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Community Connections
Red Sky engages in both short and long term projects with communities. We offer arts development revitalization projects, educational outreach initiatives, mentoring initiatives, artistic and community development through dialogue, lecture presentations, company classes, workshops, open rehearsals, and behind-the-scenes activities in order to enrich our communities. Red Sky also offers unique master classes, which reflect our goal to provide intimate face-to-face exchanges with professional artists, community and others who can share their experiences, skills and pass on seasoned advice.
While on tour, we facilitate opportunities for communities to engage in in-depth dialogues on art and culture. We also offer lively Red Sky Workshops for children, youth and adults on dance, music, theatre and Indigenous culture. Click here for more information on workshops.
Red Sky’s Community Initiatives to date:
Red Sky facilitates Inuit performers to attend the Spring Festival Global Gala in Beijing
February 15, 2010
Red Sky facilitated three Inuit performers to participate in the "The North meets South" event in Beijing. Kendra Tagoona (Baker Lake, Nunavut), Becky Mearns (Pangnirtung, Nunavut), and Vinnie Karetak (Arviat, Nunavut) will perform as part of the "Spring Festival Global Gala" on Beijing Television which is the second largest TV station in China. As part of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Beijing, their performance will be broadcast on February 15, 2010 with an audience reach of over 200 million viewers.
Master Class on Indigenous Music
February 8, 2010
Artists-in-residence at The Banff Centre's Music & Sound Department thoroughly enjoyed Red Sky's Master Class on Indigenous Music including live singing, Indigenous worldview, musical inspiration, and Indigenous instrumentation. This Master Class featured the live music featuring three performers from Red Sky's highly acclaimed Tono, a dance and live music production.
The Bentley Chamber Music Studio
The Banff Centre
Banff, Alberta
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde delivers keynote address at the 2009 Blackfoot Arts Awards
October 30, 2009
Sandra Laronde delivers an inspirational keynote address at the 2009 Blackfoot Arts Awards in Lethbridge, Alberta. Organized by the Lethbridge Aboriginal Festival Society, the Blackfoot Arts Awards recognizes artists from the Blackfoot Confederacy for their contribution to Blackfoot identity, pride and inspiration. Award recipients include: Adrian Stimson (Siksika), Eldon Weasel Child (Siksika), Jack Gladstone (Blackfeet), Val Good Rider (Pikani), among others.
Red Sky's Deep Waters Project in Temagami
April 17, July 21-22, and October 19, 2009
Red Sky’s exciting pilot project, the Deep Waters Project, kick started a revitalization of professional arts development in Temagami. Working with the Temagami Artistic Collective, Red Sky’s performance of Raven Stole the Sun was the first of four events happening in the Temagami area that generated a ripple of excitement throughout the community.
The Deep Water Project included: (1) two performances of Raven Stole the Sun on April 17, 2009 at the Municipality of Temagami and the Temagami Public School; (2) on October 19, 2009, there was a performance for children at the Laura McKenzie Learning Centre on the Bear Island Reserve on Lake Temagami; (3) a Deep Waters music concert on July 22, 2009 at the Temagami Arena featuring music sensation Shane Yellowbird, and (4) a Music Career Strategies and Voice Workshop for 16 participants on June 21st at the Dream Keepers Café. This event brought together Elders, traditional drummers, musicians, singers, storytellers, theatre and dance artists who are intimately connected to northern landscape and its immense beauty.
Aboriginal artistic talents included singers/musicians The Eight Thunderbirds led by Jamie Saville, and featured eight young men from the ages 21 to 33 from the Bear Island Reserve and Notre Dame du Nord in Temiskaming; the Deep Water Band led by David Laronde featured performers from Temagami, Cobalt, and New Liskeard, and special guest singer Shane Yellowbird from Hobbema, Alberta was featured with two non-Aboriginal Toronto musicians Glenn Baker and Owen Ehgoetz. A post-concert bonfire was held and an informal jam session ensued with community and artists.
