New Blood

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

A collaborative production between Strathmore High School’s (SHS) Blackfoot students, dance students and Glee students is coming to the SHS stage on Nov. 23.
The production, which was inspired by City of Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and set to Peter Gabriel’s album New Blood, which is also the title of the production, will run Nov. 23-25 nightly at 7 p.m. The story follows the tale of a young native man who is reclaiming his traditions.
“It’s kind of exciting because it’s the dance class, the Blackfoot class and the Glee class all combining this time. It was kind of inspired by Mayor Nenshi in Calgary,” said dance teacher Deanne Bertsch.
“He declared this year, 2014, the year of reconciliation because the reconciliation commission finished their last interview with the residential school survivors back in March.
“So he put a challenge to Calgarians and citizens of surrounding areas to learn more about this time in history and do something in response. This is kind of Strathmore High School’s response to Mayor Nenshi’s challenge.”
The dance class has created contemporary pieces to Gabriel’s music, and some of the students in the Blackfoot class are doing native drumming and dancing and singing.
“It’s been really exciting to work with the Blackfoot kids and hear what’s important to them,” said Bertsch.
Two professional artists, George Littlechild, a Canadian First Nations artist, and Doug Levitt have agreed to allow the school to showcase some of their work during the performance.
Bertsch said people should come to see the show so they can “see the history of the Blackfoot people in a new way and to celebrate the traditions of the Blackfoot people in the way of music and dance and poetry.”
Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased in advance by calling the school at 403-934-3135, or at the door.