The story of the highs and lows of two relationships was told with a unique twist.
The 2019 Kehewin Native Dance Theatre summer youth training program took a different approach to their annual show. The group performed Kisakitin: You Are Loved By Me at the St. John’s United Church in Bonnyville on Thursday, Aug. 1.
Rosa John, artistic director for the program, said the play is normally rooted in political and historical issues.
“They really wanted to work on the importance of what’s happening in the community with domestic violence, and infringing yourself on another person without their consent,” she explained. “The other is the attitudes that some young people think that they’re better than someone else. Being brought to a place where they see themselves, and you realize that you’re just a human being.”
The story was written by the dancers themselves. It was inspired by William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with Trickster taking the place of Puck, who tries to make two couples see who they really are. He uses the animals of the medicine wheel to accomplish his goals.
“One woman realizes that this isn’t who she wants to be with, while the other woman realizes they can work on their problems,” detailed John.
Julion Pisimohihkew, 18, said the dance group was focused on keeping a love story as the central piece to this year’s script.
“We tried to find the bad parts, toxic parts, of relationships, like sometimes it’s toxic because someone is manipulative and controlling… Throughout the story, we see how they grow and become the opposite of what they once were,” he emphasized.
In the play, Pisimohihkew’s character had a manipulative personality. He learns the errors of his ways with the help of the Trickster, and grows to become a better person.
It was important to the dancers to have the characters grow throughout the play, and learn important life lessons in the process.
“It seems like these days people don’t really care for themselves as much as they should, and they should be taught how to be proper,” noted 16-year-old Jenika Shirt, who played the Trickster. “Just the proper way to respect and to love themselves, to love everyone around them and to respect them.”
The program only featured five trainees this year, who John said will be the main members of the Kehewin Native Dance crew.
“Some of them have only been in it for two years, but they’ve shown their dedication. It’s not so much about talent, it’s more about their dedication and perseverance. It’s a tough program, to get through the whole thing without quitting is difficult,” she expressed.
The Kehewin Native Dance Theatre will be taking their show international, with requests to perform in Hawaii and Germany.
