Samantha Sutherland
Dancer
Choreographer
Teacher
kiʔsuʔk kyukyit
Hello
Samantha is a contemporary dance artist based in Tkaronto. Her ancestry is Ktunaxa and Scottish/British Settler. She grew up in Coast Salish Territories on the west coast of Turtle Island.
Since graduating the Arts Umbrella Dance Diploma Program, Samantha has worked as a guest artist with Ballet BC, an Associate Artist with Red Sky Performance, and is currently an Artistic Associate with O.Dela Arts. She has presented her own solo works at many festivals and stages across the country. Some include the Matriarchs Uprising Festival by O.Dela Arts with presentations both in Vancouver and at the National Arts Centre, Sharing the Stage with The National Ballet of Canada, Night Shift by Fall for Dance North, Dance Made in Canada, and Weesageechak Begins to Dance by Native Earth Performing Arts.
Samantha explores what aspects of her culture, history, and traditional knowledge can be pulled into her contemporary dance practice. She is inspired by the Ktunaxa Language and how the rhythm and story in the language can translate to movement. Finding ways to ground themes from a classical dance training with Indigenous values is what drives Samantha’s dance practice.
