Sandra Laronde, an award-winning director, dancer and actor based in Toronto, has been appointed director of the aboriginal arts program at the Banff Centre.
The program, established in 1993, provides opportunities for aboriginal artists to explore and create in visual, music, dance, theatre and literary arts at the facility in Banff, Alta.
Laronde, an Anishinabe from Temagami in northern Ontario, will continue her role as artistic director of Toronto's Red Sky Performance, an arts company she founded in 2000.
"I look forward to playing a vital role in developing and cultivating the artistic excellence and cultural vibrancy of the First Peoples who have enriched this land so deeply," Laronde said through a statement released Wednesday.
Red Sky Performance has received acclaim for its original works and productions staged locally and internationally.
Last year, Laronde choreographed a collaboration called Shimmer, a fusion of North American and Australian traditional and modern dance and music, which went on tour across Canada.
"We look forward to Sandra contributing her experience, enthusiasm, and leadership to the creation of an inspiring vision and vibrant programs," said Sarah Iley, vice-president of programming for the Banff Centre.
Laronde has a long list of performing credits including appearances in Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis for CBC-TV, Chiefs for the History Channel and The Tempest at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People in Toronto.
In addition, she has been an active community leader serving as spokeswoman for Toronto's Olympic bid, participating in the 2004 Governor-General's Canadian Leadership program and moderating a panel on aboriginal artistic expression in 2002 for the Department of Canadian Heritage.
She received Toronto City Council's Aboriginal Affairs Award in 2004 and was the recipient of the Paul D. Fleck Fellowship in the Arts from the Banff Centre in 2006.
More Theatre Headlines »
- National Ballet's Nutcracker to be simulcast in cinemas
- The National Ballet of Canada is bringing a high-definition version of its holiday classic, The Nutcracker, to Canadian cinema audiences next month.
- Cirque to stage new Hollywood-inspired show at Oscar's house
- The Oscar Awards are getting a new roommate, as the Cirque du Soleil has unveiled plans for a permanent, movie-inspired show based at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
- Talks between Broadway stagehands and producers break down again
- Talks broke down between striking Broadway stagehands and theatre producers, with the producers' league announcing it has cancelled performances through the upcoming lucrative U.S. Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
- Broadway stagehands, producers in 2nd day of negotiations
- Talks are continuing for a second day between theatre producers and the union representing striking Broadway stagehands.
- Havel's first play in 18 years published
- The first play by former Czech president Vaclav Havel in 18 years will be published in his country this week.
More Arts Headlines »
- Border cops, hockey wives highlight CBC winter season
- CBC Television is heating up its winter lineup with a gritty drama about immigration police and a steamy series about the women in the lives of hockey players.
- National Ballet's Nutcracker to be simulcast in cinemas
- The National Ballet of Canada is bringing a high-definition version of its holiday classic, The Nutcracker, to Canadian cinema audiences next month.
- Neil Diamond reveals it was 'Sweet Caroline' Kennedy
- Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond kept it secret for decades, but he has finally revealed that former U.S. president John F. Kennedy's daughter was the inspiration for his smash hit Sweet Caroline.
- Slice TV network adds new Canadian reality shows
- Canadian reality shows will dominate the schedule on the Slice TV network in winter 2008.
- 70 years of Met opera made available online
- New York's Metropolitan Opera has made 100 famous operas from its back catalogue available online through the digital music service Rhapsody.
Arts Features
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window