The audiences were from Temagami, Bear Island, North Bay, Latchford, Cobalt, Haileybury, New Liskeard Notre Dame du Nord and as far as Mississauga. It included a mix of local Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal residents, Canadian and American cottagers, educators, and tourists. Audiences were very enthusiastic and community dialogues on art, culture, the north and Aboriginal culture, followed many of the programming activities.
Temagami, Ontario
Associate artist Carlos Rivera teaches at the Atlantic Dance Festival
June 28, 2009
Carlos Rivera teaches a dance workshop on traditional and contemporary Indigenous dance styles at the Atlantic Dance Festival.
DansEncorps Studio
Atlantic Dance Festival
Moncton, New Brunswick
2:00 pm
Red Sky's Artistic Director at the 2009 Canada Dance Festival
June 26 - 28, 2009
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde serves on the Advisory of the 2009 Canada Dance Festival’s “Dancing In, Through and Between Cultures Toward a Space of Mutuality”. Other advisors include Brian Webb, Michael Greyeyes, Denise Fujiwara, Lata Pada, Cathy Levy, Natasha Bakht, Joyce Rosario, Bakari Eddison Lindsay, among others.
Salon
National Arts Centre
Ottawa, Ontario
9:30 – 5:30 pm
Red Sky's Artistic Director at the Dancing Community in Canada
June 16, 2009
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde is a panelist along with Bill Coleman, Lisa Doolittle and Judith Marcuse at the Dancing Community in Canada: Ideas, Practices, Outcomes at the University of Calgary, presented by the Society for Canadian Dance Studies.
Evans Room, Rozsa Centre
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
9:30 – 11:00 am
Luminato Reel Series: Tono: Seed 2 Stage
June 7, 2009
A mini documentary on the creation of Red Sky Performance’s Tono, a three-country project speaking to the tribal identities of Indigenous peoples, their shamanic histories, and the plains horse cultures of North America and Asia.
Artists from Canada, Mongolia and China in attendance
National Film Board
150 John Street
Toronto, Ontario
11:00 am
Artistic Director in a lunchtime tête-à-tête with Luminato
June 6, 2009
Come hear Sandra Laronde (Founder & Artistic Director of Red Sky and creator of Tono) in a lunchtime tête-a-tête with Chris Lorway (Artistic Director of Luminato). Come hear and learn about the creative fire, process and production of this exciting three-country production of Tono.
ROOTS Flagship Store
100 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Red Sky Soirée with artists direct from Mongolia
June 2, 2009
Mix, mingle and hear local traditional First Nations drummers, MorningStar Rivers Singers, and singers and singers and musicians direct from Mongolia.
Red Sky Soirées are performance cafés that share the appreciation of Indigenous artistic expression, and stimulate the creative fire within all communities.
Native Canadian Centre (Auditorium)
16 Spadina Road
Toronto, Ontario
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Cultivation Event with Red Sky
May 28, 2009
A sneak preview of Red Sky’s newest creation. Hear live Mongolian singers and musicians up-close-and-personal’ and meet Artistic Director Sandra Laronde, the creative force behind Red Sky Performance and Tono.
Tono is featured as part of the cultural programming of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and will be part of the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.
WNED Buffalo-Toronto loft
477 Richmond St. W. Suite 602
Toronto, Ontario
6:00 pm
Red Sky Soirée with Carlos Rivera
May 20, 2009
Carlos Rivera is a dancer, teacher and choreographer of traditional and contemporary dance. Carlos has been an associate artist with Red Sky for the past nine years.
Red Sky Soirées are performance cafés that share the appreciation of Indigenous artistic expression, and stimulate the creative fire within all communities.
Free Times Cafe
320 College Street
Toronto, Ontario
6:30 pm
Red Sky Soirée with Julie Choquette
May 13, 2009
Julie Choquette will perform a 15-minute piece and will then speak about what it takes to be a contortionist and an aerial acrobatic.
