Thomas Starwalker Clair is from Elsipogtog Mi'kmaq First Nation. He is a multi-disciplined artist. His paintings are sold and exhibited across Canada, the USA and overseas. As a traditional dancer he has performed internationally and across Canada. His Acting credits include; "The scarlet letter", "The new world", "First Nations movie" and a CBC tv series , "Le Clan " which aired on the spring of 2015. He is a blues musician, with a unique expression because he incorporates both his culture and language. His music is played on aboriginal radio shows in new Brunswick, Nova Scotia, British Colombia, and Ontario. We are thrilled to have Thomas performing at Journey Around the World.
Rhonda Doxtator is of the turtle clan from the Oneida Nation of the Thames, one of the six Iroquois Confederacy Nations. Her traditional name is Kawisaha, which means She is Carrying Ice. Rhonda has been involved in traditional dance since the time she could walk, her earliest childhood memories are of ceremony, song and dance in the small and dimly lit longhouse in her home community of Oneida. As a young child, Rhonda’s mother who is a Turtle Clan Faith Keeper for the Oneida Nation, took Rhonda and her siblings to Longhouse as often as she could. This is where she first learned to dance and eventually began to sing. Since then, Rhonda’s learning journey has lead her to the powwow arena, where she has been fortunate and blessed to pick up more teachings and share other ways of dancing and prayer that was new to her. Although Rhonda will always be Haudenosaunee in mind, blood, heart and spirit, she also has a deep love and respect for the jingle dress and hoop dancing. Having been dancing pow wow for 30 years and a jingle dress dancer for the last 25 years hoop dancing came to her much later in life. Rhonda feels it is truly a gift to be able to participate in the beautiful ways of First Peoples.
Upasana the Spirit of Dance was founded by Saveeta Sharma in 1995 and is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and education of Indian culture through the ongoing development of Kathak, Odissi and Saveeta's own proprietary new, creative and innovative style of contemporary dance.
Based in Ottawa, Canada, Upasana maintains the Upasana School of Dance and the Saveeta Sharma Dance Company. Upasana's mission is to produce exemplary traditional, innovative, and collaborative works of classical Kathak and Odissi in order to increase public awareness by bringing together Indian dancers, choreographers and dance gurus. The intent is to maintain the highest level of excellence of dance, to train future generations of dancers, and build local, national and international community support for classical and contemporary Indian dance.
Upasana has provided a leadership role as a presenter of new works to create a new synergy and net-working capability for performers. This synergy is developed further by ongoing master classes out of which a cross-fertilization process aids in the development of new choreographic works.
Upasana's journey of development, public education and ongoing choreographic discoveries has been marked by an analysis of past traditions in Indian classical dance and their applications to new and innovative choreographies.
Jessica medina and Curtis Vasquez Have been dancing together since the age of 3 And have been involved with the Colombian Association of Ottawa representing the Colombian community and culture for just as long. They have expressed this passion of Latin heritage through various forms of dance ranging from traditional Colombian folkloric music to modern day salsa. They welcome you to experience the Colombian culture through its main form of expression . Dance !
Duanse Bellot goes by stage name "Dee Ciple". His passion for dance is limitless. Dance is a huge part of his life and has helped him develop into a well versed, mature and experienced Instructor. At a young age he started dancing for family members and friends, at events, community centers, and for schools. Many say that he is blessed with a gift. At the age of 8, he won his first dance competition. At the age of 17, he started teaching at Expressions Studios in Ottawa. At the age of 22, he started a very successful dance troupe called Dy-VERSE. For 6 years Dy-VERSE has made many strides proving their skills in and out of town, winning hip hop dance competitions, representing the Ottawa region at special social events and organizing many dance workshops, for kids, teens and adults of all ages. Throughout his growth as a performer, he became more inclined to learn and specialise in the different forms of dances. Nowadays, he encourages everyone to take his Zumba classes. We are very excited to welcome Dee Ciple to the Journey Around World Event.
Our Master of Ceremonies is Shady Hafez. Shady is of mixed heritage being both an Algonquin from Kitigan Zibi and Syrian. Recently graduated from Carleton University with a BA in Law and Canadian Studies, Shady is spending his summer building a small business called Bows & Arrows before he returns to University in the Fall to complete his Masters in Indigenous Governance. Shady is also a traditional artisan and dancer, as well as an avid activist for Indigenous self-determination.
