website: www.ravenspiritdance.com

Raven Spirit Dance Society’s mandate is to create, develop and produce contemporary dance that is rooted in traditional and contemporary aboriginal worldview. By sharing this work on local, national and international stages, RSDS aims to reaffirm the vital importance of dance to the expression of human experience and to cultural reclamation. Led by Artistic Director, Michelle Olson, RSDS aims to explore how professional artistic work is responsive and responsible to community and to continue to redefine dance’s place in diverse community settings.

RSDS was formed in 1999 and incorporated March 2005. The company’s core members are Janice Beley (General Manager), Michelle Olson (Artistic Director), Starr Muranko (Artistic Associate), and Cherith Mark (Training Coordinator). Learn more about these core members on the RSDS website’s biography page.

RSDS currently has 6 active productions and two projects in research and development: Cello & Butterflies and Frost Exploding Trees Moon. RSDS is active in contemporary dance and aboriginal communities through teaching, facilitating workshops, mentoring and residencies. In 2008 and 2009, RSDS performed 13 shows between two different productions. Over the past 4 years, RSDS has created the following 4 new works: Ta’wan, Evening in Paris, Luk T’äga Näche, and Gathering Light. Check out this video clip from Gathering Light:

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