Canada’s Largest Indigenous Youth Performance

from SAY Magazine, Entertainment, Indigenous Lifestyle

Consent and Gender Justice in Indigenous Self-Determination

Delivers the Power of Dance and Inspiration

Submitted by Outside Looking In

What does it take to create Canada’s largest Indigenous youth dance performance? This year, it took over 250 Indigenous students from 13 communities across the country working tirelessly over eight months with some of the country’s best professional choreographers.

Since 2007, Outside Looking In (OLI) has been the driving force behind an accredited school dance program that culminates with the mindblowing Annual Showcase—and equally important, it has boosted Indigenous student graduation rates to well over 96%.

So far, 2023 has been a recordbreaking year for OLI with the most participating students and communities ever. The energy, passion and sheer joy flowing from the stage of Toronto’s Meridian Hall had the enthusiastic audience moving and applauding every pop and lock.

“I loved being at the Meridian Hall again,” says Trey Monias, a 17-year-old Grade 11 student from Garden Hill First Nation, Manitoba. “The crowd was singing so loud and hyping us up, it was so amazing. The evening show was so emotional for me because it was our last performance and the experience was about to end.”

Some very big names were on hand to lend their support to these hard-working dancers—both off and on the stage. Before the curtain was raised, a VIP reception hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos featured speeches by former Governor General Michaëlle Jean and the Honourable Jody WilsonRaybould, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and best-selling author. Fashion designer Lesley Hampton, in collaboration with stylist Andrea Rose, styled the wardrobe for the showcase. Each look highlighted edgy streetwear with hip hop influence and subtle nods to Indigenous design. Joining the dancers on stage were special guest performers, including Anishinaabe DJ and producer Boogey the Beat, Indigenous Music Award-winning Mohawk singer-songwriter Logan Staats, and Canada’s Walk of Fame’s 2022 Emerging Musician Program Grand Prize Winner Mattmac.

“2023 has been a great year all the way ’round,” says Tracee Smith, CEO and founder of OLI. “We have six new communities, including our first in Quebec, and we see this momentum carrying through to next year.”