"Outside Looking In" performing arts production team working with Pikangikum First Nation
Press Release ...
Pikangikum First Nation in Northwestern Ontario Selected as Tracee Smith Launches Outside Looking In Second Debut
Toronto, September 3, 2008: Outside Looking In proudly presents their second annual debut performance scheduled for Wednesday April 22, 2009 at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts at the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto, Ontario. The host community for this year’s show is Pikangikum First Nation in Northwestern Ontario.
“We are so excited to be working with Pikangikum in our second year, and can’t wait to discover all the hidden artistic talents they have.” says Tracee Smith, Founder and Artistic Director of Outside Looking In, which she founded in 2007. Outside Looking In is an organization that provides opportunities of self-expression to Indigenous youth through the arts, specifically film, dance, music and visual arts. They work with the youth throughout their academic year by bringing guest teachers and artists to rehearse and prepare the youth to travel to Toronto to perform in front of a sold-out audience. They have applied for charitable status in July 2008.
“The overwhelming response we got in our first year from the audience shows how powerful the arts are. The youth from Lac La Croix First Nation who got to perform in the debut year for an audience of 400 people is something they will never forget for the rest of their lives,” says Smith. Because of this response, OLI is offering discounted tickets of $15/ youth to Indigenous communities and schools to see the power of the arts firsthand as Pikangikum First Nation takes to the stage. “We wanted to offer this to our communities who can travel to Toronto to see the show so that they say, “We want to be apart of OLI too!” There are only 250 tickets available at this price, so communities are encouraged to order these tickets immediately by filling out the order form provided.
Tracee Smith, a member of Missanabie Cree First Nation in Ontario, is an accomplished artist her self. She was recently voted one of Canada’s Top 50 Artists by the Canada Council for the Arts for her professional work as a dancer and choreographer. Alongside her academic achievements, holding both an Honours BA in dance and about to attain her MBA, she now extends her talents and gifts as the founder and producer of Outside Looking In to Indigenous youth.
To order tickets at this special discounted price of $15/ticket, please fill out the order form attached and return by fax. Should you have any questions, please contact OLI directly. Currently, OLI only accept cheques. Please make cheques payable to “Outside Looking In” and mail to:
Outside Looking In
9-34 King St. East
Toronto, ON M5C2X8
P: 647.350.5450
F: 647.350.5451
info@olishow.net
www.olishow.net
Outside Looking In BACKGROUNDER
Outside Looking In (www.olishow.net) was created by First Nations choreographer-producer Tracee Smith, who was recently named one of Canada’s Top 50 Artists by the Canada Council for the Arts. Designed to entertain and educate, Outside Looking In takes audience members on a journey filled with hope and perseverance. Featuring high school students of Pikangikum First Nation, Outside Looking In proves that dreams do come true.
Bridging the cultural gap
Outside Looking In was created to bridge the cultural gap between Canadians and Indigenous people through dance, music and film.
Some Indigenous people – those who first inhabited the land we now call Canada — feel like outsiders looking in on a country in which they live. Many Canadians do not have an understanding of Indigenous culture beyond what they read in newspapers and see on television. Nor do Indigenous people always have the opportunity to venture far from home to experience life outside of their communities.
Outside Looking In hopes to change this. Through a multi-arts performance, Outside Looking In will give Canadians the opportunity to look inside an Indigenous community. Just as important, the Indigenous youth will get to see beyond the borders of their reserve.
An opportunity for Indigenous youth to self-express
Outside Looking In provides opportunities for self-expression to Indigenous youth from a small, extremely isolated reserve called Pikangikum First Nation in northwestern Ontario. As featured performers in a dance-video montage, Indigenous youth not only learn dance steps and routines, but also learn about possibilities — inspiring them to imagine and dream about their futures.
The show’s concept is education through the arts
Today, media is a way for everyone to stay in touch, but also to learn about one another. Not only does Outside Looking In provide Canadians the opportunity to see and meet today’s Indigenous youth and get to know them through performance, but the youth get to venture out of their boundaries and see the big city life of downtown Toronto where they rehearse, do media interviews as featured performers, and experience the real-life of a professional artist. They get to experience with their own eyes what they see on TV and the internet, an experience they could only imagine.
It’s all about exposing Indigenous youth to the endless opportunities that await them, so they can see that dreams are attainable and within reach. Outside Looking In provides this opportunity to Indigenous youth in Canada through the power of the arts.
To learn about how your community can become involved, please contact us at our information below.For more information, please contact our communications department:
Outside Looking In
9-34 King St. East
Toronto ON M5C2X8
P: 647.350.5450
E: info@olishow.net
Please visit our website at www.olishow.net to learn more!