Often, when we hear the word “indigenous,” we immediately think of the indigenous peoples in North America. However, indigenous theatre is a type of performance that is based on the storytelling traditions of any specific indigenous culture around the planet. It can be used as a form of entertainment, therapy, or education. Indigenous theatre often includes music, dance, and visual arts. It can be performed in a variety of settings, including homes, community centers, and schools.
Brandon Birchak and Melissa James have created Chimera together. An amazing aquatic act which in this form has never been performed before. Their love for performing, the aquatic environment, and our planet has then led them to founding Six Foot Creations as well, under the umbrella of which they will next year perform in the Chimera Gala, an event to raise awareness for our planet and celebrate the arts at the same time. In this interview Melissa and Brandon tell us how Chimera came into existence.
Performance Art can be confusing at the best of times. Often designed to be uncomfortable, provocative, and overwhelming, it can stop us in our tracks. When witnessing performance art, we can’t help but feel uneasy as it triggers emotions and thought processes in us that we’d rather not be confronted with. A good piece of performance art is like a mirror showing us the deepest corners of our psyche.