Red Sky Soirées are performance cafés that share the appreciation of Indigenous artistic expression, and stimulate the creative fire within all communities.
Toronto Dance Theatre
80 Winchester Street, Studio A
Toronto, Ontario
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Red Sky at The Banff Centre for National Aboriginal Day 2008
June 20, 2008
Red Sky celebrates National Aboriginal Day at The Banff Centre that featured Mongolian singers and musicians along with art displays and a reading by Dr. Cora Voyageur.
The Banff Centre
Banff, Alberta
11:00 am
Artistic Director visits Naadam Festival in Mongolia
June 13 – 15, 2007
Artistic Director attends the Naadam Festival, a national event that combines the cultural and artistic expression with the nomad Olympics in Ulanbaatar, Mongolia.
Artistic Director speaks on Indigenous Performance at the University of Toronto
April 4, 2007
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde was a Guest Lecturer on Indigenous contemporary performance and Red Sky’s creative process.
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Artistic Director is a Guest lecturer at Brock University
March 20, 2007
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde was a Guest Speaker on “Empowerment Through the Arts” as part of the second annual Aboriginal Women’s Day that celebrates positive Aboriginal women in today’s society, leadership, social justice and artistic expression.
Brock University
St. Catherine's, Ontario
Workshop at the Odawa Native Friendship Centre for the Urban Aboriginal Alternative High School
February 1, 2007
Co-presented by the Canada Dance Festival and the National Arts Centre, Artistic Director Sandra Laronde recently facilitated a workshop in Movement and Voice for 15 students of the Urban Aboriginal Alternative High School at the Odawa Native Friendship Centre in Ottawa. Components of the workshop included Red Sky’s creative process, a presentation of DVD excerpts of Red Sky’s performances, and an interactive component including movement, voice, and improvisation.
Odawa Native Friendship Centre
Ottawa, Ontario
Red Sky presents Tomson Highway Flies With A Little Help With His Friends
October 27 - 29, 2006
A charming and whimsical cabaret in English, French, and Cree for all audiences.
Featuring the incredible Tomson Highway on piano, the incomparable mezzo soprano Patricia Cano, and saxophonist extraordinaire Uli Kempendorff from Berlin.
This cabaret will feature selections from The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito and selections from Highway´s musical, Rose, part of his "Rez" cycle.
Gibsone Jessop Gallery
Distillery District, Bldg 4 - 55 Mill Street
Toronto, Ontario
October 27-29 at 8:00pm
Native Canadian Centre
16 Spadina Road
Toronto, Ontario
October 29 at 2:00pm
Theatre/Music Mentorship
October 24 - 26, 2006
Five aspiring performers learn more about theatre and music in terms of breaking down scripts and examining elements of music. This mentorship with accomplished director and professor at York University, Mark Wilson, includes sneak previews, behind the scenes work, and performances of renowned Tomson Highway (playwright, composer, lyricist, pianist) and Patricia Cano (mezzo soprano/actress) and Uli Kempendorf (saxophonist) in Tomson Flies with a Little Help from his Friends.
Red Sky Studio
Toronto, Ontario
Master Class with Michael Greyeyes Co-presented with the Canada Dance Festival
June 7, 2006
Master Class with Michael Greyeyes on Viewpoints Improvisation
National Arts Centre
Ottawa, Ontario
Dance Dialogues at the National Arts Centre Co-presented with the Canada Dance Festival
June 6, 2006
Dance Dialogues:
(1) Pre-Show Chat with Artistic Director Sandra Laronde with Aboriginal youth from the Urban Aboriginal Alternative High School and Wabano Health Centre.
(2) Post-Performance Discussion with David, Greyeyes and Laronde on Shimmer’s creative process and traditional/contemporary dance with Canada and Australia
National Arts Centre
Ottawa, Ontario
Dance Workshop with York School
May 10, 2006
Dance workshop with Grade 9 students at York School.
