MASC and the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) celebrate National Indigenous History Month with hoop dancer Rhonda Doxtator on Wednesday June 2 at 7:00pm and Indigenous Experiences on Wednesday June 16, as part of the Rural Roadtrip Concert Series taking place this spring and summer.
The 10-week series of virtual concerts features MASC artists from across the city of Ottawa and beyond to perform a wide variety of acts including dancing, singing, and storytelling. The Rural Roadtrip Concert Series takes place Wednesday evenings at 7pm on OPL’s Facebook Live.
OPL staff from rural branches are hosting the series and, at the end of each concert, they connect the audience with the performers through a Q&A session.
“It has been such a treat watching folks from rural communities engaging with MASC artists, learning about their culture, their art, and their passions. It’s a wonderful reminder to celebrate the beautiful things about our histories, our communities, and our neighbours,” says Jessica Ruano, Community Program Coordinator for MASC and co-curator of the Rural Roadtrip Concert Series.
Audiences have already enjoyed the following performances:
- April 21 – Celtic Rathskallions Sing-Along
- May 5 – Junkyard Symphony (in French)
- May 19 – Stories Told: Celebrating Canadian Folk with Kathryn Patricia
Starting this week, audience members can look forward to:
- June 2 – Indigenous Hoop Dancing with Rhonda Doxtator
- June 9 – ‘The Spirit of Harriet Tubman’ by Leslie McCurdy
- June 16 – Music and storytelling with Indigenous Experiences (in French)
- June 30 – An Afternoon at the Opera
- July 7 – Colores Andinos (in French)
- July 14 – Propeller Dance
- July 21 – French Canadian Folklore with Louis Mercier (in French)