ESTEVAN - Sacred Heart and Pleasantdale schools had special guests last week as a part of their Indigenous Month programs.
Kids had a chance to enjoy Hip Hop Hoop Dance, featuring Terrance Littletent and Chancz Perry.
For this performance, world champion hoop dancer Littletent collaborated with interdisciplinary artist Perry to produce a cross-cultural fusion of First Nations Hoop Dance and North American Hip Hop.
Both engaging performers shared a historical, educational and inspirational outlook on the two dance genres.
The Hip Hop Hoop Dance was presented by OSAC and had kids laughing, applauding and freezing in a rave, all while learning about history and traditions.
Littletent is from the Kawacatoose Cree Nation and was born in Regina. Much of his traditional teachings were inherited through his family and elders, singers and dancers, storytellers and academics.
Littletent is an accomplished Grass and Hoop Dancer who has travelled across Canada, the U.S. and overseas, sharing his gift of song, dance and narrative in a humble way.
At the age of six, Littletent had already been introduced to the traditional techniques and movement skills used to create his own dance choreography. By the age of eight, his uncle, Kirby Littletent, presented him with the gift of the hoop, which inspired the younger Littletent to continue his uncle's legacy of sharing the ways of their people. Eleven years later, Littletent became recognized as a World-Renowned Hoop Dancer. As an educator, producer and performer, Littletent continues to find ways to bridge traditional and contemporary dance and music styles.
Perry is certified in early childhood education, has a BFA in dance, a BA in criminology and is currently taking a pause from masters of education graduate studies to pursue his arts practice. Perry has spent over 30 years in the entertainment industry – on stage, screen and behind the scenes. This multifaceted producer, choreographer and triple-threat performer was nominated for two Jessie Richardson Awards and the is recipient of the Vancouver Sun Reader's Choice Award for Entertainer of the Year.
Some familiar film credits include Bye Bye Birdie, 21 Jump Street, Da Vinci's Inquest and Emmy award-winning Charlie Horse Music Pizza. Perry is often an artist in residence in Regina public and Catholic schools, the outreach and program co-ordinator at Dance Saskatchewan, Inc., as well as a sessional instructor at the University of Regina.