Dovercourt Penthouse
Toronto, Ontario
Red Sky’s Artistic Director Sandra Laronde will be featured in a new episode on APTN’s Venturing Forth
April 12, 2006
Many Aboriginal women prevail over unimaginable odds to achieve success and to thrive. Success comes in many forms - “Aboriginal Women – Journeys” introduces audiences to three outstanding women and features Artistic Director Sandra Laronde.
Airs on APTN Wednesday, April 12th at 1500 EDT / 1200 PDT
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
Sandra Laronde invited to the Distinguished Lecture Series at University of Toronto
March 27, 2006
Red Sky's Artistic Director Sandra Laronde appears at the University of Toronto's Distinguished Lectures Series. She lectures on Contemporary Indigenous Performance in Canada. Co-Sponsored by the Aboriginal Studies Program and the First Nations House, University of Toronto.
Koffler Institute
569 Spadina Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
7:00pm Lecture
Red Sky Workshop at Second Northwest University of Nationalities in China
March 9, 2006
Red Sky music and dance workshop with the Music Department at the Second Northwest University of Nationalities.
Second Northwest University of Nationalities
Yinchuan, China
Red Sky at the Sichuan Arts Professional School in China
March 7, 2006
Red Sky dance workshop at the Sichuan Arts Professional School.
Sichuan Arts Professional School
Chengdu, China
Artistic Director speaks at the Arts Institute of the Southwest University for Nationalities
March 6, 2006
Red Sky's Artistic Director Sandra Laronde speaks on the creative process at the Arts Institute of the Southwest University for Nationalities.
Arts Institute of the Southwest University for Nationalities
Chengdu, China
Artistic Director receives Medal for Good Citizenship
February 7, 2006
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde receives a medal for Good Citizenship, which pays special tribute to those Ontarians whose lives exemplify excellence and achievement in the finest order. Sandra was honoured with one of Ontario’s 38 official silver medals, presented by the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Recipients must have made outstanding public contributions through exceptional efforts. This award reflects their acts of selflessness, generosity and kindness, and exceptional contributions to community life.
Red Sky Workshop with Parry Sound Community
January 15, 2006
Red Sky workshop on theatre, dance and music at the Charles W. Stockey Centre in Parry Sound, Ontario.
Charles W. Stockey Centre
Parry Sound, Ontario
2:00pm Performance
3:30pm Workshop
Red Sky Workshop with Cantebury High School in Ottawa, Ontario
December 9, 2005
Red Sky workshop on artistic process and the multidisciplinary approach to performing arts.
Cantebury High School
Ottawa, Ontario
Red Sky Workshop at Brock University in St. Catherines, Ontario
November 27, 2005
Red Sky workshop on artistic process and theatre for third and fourth year drama students at Brock University.
Brock University
St. Catherines, Ontario
Red Sky Workshop at the Maritime Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Halifax, Nova Scotia
November 10, 2005
Red Sky workshop for children exploring movement, song, and exercises for the imagination at the Maritime Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Maritime Conservatory for the Performing Arts
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Red Sky Workshop with schools from Annapolis Valley First Nation in Nova Scotia
November 9, 2005
Red Sky workshop for the Highbury Education Centre (Youth at Risk), and Central Kings High School from Annapolis Valley First Nation in Nova Scotia.
Red Sky Post-Performance Salon at the Algoma Fall Festival
November 2, 2005
Post-Performance Salon: Storytelling and Cultural Practice with Red Sky and Bea Shawanda.
Algoma Fall Festival
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Artistic Director is a Guest Instructor at the National Theatre School
April 7 - 8, 2005
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde teaches at the National Theatre School in Montreal, Quebec as part of Ondinnok's Theatre Intensive with NTS. Red Sky works with Emerging and Intermediate Aboriginal actors in a Voice & Movement workshop.
National Theatre School
Montreal, Quebec
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde is featured in "Sharing the Inspiration" Leadership Forum
March 16, 2005, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
The 3rd Annual National Aboriginal Women in the Leadership Forum co-presented by Women in Leadership Foundation and Native Canadian Centre of Toronto.
