Set in motion by choreographer Andrea Nann.
Audiences go behind the scenes in a short documentary of The Welcome Project: Sharing Stories Guelph, a unique online project that brought together diverse artists and individuals from Toronto and Guelph regions. Participants were guided into an empowering creative process, awakening bodies, hearts, voices, and imaginations.
Following this, The Welcome Project Ensemble, with Mohawk drummer Phil Davis, Anishinaabe dancer and composer Joshua DePerry, Michelle Silagy, Danielle Denichaud and Andrea Nann, guide The Welcome Gesture, a Positive Public Action, inviting viewers at home to join in a sequence of simple, powerful, unison gestures. Short videos created by The Welcome Project: Sharing Stories Guelph participants conclude the event.
Dreamwalker Dance Company facilitates the creation, production and sharing of art that explores and interprets human experience so Artists and Audiences alike can connect, awaken and feel empowered. The body is the instrument and becomes the basis for partnerships, performances, installations, inventions, and interactions. Projects are inspired by contemporary conversations and events with a mandate to reach out and empower youth, and to strengthen connections between culturally diverse and multigenerational Artists and Audiences. We are committed to community growth and the values behind connecting diverse Artists and unique practices, while diving deeply and creatively into unknown realms — exploring possibilities; researching new methods, new approaches for creation and collaboration.
The Welcome Project: Sharing Stories Guelph – Presented by Dreamwalker Dance Company and Guelph Dance
Facilitators, Ambassadors, Participants
Meryem Alaoui, Aria Evans, Shannon Kitchings, Claire Tacon,Jaqueline Dubon, Manuel Garcia, Maria Gabriela Gómez, Stella Lim, Chenise Mitchell, Foufou Nazer, Naishi Wang, Abigail Whitney, Ali Abdel Ali, Jair Calva, Aura Carcueva, Kinnery Chaparrel, Natalia Garcia, Donat Ghebretensae, Jordan Isaac, Akram Koshesh, Tahereh Mirbabaei, Cynthia Mora, Sandra Olaya, Neelma Siddiqui, Bee Lee Soh, Priyamvada Tiwari, Masoumeh Zamanipoor, Saba Zhian
Project Partners
Guelph Dance, Ontario Culture Days, City of Toronto, Newcomer Office, Guelph Youth Dance Training Program, Immigrant Services Guelph-Wellington, KidsAbility
Project Funders
Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council
Project Team
Project Instigator: Andrea Nann
Project Manager: Mayumi Lashbrook
Inclusion Facilitator: Michelle Silagy
Indigenous Liaison: Phil Davis
Researcher: Danielle Denichaud
Video Editor: Aria Evans
Video Composer: Joshua Classic Roots DePerry
Dreamwalker General Manager: Adina Herling
Guelph Dance Outreach and Development Manager: Leslie Fisher
Photo by Manuel Garcia