The Welcome Project: Sharing Stories Chapter 2 brought together diverse individuals from the Niagara region to participate in an empowering creative process through movement -- awakening bodies, hearts, voices, imaginations, and perceptions -- to co-create deeply personal stories while promoting mental health and wellbeing, social inclusion, and positive inter-group communication. 

 

The Sharing Stories edition of The Welcome Project takes place in a virtual setting to inspire individuals from already isolated populations to meet, connect, and experience inclusivity, creativity and self-expression during a time when other arts-based activities have been suspended and physical distancing must be upheld. 

 

The Welcome Project: Sharing Stories video collection introduces each individual with a glimpse into their personal experience within the shared movement and memory process that connected everyone to the theme of “home”.  Joshua "Classic Roots" DePerry has  composed a unique music track inspired by each individual’s heartbeat vocalizations and the videos were edited by Aria Evans.

 

The Welcome Project: Sharing Stories

Chapter Two (January-March 2021)

presented by Dreamwalker Dance Company and FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre

 

Facilitators

Meryem Alaoui, Shannon Kitchings, Claire Tacon

 

Returning Ambassadors

Jaqueline Dubon, Maria Gabriela Gómez, Stella Lim, Chenise Mitchell, Abigail Whitney

 

Ambassadors and Participants

Diego Blanco, Maryury Carranza, Jade Davis-Smoke, Gabriel Flores, Iain Lidstone, Jermaine Marshall, Christine Mena-Garcia, Heryka Miranda, Ehima Osazuwa, Erika Rivadeneira, Holly Treddenick, Esther Wainaina

 

Project Partners 

FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, Niagara Folk Arts, Brock University, Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre, Niagara Regional Native Centre, The Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association 

 

Project Funders

Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Niagara United Way

 

Staff

Project Instigator: Andrea Nann

Project Managers: Annie Katsura Rollins

and Mayumi Lashbrook

Mixed Abilities Consultant: Michelle Silagy

Indigenous Liaison: Phil Davis

Researcher: Danielle Denichaud

Dreamwalker General Manager: Adina Herling

FOPAC Programming Supervisor: Annie Wilson