FESTIVAL
What: 4th annual Koksilah Music Festival
Where: koksilahfestival.com
When: March 20 (5 p.m.) and March 27 (1 p.m.)
Tickets: Free (donations are accepted)
Why: Two days of family-friendly performances and workshops focused on Indigenous culture — from the Quw’utsun Tzinquaw Dancers and painter Charlene Johnny to hip-hop performers DJ Kookum and Kimmortal — make up this fourth annual event, which has moved online for its 2021 edition. The Koksilah Music Festival is spread over two weekends and is presented free of charge, though donations are encouraged.
LECTURE
What: The Orion Lecture Series in Fine Arts — Soheil Parsa
Where: uvic.ca/finearts/news-events
When: March 18, 12:30 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Why: Soheil Parsa of Toronto’s Modern Times Stage Company is a giving free Zoom webinar, Transcending Cultural & Political Borders in Theatre, for local audiences at 12:30 p.m. March 18. The stage veteran will contextualize his company’s beliefs, core values and philosophy during the hour-long session moderated by the University of Victoria’s Patrick Du Wors. The session is free, which is a rare opportunity given the résumé of the six-time Dora Mavor Moore Award winner and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal honoree.
WORKSHOP
What: Body Talk HiP HoP PoW WoW
Where: crimsoncoastdance.org
When: March 22–26 (workshop) and March 27 (public presentation)
Tickets: 250-716-3230
Why: This annual spring break event by teens for teens in the Nanaimo area offers performing arts workshops that incorporate culture, music and dance contextualized through Coast Salish practices. Organized by a youth advisory council and Crimson Coast Dance, the week of workshops (March 22–26) culminates with an online performance by the students (March 27, 7:30 p.m.). Coast Salish elder Gary Manson, dancers Jacky Essombe and the African Village Experience and Notorious Cree and hip-hop artists Sirreal and AJ Megaman are among those lending their time and expertise to the event.
