Dancers of Damelahamid Invite Media to Experience Traditional Songs, Stories, and Dances at the Coastal First Nations Dance Festival

The majestic Great Hall at the Museum of Anthropology serves as the spectacular backdrop for performances from local and visiting aboriginal artists

Dancers of Damelahamid, in partnership with the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC, present the annual Coastal First Nations Dance Festival (CFNDF) – an enriching six-day event celebrating the culture and traditions of Indigenous peoples from the Northwest Coast and beyond, March 3 to 8, 2015 at MOA. In a special media preview, select artists will share stories and perform traditional songs and dances, set against the magnificent First Nations artworks and totem poles displayed in MOA’s Great Hall.

WHAT: First Nations artists perform traditional songs and dances at the annual Coastal First Nations Dance Festival.

WHO: Dancers of Damelahamid (Gitxsan Nation), Calgary hoop dancer Jesse McMann-Sparvier (Blackfoot and Cree), and contemporary Aboriginal dance artist Jeanette Kotowich (Cree Métis) perform, with a traditional welcome and song from artist and storyteller Cease Wyss (Squamish Nation).

WHEN: Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 10am.

WHERE: The Museum of Anthropology at UBC, 6393 N.W. Marine Drive.

WHY: The eighth annual event offers a unique opportunity to beautifully bridge the cultural gap between First Nations and non-First Nations communities through vibrant visuals amplified by inspiring stories and impassioned dances.

About the Coastal First Nations Dance Festival (damelahamid.ca)
The Coastal First Nations Dance Festival is a celebration of the stories, songs, and dances of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America and beyond. Produced and presented by Dancers of Damelahamid in partnership with the Museum of Anthropology at UBC every March, the festival transforms the Museum of Anthropology’s Great Hall into a celebration of Indigenous cultures and dance traditions. The festival places particular emphasis on the vibrant and rich cultural traditions practiced by artists from coastal British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska.