5 artistic directors is what you find!SO - What happens when you put 5 artistic directors in a cabin on a lake in Saskatchewan amidst the heat of summer...

They create a prairie tour circuit!

Robin Poitras (New Dance Horizons), Brian Webb (Brian Webb Dance company & Canada Dance Festival, Brent Lott (Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers), Davida Monk (M-Body & DSW), Nicole Mion (Springboard, Fluid Festival & containR) came together this past July over garden performances and lake side discussions to consider the idea of building a western prairie dance circuit. I'm happy to say that we are moving forward with exciting plans. Premiering at the Fluid Festival in 2010, emerging/mid career artists from each community will be selected to tour Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg. For 2011 the Prairie Circuit will feature the work of established artists from the prairie provinces.

This is a really exciting step for the dance community. Its one big step forward for artists and audiences based on the prairies. This initiative helps build context, community and longevity for western based work. And working together is the only way to realize such a goal. Thanks to New Dance Horizons for organizing events and to the Canada Council for funding the meetings.

Western touring is not some kind of Colonial model where artists from Montreal and Toronto come to the prairies to present their work to the 'regional outback'.

Lets shift the power folks. Lets bring them to us, and celebrate the talent in our own backyards!