Featured Artists
Wild Mint Arts ·
Wild Mint Arts is a Calgary based - Two-Spirit owned company. They offer in-school education programs (dance and visual arts) as well as creating and sharing dance works that merge contemporary and traditional Indigenous dance styles. Their work ranges from family-audience works, durational pieces for older audiences and their new work in progress which encompasses traditional teachings and Indigenous movement.
Virginia Sparvier-Wells ·
Virginia Sparvier-Wells (Co-director, Cowessess) is the co-founder and co-director of Wild Mint Arts. She has her Master of Fine Arts from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Calgary. She brings years of experience in performance (Music, Dance) and touring to the company.
Elijah Wells ·
Elijah Wells (Co-director, Kainai) is the co-founder and co-director of Wild Mint Arts. He has studied at Alberta College of Art and Design and Emily Carr University of Art and Design. His expertise in visual arts and design bring sets and regalia alive on stage. With touring experience and set design, he brings a wealth of experience to Wild Mint Arts.
They Carry Us
"They Carry Us” is a dance theater piece intended for family audiences. The show is rooted in Blackfoot cosmologies, ways of knowing, stories of the animal nation, and the strength of two spirit people. This show carries the essence of forgotten and unknown stories. They are creating out of contemporary dance, powwow dance styles, and an exploration into technology. They work closely with Blackfoot elders who hold the knowledge of these stories. This piece has its base in a research residency completed in Smithers BC in April of 2024. After a hiatus, Wild Mint Arts is now looking for a premiere partner. A full showing of the work will be performed in April 2026, and they will be in a residency in Surrey April 2027 to further develop and potentially premiere the piece. It will tour with 4 dancers and 1 technical support. Requires projection capability in the theater and will have portable set pieces.