Concurrence Gathering #10

Concurrence Gatherings at 8EAST #10
Thursday, November 30, 8 pm

Concurrence Gatherings are concerts, talks and story-sharing events, featuring Indigenous Artists and emerging DTES Small Arts Grants recipients with NOW Society Musicians. Presented and hosted by the NOW Society at 8EAST, they are curated by Sophie Dow and Lisa Cay Miller.

con·cur·rence:
1. the fact of two or more events or circumstances happening or existing at the same time: a point at which three or more lines meet.
2. agreement or consistency.

Featuring:
Mz Shellz – voice
André Besette and Lyric Tsuji – Dance
Kathleen Nisbett – Fiddle

For information about Gatherings 8 – 11 visit concurrence-gatherings-8-11

Supported by improvising NOW Artists and presented and hosted by the NOW Society in partnership with Carnegie Community Centre. Curated by Sophie Dow and Lisa Cay Miller.

Mz Shellz
Michelle Lee Runns AKA MzShellz is an emerging Cree Hip Hop artist and owner of “Native by Nature” Apparel hailing from Regina, Saskatchewan. Since relocating to British Columbia, the mother of 4 has been rocking stages from Vancouver Ottawa Toronto Las Vegas all the way to Albuquerque, NM. MzShellz has taken her new platform through her music to send messages of strength to the Youth and seeks to empower Women & girls around the world to know that anything is possible if you truly believe in yourself. She hopes to further these goals with her next album, “Boss Lady”, currently out now

André Besette
André Bessette has been a grateful visitor to the traditional and unceded lands of the Tsawwassen, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations since his birth. His roots are mixed settler and Métis from the Red River Settlement on the ancestral territories of Anishinaabe and Nehiyaw Nations where Treaty 1 and 2 lay. As a disconnected urban Métis, he has sought reconnection with Métis and First Nations communities, cousins, and culture.

Untraditionally trained in dance, André found the gregariousness of jigging matched his personality. He has dabbled in Swing, Breakdance, House, and Burlesque. André was educated by Yvonne Chartrand, and other Métis dancers, in Compaigni V’ni Dansi since 2018.

Andre Bessette has performed for three Louis Riel Day Celebrations hosted by V’ni Dansi (2019, 2021, 2022). As well, he jigged at the 19th Annual Talking Stick Festival (2020), Vancouver Pride Parade (2022, 2023), and the Taiwanese Canada Cultural Festival (2022).

André is deeply intrigued in dance styles that developed through cultural, interpersonal, and passionate exchanges between communities. Most of his dance training has been from community dance educators rather than formal institutions. André’s practice is inspired by the concept of “Street Dance” where community builds style and steps from the ground up in connection and exchange, rather than isolation and separation. Métis community shares that Métis jigging combines Anishnaabe and Nehiyaw Pow-Wow steps with French, Irish, and Scottish Jigging producing a new dance bringing cultures and communities together.

Lyric Tsuji
Lyric was born in Vancouver in 1999. She began dancing at the age of four and studied many styles of dance including jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, Polynesian, musical theatre, stage, acrobatics, and tumbling. She is very passionate about the performing arts whether it be singing, acting, or dancing. Lyric has also been part of two musicals. She was Evillene the wicked witch of the west in The Wiz, and Ms. Potts in The Beauty and The Beast. Lyric joined V’ni Dansi in March 2017 and is honoured to be part of the company. Lyric is currently a full time student at SFU where she is studying Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Lyric is glad to have the V’ni Dansi practices, rehearsals, and performances as they provide an environment where she can destress and just enjoy dancing.

Kathleen Nisbett
Kathleen Nisbet is a fiddle player and singer from Vancouver, BC Canada. Classically trained at the Vancouver Academy of Music, She returned to her Métis roots, pursuing more traditional fiddle music. Since then she has worked with artists in a variety of genres. A collaborator and regular accompanist with Compaigni v’ni dansi Métis traditional dance, she also has composed music for independent modern dance. Recent theatre credits include A Christmas Carol with Pacific Theatre and Salmon Row with Mortal Coil. Kathleen is an active member of Vancouver’s thriving bluegrass and folk scene, performing and touring regularly with her band Viper Central with whom she has recorded three albums. She has toured with Vancouver bands, The Fugitives and CR Avery and has made guest appearances with Hedley, Fred Eaglesmith, The Belle Game, and The Vicious Cycles to name a few. She works regularly as a studio musician and has numerous studio recording credits. She is a teacher at Saint James Music Academy where Downtown Eastside kids are provided free music lessons.