July 2007

DANCING EARTH was invited for a one week residency at the Idyllwild Arts Program in Southern California, at the recommendation of our long time champion Joe Baker of the Heard Museum. We were especially revitalised by several guest artists who raised funds from their government or private sources to join us, including Cherith Mark of the Nakoda Nation, Regina Aquilera of the Native Wellness Institute, music teacher Ariane Estrada, and KOROU  Prouctions- a contingent of 9 Maori performers led by visionary Terri Ripeka Crawford and including fashion designer Tracey Marama LLoydd. Upon arrival we were greted with bird singers of local host Nation pf the Cahuilla people. The outdoor performance was truly a flowering of international Indigenous cultural exchange, featuring choreography by Rulan, Terri and Jaco Cortes' adaptation of the Deer Dance in a seamless weaving of stories of earth, water , fire and air elements.Later that month Rulan travelled to Southern Alberta to create a Kainai-culture based solo for her relative Andrea True Joy Fox. In preparation, historic landmarks of mountains and museums were visited as well as visiting with  her grandmother and mother for language and story sharing. The soundtrack was sung by talented vocalist , sister Shaneen Fox.