Body Talk Workshops 2025

TWO Spring Break Workshops – ONE Culminating Performance!

March 17 – 21: Hip Hop Dance Class daily with Olivia Rockall (10 years old -19)
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM, Vibrant Dance Studios (Snuneymuxw youth meet at Gym at 4:00 PM)

March 1, 8 (these two are optional – it’s your opportunity to input on theme materials)
and March 24-28: Forum Theatre with Renae Morriseau (14 years old – 19)
March 1 & 8: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Snuneymuxw Gym
March 24-28: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Vibrant Dance Studios (Snuneymuxw youth meet at Gym at 9:30 AM)

March 29: Culminating Performance of both workshops, 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM – Snuneymuxw Gym

SPEAK YOUR MIND.
SHARE YOUR STORY.
ALL TOGETHER.

The Body Talk HiP HoP PoW WoW Program is designed by and for Indigenous and allied youth.
This year workshops will span both weeks of Spring Break in two distinct workshops.

Workshop #1

MARCH 17 to 21, youth 10 to 19, get to take a 1.5 hour hip hop dance class daily with Olivia Rockall. On March 29, they will join the members of the second workshop to show the community what they learned in a public presentation.

Olivia Rockall has trained at Nanaimo’s Vibrant Studios and in Vancouver. She has been a crew member of the Vancouver based dance company, Gigabots, and as a member of Team Canada in 2023 where she competed at the IDO International Hip Hop competition in Poland. Olivia performs competitively, teaches and choreographs. “Performing is something I enjoy very much, however, Hip Hop has given me much more than dance. It has given me an opportunity to learn about my culture and background while also providing me with a community and a sense of belonging. This has been invaluable to my development as a dancer and as a young person growing up Black here in Nanaimo.”

Workshop #2

MARCH 1, 8 (these two days are optional – it’s your opportunity to input on theme materials)
and March 24 to 28
Youth aged 14 to 19 will collectively develop a Forum Theatre performance with renowned director/dramaturge Renae Morriseau. Kyle Shepard, of The Big Mess fame, joins Renae to help draw out loud and proud youth voices.

Renae will guide youth through the Forum Theatre format—an interactive, dynamic approach to storytelling, connection, and community learning. Forum Theatre, developed by Brazilian practitioner Augusto Boal in the 1970s, empowers audiences to actively engage with real-world issues and explore solutions through drama. Kyle will facilitate vocal skills and play.

Why Forum Theatre?
It creates a safe environment for participants to explore real-world problems, raise awareness, and empower change.

Forum Theatre Workshop Schedule:

• Saturday, March 1: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Meet up with Renae in Nanaimo: discuss themes and the process.  Explore challenges of young adulthood and ideas for what is required to make that better.  Food provided.
• Saturday, March 8: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Online meeting: Renae and participants
• Monday – Friday, March 24-28: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 7:30 PM: Body Talk HiP HoP PoW WoW Culminating Public Presentation will take place at Snuneymuxw Gym

All participants from BOTH workshops will share what they learned.

Renae Morriseau, is a Cree (nehiyaw iskwew ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ) and Saulteaux woman from the Treaty 1 Territory on the lands known as Manitoba.  She has been creating artistic works for most of her life and journeyed across Canada and internationally in film, television, theatre and music. She has honed her skills by observing, listening, and supporting the artistic works of many individuals who supported her in understanding artistic focus, and creative vulnerability in sharing Indigenous stories in a good way – miyopimatisowin ᒥᔪᐱᒪᑎᓱᐃᐧᐣ. Through all of her community engaged work, she has worked consistently with urban and rural First Nations stories.

Kyle Shepard is a whirlwind of creativity, blending music, theatre, and improvisation into performances that spark joy across generations. Whether performing live on stage or in the classroom, or as part of The Big Mess with Marty Shepard, Kyle empowers people to explore their own creative voices, especially through his work with at-risk youth and diverse communities. His hands-on workshops ignite the creative spark in everyone, fostering a spirit of joy and spontaneity in music-making.

Quuiatsapulth  – Greg Charleson is one of a number of elders who has sat with the Body Talk Program over the years.  We are grateful for their guidance and wisdom.  Greg’s enthusiasm for cultural connection brings much joy as can be witnessed through his group Hishukish Tsawalk.

The Body Talk HiP HoP PoW WoW Program is youth-led, with a focus on Indigenous perspectives through the leadership of culturally based facilitators. It’s an opportunity for young people to come together, share stories, and build lifelong friendships while discovering new paths toward understanding and care.

The community is encouraged to attend the culminating performance on March 29, 2025.

Forum Theatre is a participatory art form that uses interactive drama to explore real-world issues. It was developed by Brazilian theater practitioner Augusto Boal in the 1970s.

How it works

• A short play is performed that depicts a central character facing an obstacle.
• The audience is invited to join the performance and suggest alternative actions for the character.
• The actors explore the consequences of these actions with the audience.
• The audience can stop the play at any time and replace a character.

Why it’s used

• Forum Theatre can help people identify and overcome their “internal oppressions”.
• It can be used to explore solutions to real-world problems in a safe environment.
• It can be used to raise awareness and empower people to change reality.