PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Phase I - The Trip

After a 2 year pandemic delay, Maura García will be in Naarm (aka Melbourne, Australia) from November 14th - December 4th as part of the Lighton International Artist Exchange Program (LIAEP) :

LIAEP works to make the world a smaller place by giving artists of different cultures the opportunity to work together, in the hope that lasting friendship and understanding will develop.

The International Indigenous Cultural Exchange project will be collaboratively directed by Indigenous dance artists Jackie Sheppard (Kurtjar/Kunjen) and Maura García (non-enrolled Cherokee/Mattamuskeet). Their focus will be on building stories through cultural expression in a performative context. Additionally, they will engage with local Indigenous community, who will feed into and be a part of the creative outcome.

The happenings of today are the ancient stories of our future descendants. Indigenous ways of knowing and being were gifted through the generations to be used throughout all times: past, present and future. Maura and Jackie will be working with these concepts, centering the cross-continental exchange of Indigenous stories, ways of being and lived experiences. Additionally they will consider the complex layers of existing within constructs that cannot accommodate the fullness of their identities as First Nations people. They will be exploring the differences and parallels between the way they both experience the world culturally, spiritually, politically and socially.

Throughout their project Maura will be documenting the process through written reflections, photos and videos shared via social media.

Phase 2 - The Shareback

Upon returning to the United States Maura will host a free "Australia Shareback" event at Panoramic Dreams (a BIPOC owned arts business). Australia Shareback will be for local Indigenous and BIPOC artists. Invitees will include Maura's personal contacts, Panoramic Dreams’ connections and people reached via collaboration with local arts organizations. Free childcare will be provided during the event so parent artists can attend without worry.

Australia Shareback event activities:

An interactive audience experience featuring techniques explored by Jackie and Maura during their project.
Information session about the resources that supported Maura's trip to Australia
Q & A
A fellowship feast catered by a local IBPOC-owned business
Fun children’s activities for artists’ offspring

PEOPLE

Maura García (non-enrolled Cherokee/Mattamuskeet)

Maura García inspires audiences to liberate themselves through vibrant performances that uplift Indigenous cultural values and harness the sensual rhythms of the natural world. Maura (non-enrolled Cherokee/Mattamuskeet) is a dancer, choreographer and erotic artist. From stages to music videos to the outdoors, her creations reflect the power of stories to form and change our realities.

MORE ABOUT MAURA

Maura’s work is powered by a desire to perpetuate ancestral knowledge, actively respect the living earth and bring happiness to people. Both as a soloist and with ensembles, she has performed throughout North America, notably at:

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (NY, USA)
The Dance Centre (BC, Canada)
New York Theater Workshop (NY, USA)
Woodland Cultural Centre (ON, Canada)

the ArtsCenter (NC), Atlas Performing Arts Center (DC), Dance Place (DC), Disney World (FL), Embassy of Senegal (DC), Kansas City Repertory Theater (MO), Lawrence Arts Center (KS), Links Hall (IL), Rhythmically Speaking Festival (MN), Talking Stick Festival (BC, Canada), Unedited Series (SC), University of Arizona, University of South Carolina, Walker Arts Center (MN) and the Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival (ON, Canada).

ln addition to dance for the stage, Maura choreographs for the outdoors and in response to specific places. She is particularly interested in creating stunning performance that is accessible, sustainable and has a low carbon foot print. Her first commission was a performance for the Charleston Library Society (SC) incorporating interviews with library patrons, local Indigenous Natchez creation stories and audience participation.

The Ackland Art Museum (NC) commissioned her to make a performance in collaboration with sound artist Mark Gabriel Little in response to their featured exhibition.

The following year, the inaugural event for Kansas City’s “Art in the Loop” outdoor performance series was a dance Maura created in collaboration with park passersby and city employees.

In 2019, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art presented a locally-specific remount of her work that took place in 3 different outdoor sites in northwest Arkansas. As a fellow in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian’s Artist Leadership Program, she worked with members of the Kansas City Indian Center and local Indigenous artists to realize an 8-month long arts project exploring ancient and contemporary urban Indian identity.

Maura currently resides on A-ma-ye-(t)li, also known as turtle island. She believes that every interaction with a living being is an opportunity to positively affect the world. As she travels the world, she continues to seek out opportunities that will allow her to dance, connect and create with others.

DATES & PLACES

PHASE I - The Trip: 14 November - 4 December 2022

Connecting with local Indigenous artists and community
- TBD, various locations in Naarm
MAV Ahead of the Curve Workshops
- 18 Nov: Led by Maura
- 25 Nov: Led by Maura & Jackie
- 2 Dec: Led by Maura & Jackie
Studio rehearsals
- Dancehouse 16-17, 19-20 Nov.
- Abbotsford Convent 21-27 Nov.

PHASE II - The Shareback: 11 December 2022 By invitation only, for BIPOC artists at Panoramic Dreams, Spokane traditional territory

Jackie Sheppard (Tagalaka/Dagalak)

Jackie is a mixed medium performer, storyteller, dancer and workshop facilitator. Their creations are inspired by the multilayered narratives of Sovereign peoples. They attempt to identify and interrogate Ancestral, Inter-generational and meta-physical narratives that are relative to Blak lived experiences. Focusing on the aspects of our Physical, Spiritual and Sub-conscious bodies, Jackie seeks to shed light in dark places & explore taboo and difficult topics. Jackie attempts to explore and present story in a way which nurtures the storyteller. They have studied dance at NAISDA Dance College, Acting at WAAPA’s Aboriginal Theatre Course, and are presently studying Somatic Movement Therapy (SMT) where they are working towards a reclamation process of Embodied practices by engaging with and remaining curious of decolonial philosophies & practices. Jackie has extensive experience in community engagement and has worked in a diverse range of spaces nationally. Their recent work focuses on cultivating creative well-being spaces within the intersections of Bla(c)k, and People of Colour communities (Creatives of Colour; Serpent Spirals, Koorie Pride Victoria). Jackie has recently started working at Switchboard Victoria as the QTIBPOC Programs officer, where they facilitate and program spaces for storytelling, truth-telling and expression for First nations, Black and POC LQBTQI+ folks. They have lectured at the Victorian College of the Arts for the Master of Dance student Cohort. They have experience in circus, puppetry & writing. Some notable projects Jackie has worked on are: The Honouring (a solo show created & performed by Jackie Sheppard with creative guidance and direction by Rachael Maza, Tim Denton, Jasmin Sheppard, Rinske Ginsberg & Jacob Boehme); Chasing Smoke (Casus Circus); Wild Australia – Men in Chains by Jackie Sheppard; & Crackpipe Dreaming @ Melbourne Fringe Festival, 2019. Jackie has recently been appointed by Koorie Pride Victoria as First Nations Creative Coodinator for new festival, ‘FesTevares’.