, Sacred Spring, A Soldier’s Tale (in collaboration with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and Theatre Aquarius), Tripped Up Blues (a commissioned work for Aboriginal Youth Dancers), and a retelling of the Iroquois Creation Story for young audiences, A Story Before Time. The company has completed successful tours of Here On Earth, The Threshing Floor, Kaha:wi and A Story Before Time across Canada and North America and plans to travel to Asia, Europe and beyond. You can also find us locally across Toronto, Ontario and Canada at your favourite dance events such as Canada Dance Festival in Ottawa or Dusk Dances in Toronto. Check our Upcoming Projects for our most up-to-date performance calendar.
EDUCATION
The company provides workshops on Aboriginal movement for dance students novice to professional and for educators of dance and other Aboriginal culture related curriculum. Teachers and educators should avail themselves of the curriculum based study guides designed by KDT to accompany our work for young audiences, such as A Story Before Time. These guides are distributed free of charge.
In 2009, KDT launched their first ever Summer Aboriginal Dance Training Intensive, designed as an annual program to provide aspiring professional dancers with a means of deepening their knowledge of Aboriginal Dance over an intense two week period.
FESTIVAL
KDT produces the incredible Living Ritual: World Indigenous Dance Festival, the only festival in Canada to celebrate and promote Aboriginal dance. Last held in 2006, expect the next festival to bring over 30 of the best Aboriginal dancers in the world to Toronto and the surrounding region for three days of dialogue, performance and spectacle.
Check our blog and our Upcoming Projects section of the website to keep abreast of new company developments.
KDT relies on the generous support of individual donors, government, corporate and foundations to fulfill our artistic vision and mission. Please support our efforts to bring Aboriginal Dance to the world.