Synopses of Repertoire
A Story Before Time
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s enchanting interpretation of the age-old Iroquoian Creation Story by Santee Smith. Explore the Sky World and the Earth World; enjoy the antics and courage of the muskrat, otter, geese and deer; and, learn the story of Sky Woman, Hanging Flower, West Wind, The Bent One and Holder of the Heavens.
The journey begins as a wondrous Sky World is revealed and Sky Beings dance like stars in the cosmos. It is when Sky Woman falls through the roots of the Celestial Tree to the Water World below that life on Turtle’s back takes shape. Animals by her side, Sky Woman sings and dances her world into existence. Composer Donald Quan has created an exquisite musical score that successfully blends traditional Iroquoian social songs and contemporary music, incorporating both Mohawk and Cayuga languages. Storyteller weaves the story with narration written by acclaimed Ojibway playwright Drew Hayden Taylor. Visually stunning, musically rich and theatrically compelling, this spectacular dance work for families and school-age children is entertaining and insightful.
Nominated for Dora Mavor Moore Awards in two categories in 2008, the world premiere of A Story Before Time occurred as a co-production between Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and the Banff Centre for the Arts at the Margaret Greenham Theatre during the Banff Summer Arts Festival, Banff, Alberta. The first A Story Before Time tour took the show to Toronto, Ontario; Brantford, Ontario and Peterborough, Ontario. The show continues to travel across North American to rave reviews from audiences.
The gorgeous A Story Before Time Soundtrack featuring the vocals by ElizaBeth Hill, Faron John, Ol’Mush Singers and Santee Smith has been released and will be made available through this site for purchase!
KDT has also created a comprehensive Study Guide to accompany this performance.
Find out more about the education opportunities for your school by visiting our Education section.
Kaha:wi
“A ravishing mix of styles and spirits.”
The cycle of Life unfolds throughout Kaha:wi: a grandmother dies and a new baby is born. Steeped in traditional Iroquoian based song and dance, the narrative weaves around the lives of three generations of women and the community in which they thrive. Kaha:wi touches audiences on an emotional, physical and spiritual level.
Santee Smith’s premiere choreographic work, Kaha:wi premiered at the Premiere Dance Theatre at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto in 2004. The choreography, music and design for Kaha:wi explores fundamental philosophies of Iroquoian culture such as honouring the cycle of Life, thanksgiving, sacredness of the natural world, rite ceremonies and duality. Choreographically, Kaha:wi draws inspiration from Iroquoian social dances such as the Gada:tro:t (Standing Quiver Dance or Stomp Dance), Ehsga:nye: gae:nase: (New Women’s Shuffle Dance), Gayowaga:yoh (Old Mocassin Dance) and the Wa enoti:yo (Stick Dance). Musically, Kaha:wi highlights tradition based songs such as the Dawn Song, Gada:tro:t, naming songs and Ato:wi:se (Women’s Chant or Moon Songs).
KDT performed excerpts from Kaha:wi in a gorgeous outdoor setting at Toronto’s Withrow Park for Dusk Dances 2008.
The soundtrack for Kaha:wi is available for purchase. Check our merchandise section.
Here On Earth
Choreographed by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director, Santee Smith, Here On Earth originates in the Iroquoian belief that human beings dwelled in the Sky and dreamt their existence on Earth. The work explores our spiritual connections to the land, and the idea of Earth as a living organism, Earth as Mother and Earth as sacred.
Four primal Beings journey from the Sky to touch the Earth. Each takes a path that leads them through an incredible journey of discovery and transformation. They thrive in the world of the seen and the unseen, real and intangible, of past, present, future. Time stands still as dancers become shamans transforming from humans to animals. Moving through shape and form, they unite in ritual expression, inhabiting the land of the spirits: animal, plant and human. “Here On Earth is where we come to live out a dream.
For a moment spirit, earth, sky and dream are captured in image, shape and sound – and the potential for nightmares, too: the alienation and dysfunction caused when we ignore our mystical connection with the land.
The original composition for Here On Earth is a product of three internationally renowned World musical leaders: composer Donald Quan, David Maracle (Mohawk) and percussionist Rick Shadrach Lazar. Together they have created a highly charged soundscape.
The Threshing Floor
In an empty house, a couple examines their life together on "love's threshing-floor." Past and present collide as they relive their intimate journey and enter into the emotional landscapes of ecstasy, betrayal, and loss. We witness their heady descent into love and the exhilaration of passion. But, in the aftermath of a death there is betrayal. Will the future bring hope or separation? The Threshing Floor is performed with unabashed and penetrating rawness.
The Threshing Floor is a physically and emotionally challenging 28 minute duet which explores male/female relationships. Co-creators Santee Smith and Michael Greyeyes (Cree) meticulously crafted an engaging and riveting choreographic work that unites dance, theatre, video installation and music. The Threshing Floor is pure contemporary expression and challenges many notions of what constitutes Aboriginal dance. The Threshing Floor deals with mature themes including sexuality, death and violence; therefore it is intended for a mature audience
Mohawk media artist Shelley Niro has created a visually engaging and dynamic video to accompany the story unfolding on the stage. The enigmatic projections offer us clues to the breakdown of the relationship.
A Constellation of Bones
One critic has called A Constellation of Bones “a poetic paean to the mythologies of creation.” This work explores love, unity, alienation and reconciliation through the movements of two couples. A metaphysical work, it fuses ideas, music, movement and images that explore modern and ancient life and our connection to the spiritual realm.
A Constellation of Bones makes manifest the knowledge of the Maori, Mohawk, and Anishnaabek peoples. The piece draws from key cultural beliefs and themes of connection, distinction of the Sky World and Earth realm, masculine/ feminine forces of Nature, and spiritual presence/power or "Mana". This multi-disciplinary piece unites three well-established international Indigenous artists: choreographer Santee Smith, writer Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm (Anishnaabe) and composer Dean Hapeta aka Te Kupu (Maori, NZ).
The world premiere of A Constellation of Bones was presented by DanceWorks, Mainstage Series at the Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront Centre Theatre in March 2007.
The electrifying soundtrack for A Constellation of Bones, released in 2008, will be available through Kegedonce
A Soldier’s Tale
A classic tale of dreams lost and found, set during the First World War. In 2008, Santee Smith was invited to reinterpret a classic tale of a returning Soldier’s encounters with the Devil, set to the music of Igor Stravinsky. The result is nothing short of breathtaking.
Featuring the thrilling performance of Alex Meraz as the Soldier, A Soldier’s Tale re-imagines this story of temptation through the perspective of Aboriginal Canadians.
A Soldier’s Tale was created and produced by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Theatre Aquarius and the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008.
The setting is Canada, 1918 and we follow the life of a returning Mohawk soldier. The classic script and Stravinsky’s orchestration remain intact but the setting, direction and choreography are new adaptations. A Soldier’s Tale was directed by Max Reimer of Theatre Aquarius, conducted by James Sommerville of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and choreographed by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s Santee Smith and includes a live orchestral score performed by a chamber music ensemble.
The characters Soldier, Devil, Narrator and Chief’s Daughter playfully and masterfully present the tale in all of its richness and complexity.
A Soldier’s Tale premiered at the Great Hall, Hamilton Place in Hamilton, Ontario, toured to Hamilton area schools throughout January and February 2008 and also enlivened Ottawa’s 2008 Chamber Music Festival.