Toronto, Ontario
Artistic Director is a Guest Lecturer at the University of New Mexico
February 14, 2005
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde is a Guest Lecturer for the Indigenous Performing Arts program.
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Artistic Director is a Guest Lecturer on Performance Entrepreneurship at Ryerson University
February 2, 2005
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde speaks on Performance Entrepreneurship at Ryerson University. The purpose of this lecture is to give graduating actors and dancers the tools they need to mount a show, or to start a company, and to inspire the students to self-start new initiatives by sharing Red Sky's story of success.
Ryerson University
Toronto, Ontario
Artistic Director wins the Aboriginal Affairs Award from the City of Toronto
December 9, 2004
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde was a recipient of the Aboriginal Affairs Award from the City of Toronto on the occasion of Human Rights Day.
Hosted by Mayor David Miller and Andy Barrie of Metro Morning CBC Radio One, the Aboriginal Affairs Award honoured the contribution of a person(s) whose efforts have made a significant contribution towards improving the quality of the life for the Aboriginal community in Toronto.
According to Sandra Laronde, "this award represents the recognition of the entire Aboriginal community and its significant role in the social change in the City of Toronto."
Red Sky at the Toronto International Pow Wow
November 27 – 28, 2004
Red Sky's interactive festival booth attracted thousands of people at the Toronto International Pow Wow, the largest annual pow wow in North America.
Toronto, Ontario
Red Sky joins the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. on the occasion of the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)
September 20, 2004
The Embassy presented a program of events inspired to complement the NMAI's grand celebrations that involve Canadian Aboriginal artists in the fields of visual arts, storytelling, music, dance and literature.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in partnership with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, presents Red Sky Performance in celebration of the Grand Opening of the museum on the National Mall.
Sun Spirits (Caribou Song & Raven Stole the Sun)
John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center
Washington, D.C.
3:30pm
IDEA - World Congress Festival
July 5 - 6, 2004
Sun Spirits (Caribou Song & Raven Stole the Sun)
IDEA - International Drama/Theatre & Education Association
Academic Hall, University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Artistic Director chosen to participate in the Governor-General's Canadian Leadership program
May 7 - 21, 2004
In 2004, Red Sky's Artistic Director Sandra Laronde was one of 225 Canadians chosen to participate in the Governor-General's Canadian Leadership program that celebrates promising leaders making a significant impact on Canada. In May, Sandra participates in a two-week intensive travelling to three provinces, and will meet luminaries such as Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa; Guy Laliberté, Cirque du Soleil; Zacharias Kunuk, filmmaker of Atanajurat: The Fast Runner.
Master Class with Carlos Rivera
March 26 - 28, 2004
Master Class with Carlos Rivera on Traditional & Contemporary Dance Forms. Carlos Rivera is a core performer with Red Sky, and a dancer, teacher and choreographer of traditional Mexican and contemporary dance.
Maddison Studios
Toronto, Ontario
4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Teacher Orientation Session at Harbourfront Centre
March 8, 2004
Teacher Orientation session for primary school teachers to better understand and appreciate First Nation's artistic and cultural expression.
Harbourfront Centre
Toronto, Ontario
Master Class with Makka Kleist On Stage Presence
December 7, 2003
These unique master classes reflect Red Sky's goal to provide the opportunity to theatre, dance, music, storytelling and film professionals for intimate face-to-face exchanges with others who can share their experiences, skills and pass on seasoned advice.
Makka Kleist is an accomplished actor, director and teacher. She is Inuk originally from Greenland, and has trained extensively with Tuukkaq Theatre in Denmark, and performed in Tuukkaq's "Nattoralik", "Kattutta, "Eqqartuussisuaraq", and "Uaajeerneq in Greenland, Scandinavia, Holland, France, Germany, United States and Canada. She has also worked with Silamuit Theatre, North Atlantic Cultural Cooperation, Native Earth, and was a coordinator for the Inuit Circumpolar Conference in Nuuk and Kuujjuaq in Greenland.
