Kanata Native Dance Theatre

The Kanata Native Dancers consist of six Native young people who love to perform and share their Native culture through song and dance. This vibrant, energetic dance troupe brings to life the heritage of the Plains and Woodland tribes.

The dancers present songs and dances of the Ojibway, Blackfoot, Cree and Lakota. Interpretation by a narrator extends the performance beyond the realm of eagle feathers, bustles, intricately beaded clothing and throbbing drumbeats. The grace, beauty and smooth swaying of the traditional dancers in their buckskin clothing reflect their pride and dignity as they synchonize their footsteps with the pulsating beat of the drum.

The troupe, representing tribes throughout Canada, mingle with the audience after the show to cement the relationship with patrons - another important aspect of Native culture.

NAOMI POWLESS* is a Mohawk from the Mohawk Nation of the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve. She has extensive experience in choreography from coaching figure skating with SNFS Club and has brought her knowledge, along with her theatre experience to the Kanata Native Dance Theatre. She has been dancing with the troupe for five years and is the Director of Training & Choreography for the training programs. She has toured with the troupe throughout Canada, Italy and Southern California. Ms. Powless is a Women's Jingle Dress Dancer and also dances Women's Fancy, Traditional and the Hoop Dance. In her spare time she helps people with regalia designing and beading.

BRIAN GENERAL* is from the Seneca Nation of the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve. He has been dancing for twenty years and has spent five of those years with the Kanata Native Dance Theatre. He dances Men's Traditional, Grass, Fancy and the Hoop Dance and has travelled with Kanata across Canada, the United States and Italy as well as accompanying the Sky Dancers, who do the songs and dances of the Iroquois people. For the past year he has been the Artistic Director for the Dance Theatre, and in the past has appeared in several movies and in radio broadcasting. He most recently filmed a television mini-series, which is to be aired this year. Mr. General has spent the last three years as a support counsellor at the Native Horizon Treatment Centre, where he volunteers his free time as a counsellor

ABBY CARPENTER* is from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve and has danced with the Kanata Native Dance Theatre over the last few months. She dances Women's Traditional and Women's Fancy within the dance troupe. She loves to perform Women's Crow Hop and has done beautiful beadwork on her regalia. Ms. Carpenter dances Iroquoian along with the Pow Wow styles, and her sunny disposition is a wonderful addition to the dance troupe.

VERONICA BOMBERRY is a Mohawk from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve and specializes in Women's Traditional. She also dances Women's Fancy, Jingle and Iroquoian styles. She started dancing with the Kanata Native Dance Theatre this past year and hopes to continue touring with them throughout Southern Ontario.

KEVIN BOMBERRY is from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve and is a Champion Men's Fancy Dancer. He participates part-time within the dance troupe and will be performing in this year's Dinner Theatre presentation.

GORDON SANDS is from the Cree Nation and resides in Southern Ontario and is a MenÕs Grass Dancer. He sings with his family for the Eagle Flight Singers and has performed with Kanata Native Dance Theatre.

CHRISTINA BOMBERRY-ATKINS is a Champion Women's Fancy Dancer from Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve. She has been dancing since the age of four, both Iroquoian and Pow Wow Styles. She has danced with the Kanata Native Dance Theatre for over four years. She is a fashion and regalia designer and does modelling and print work in her free time.

GARRET JONES* is from the Metis Nation of the North West Territories and has danced with the Kanata Native Dance Theatre for the past two years. He dances Men's Traditional, Horsetail Dance, Hoop Dance and most recently Men's Fancy. In his spare time he does print work, workshops and research for the Kanata Native Cultural Society.

NAHNDA HILL* is from the Onondaga Nation of the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve and has recently joined the Kanata Native Dance Theatre. She has performed in numerous plays and as an extra in a number of films. She has extensive training in drama and singing and has contributed such to the dance troupe. She dances Women's Fancy, Jingle and Traditional styles.

MARC NEUMANN is from the Metis Nation of The Pas, Manitoba, and resides in Brantford, Ontario. He has danced with the Kanata Native Dance Theatre for the past few years and specializes in Men's Grass, Fancy and the Horsetail Dance. In his spare time he works with local artists as a drummer and a sound technician. He volunteers for numerous events in Brantford, including the United Way.

TABATHA HONYUST-ANTONE is from the Oneida Nation of the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve. She has danced with the Kanata Native Dance Theatre for the last few years and has toured with the troupe to Los Angeles, California. She specializes in Women's Fancy but also dances WomenÕs Jingle, Traditional and Hoop. She is interested in improv, drama, singing and has written and performed a very moving monologue about a residential school student. She is learning the "behind the scenes" of production.

* performing in Ancestral Voices