Native Earth Performing Arts and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre to Present Inaugural 2-SPIRIT CABARET

Native Earth Performing Arts proudly partners with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre to present the inaugural 2-Spirit Cabaret on Friday November 11th, 2016 at Buddies' Cabaret space. Hosted by poet and activist Gwen Benaway (Anishinaabe/Tsagli/Métis), the 2-Spirit Cabaret features performances and spoken word by 2-Spirit, Queer and Trans-identified Indigenous artists.

This unique event will showcase artists from across Canada and around the world, including Australia's Miss Ellaneous (Muran and Malak Malak Clans) in her show-stopping drag performance Miss Ellaneous direct from the Land Down Under!; San Francisco's Landa Lakes (Chickasaw), who explores the ancient world of Southeastern Tribal origin stories with Pintishkannovt nantahaat katihmi ("What Happened to Little Mouse?"); and Halifax-based Anishnawbek artist Raven Davis, reconstructing the concept of gender normality in traditional regalia in their performance piece Switch Dance Reconstruction.

The 2-Spirit Cabaret is part of Native Earth's 29th annual festival of Indigenous works, Weesageechak Begins to Dance. Making their return to the festival are Smith Purdy (Mi'Kmaq/Scotch-Irish), Michaela Washburn (Métis) and Cherish Violet Blood (Blackfoot). Purdy will offer audiences underground knowledge of the Mi'Kmaq clan system in Calling M'sit Nokmaq, while Washburn and Blood share their unique and intimate experiences coming out as queer, Indigenous women in their respective works, Dragmouse Presents... and STATIC.

Finally, DJ Ariel (Blackfoot/Cree/Anishnaabe) closes the night with a dance party fit for a king, queen and anyone in between! All are welcome at this eclectic and energetic evening showcasing an array of talented emerging and established artists.

Tickets to the 2-Spirit Cabaret include access to the screening of an imagineNATIVE film at 7:30 pm on the same day in Aki Studio. For more information on this and other Weesageechak 29 programming, visit nativeearth.ca. The 2-Spirit Cabaret is sponsored by PrideTO and the TD Bank Group.

2-SPIRIT CABARET
Native Earth Performing Arts in partnership with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
part of Weesageechak Begins to Dance 29

Friday November 11, 2016
Doors 9:00 PM | Show 10:00 PM | DJ 11:30 PM
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
12 Alexander Street, Toronto ON M4Y 1B4

Evening Tickets: $15
Included in Weesageechak 29 Festival Pass: $60
Aki Studio Box Office: 416-531-1402
or boxoffice@nativeearth.ca

Learn More About the Cabaret Artists

Connect with Native Earth
nativeearth.ca • @NativeEarth • NativeEarthFB • NativeEarthInsta

Connect with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
buddiesinbadtimes.com • @yyzbuddies • BuddiesFB • BuddiesInsta

Native Earth Performing Arts is Canada's oldest professional Indigenous theatre company. Currently in our 34th year, we are dedicated to creating, developing and producing professional artistic expressions of the Indigenous experience in Canada. Through stage productions (theatre, dance and multi-disciplinary art), new script development, apprenticeships and internships, Native Earth seeks to fulfill a community of artistic visions. It is a vision that is inclusive and reflective of the artistic directions of members of the Indigenous community who actively participate in the arts.

Established in 1979, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is a professional Canadian theatre company dedicated to the development and presentation of queer theatre. The largest and longest running queer theatre in the world, Buddies has made an unparalleled contribution to the recognition and acceptance of queer lives in Canada and is Toronto's leading destination for artistically rigorous alterative theatre.