The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) presents Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq and Greenlandic mask dancer Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory in an electrifying combination of sound and movement, March 16 – 18 at 7:30pm in the Telus Studio Theatre as part of the Beyond Words series. Lauded for their expressive and emotionally-charged performances, together these powerhouse artists will cast a contemporary light on their shared Inuit roots while celebrating the strength, resilience, and courage of Indigenous women.
Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and now based in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Williamson Bathory is a prolific performer of the traditional Greenlandic mask dance known as uaajeerneq. This transcendent art form invokes the power of storytelling through sweeping movement and dramatic facial expressions. Williamson Bathory is also a published academic, poet, and an outspoken advocate for creative spaces, gender equality, and Indigenous political voice. In addition to her poetry, theatre, and dance, she is currently leading an initiative to develop Iqaluit’s first-ever dedicated performing arts centre.
Born in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Tanya Tagaq is a critically-acclaimed throat singer, experimental musician, and a member of the Order of Canada. She achieved massive international recognition for her melding of Inuit throat singing techniques and modern dance beats. Called a ‘polar punk’, Tagaq first took up throat singing while studying visual arts at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Traditionally practiced as a duet, Tagaq honed her own new methods of contemporary throat singing and experimental vocals as a soloist. This distinct and otherwordly vocal style caught the attention of Icelandic sensation Björk, who then invited the groundbreaking artist on tour.
For this series of three performances at the Chan Centre, Tanya Tagaq and Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory will be joined onstage by vocalist Christine Duncan, percussionist Jean Martin, and violinist Jesse Zubot.
Chan Centre presents: Tanya Tagaq and Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory
Dates: March 16 – 18, 2018 at 7:30pm
Tickets: From $29
Address: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts University of British Columbia 6265 Crescent Road Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
Box Office: 604-822-2697 / chancentre.com
In person at the Chan Centre ticket office
Open Tue-Sat, 12pm-5pm
Website: chancentre.com
Photo by Dustin Rabin