Advertisement

Indigenous youth empowered through dance

Click to play video: 'Indigenous youth celebrate self-expression and empowerment through dance'
Indigenous youth celebrate self-expression and empowerment through dance
WATCH ABOVE: Indigenous youth will take to the stage tonight at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. 70 youth from different reserves in Canada are part of the charity called Outside Looking In. It offers students a high school accredited dance program and the opportunity to engage in a long- term intensive education through dance – May 18, 2016

Tracee Smith has been dancing most of her life. She was named one of Canada’s 50 most celebrated artists by The Canada Council for the Arts and was the first dancer to ever perform at Rideau Hall for the Governor General.

“I was very honoured,” said Tracee. “I believe that dance is who I am deep down. It was nice to be appreciated for that work.”

In 2007, Tracee started the organization Outside Looking In, a high school accredited program for Indigenous youth to take part in long-term, intensive education through dance.

“We work in a lot of communities where most kids do drop out of school after grade eight,” said Tracee.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“When you add in dance and music to the school day, a lot of the time that will get kids walking back in the door.”

Story continues below advertisement

Outside Looking In hires the industry’s top choreographers to work with the students in the area of mainstream urban dance. These professionals travel to different communities across the country, instructing and building a routine with every visit.

“I think showing kids how to have a long-term goal and achieve it is very, very important,” says Tracee.

“What I think is really important is that they’re achieving self-esteem and self confidence.”

Once students fulfill the academic and attendance requirements of the program, they then get the opportunity to join other youth from across Canada for two weeks in Toronto, where they prepare for a culminating performance at the Sony Centre for Performing Arts.

Bradley Monias, a dance student performing in the show for the second time says, “It’s a step closer to my dreams, my dreams are becoming more and more of a reality than was six-years ago.”

The show runs Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Sony Center for the Performing Arts.

 

Sponsored content

AdChoices