Guild Room, Equity Showcase Theatre
651 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario
1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Toronto's International Pow Wow
November 29 - 30, 2003
Red Sky's interactive festival booth attracted thousands of people at the Toronto International Pow Wow, the largest annual pow wow in North America.
Thousands of people from the Aboriginal and mainstream communities, and from all parts of Ontario, Canada and the U.S. attended this event. Red Sky provided and distributed information, signed visitors on to our mailing list, promoted upcoming events, and provided audiences with the opportunity to watch performance excerpts of Red Sky on a looped DVD.
Toronto, Ontario
Red Sky as part of Creative Places & Spaces International Conference
October 18, 2003
Sandra Laronde and Rick Sacks performed an excerpt of Caribou Song at the "Creative Places & Spaces" international conference of 500 delegates at Toronto’s Design Exchange presented by Toronto Artscape in association with the Canadian Urban Institute and Artspace Projects of Minneapolis.
Toronto, Ontario
Artistic Director speaks at joint initiative sponsored by Canada Council and Department of Canadian Heritage
September 24 – 25, 2003
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde is a guest speaker at a joint initiative sponsored by Canada Council and the Department of Canadian Heritage called “Perspectives on Innovative Management Practices in Small-mid scale and Community Based Arts Organizations” for Canada Council's board and staff.
Red Sky Workshop at the Splitting the Sky Festival
August 23, 2003
An inspiring Movement and Voice workshop for emerging Aboriginal performers at the Splitting the Sky Festival hosted by the Indigenous Artistic Service Organization of British Columbia.
Western Canadian Theatre
Kamloops, British Columbia
Dancing Americas excerpt at Harbourfront's World Fare
July 19, 2003
Sandra Laronde and Carlos Rivera perform dance excerpts from Red Sky's Dancing Americas.
A stunning new dance piece conceived by Sandra Laronde with choreography by Peter Chin. These excerpts explore the First Peoples of the Americas through the metaphor of the migratory Monarch butterfly.
Ann Tindall Stage
Harbourfront Centre, York Quay
235 Queen's Quay Centre
Toronto, Ontario
2:30pm
Master Class on Deer Dance and Mayo Culture with Carlos Rivera
April 1, 2003
These unique master classes reflect Red Sky's goal to provide intimate face-to-face exchanges with professional artists, community and others who can share their experiences, skills and pass on seasoned advice.
Gardiner Museum
Toronto, Ontario
Artistic director a Guest Lecturer at the University of Toronto
March 31, 2003
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde lectured at University of Toronto's Introduction to Aboriginal Studies on Aboriginal art and culture.
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Artistic director a Guest Lecturer at York University
March 30, 2003
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde lectured at York University's undergraduate dance class on contemporary Indigenous dance
York University
Toronto, Ontario
All Things are Connected Community Celebration with Red Sky
February 23, 2003
Red Sky's sneak preview of excerpts from Dancing Americas with Red Sky's Artistic Director Sandra Laronde, choreographer Peter Chin and performers Carlos Rivera, Marina Acevedo and Andrea Zavala at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas West, Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Series 8.08
February 22, 2003
Excerpt of work-in-progress, Dancing Americas, at the YMCA in Toronto.
YMCA
Toronto, Ontario
Red Sky Workshop at the National Theatre School in Montreal, Quebec
November 8 - 10, 2002
Movement and Voice Workshop for "Ateliers d'initiation au theatre pour les autochones" with Ondinnok at the National Theatre School in Montreal.
National Theatre School
Montreal, Quebec
Artistic Director a Guest Lecturer at York University
October 31, 2002
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde Lectured at York University's Master of Arts' research seminar on contemporary Indigenous dance.
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Artistic Director a panelist at the 2002 On the Move Conference
January 19, 2002
Artistic Director Sandra Laronde participated on the Emerging Platform panel at the 2002 On the Move Conference at the National Ballet of Canada.
National Ballet of Canada
Toronto, Ontario
