Earth Dance Theater Artistic Director Andrew Brother Elk is working overtime on behalf of indigenous dance and the arts.
In early June he traveled to Mexico for the “Puerta de las Americas” conference sponsored in part by Arts Presenters Alliance (APAP) and the Mexican government. While at the conference, Mr. Brother Elk met with Mexican dance and government officials to discuss future promising collaborations between Mexican dance companies and universities and Earth Dance Theater.
The day after the Mexico conference, Mr. Brother Elk attended the national Performing Arts Convention in Pittsburgh, sponsored in part by DanceUSA, APAP, as well as theater and music associations. This groundbreaking convention for all of the performing arts in the USA yielded many opportunities to meet and learn from other dance companies and cultural arts organizations.
Mr. Brother Elk was able to meet agents, presenters, and university staff interested in future Earth Dance Theater collaborations. San Francisco was well represented by staff from ODC, Mr. Alonzo King, Ms. Joanna Haigood, Ms. Lily Cai, and many others.
In July Mr. Brother Elk has been invited by the Canadian Government’s Cultural Heritage bureau to be the official evaluator of the Banff Centre for Aboriginal Arts in Alberta, Canada. The Banff Centre is one of the only programs of its kind in the western hemisphere, providing instruction and public events in the fields of dance, media, visual arts, screenwriting, storytelling, and new works. The 2004 dance program at Banff features the Gwawina (Raven) Dancers from the Kwakwaka-waka on Vancouver Island in a contemporary presentation.
“It is very important for our new company to make a name for itself, meet and greet potential presenters, and represent our unique company to the performing arts world,” said Brother Elk on a break from the Pittsburgh conference. “I’ve met scores of artists interested in working with us, and that is a very gratifying feeling,” Brother Elk stated. “I am also looking forward to sleeping in my own bed someday soon.”
In the meantime, Earth Dance Theater is preparing for its participation in “The New World”, a New Line Cinema film scheduled to begin filming in July. The film stars Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer, Wes Studi, and Michael Greyeyes. It is directed by writer/director Terrence Mallick, and is scheduled for a late 2005 release. Earth Dance is also performing in Sante Fe during the Indian Market in August, and Earth Dance Street has a busy schedule of events in June and July.
