How a dance program is encouraging Indigenous youth to complete high school
A national dance program focused on empowering Indigenous youth to complete their high school education is putting the final touches on routines before a major performance in Toronto.
Outside Looking In launched 17 years ago, and has expanded into Indigenous communities across the country. This week, 175 dancers from all over are at their annual dance camp in Brant County to perfect their routines ahead of their major showcase at Toronto’s Meridian Hall.
“This is an opportunity for us to level the playing field and to give our Indigenous kids a step up in being able to compete with their peers in Canada,” Hope Sanderson, CEO of Outside Looking In, said.
“I think dance is really the hook, right? The kids want to be in the program and they know they need to go to school. One of the biggest issues facing Indigenous youth in our communities – in all Indigenous communities – is getting the kids to come back through the doors of school and to stay consistently. There’s so many other distractions and social barriers.”
Youth from Outside Looking In rehearse their dance routines in Brant County on April 30, 2024. (Stefanie Davis/CTV Kitchener)
Throughout the school year, choreographers and dancers visit the kids’ respective communities to teach them routines. The program has certain academic requirements that students have to meet in order to stay involved.
“The on-reserve graduation rate is about 46 per cent. The Canadian national mainstream rate is 91 per cent, and Outside Looking In has a 96 per cent graduation rate,” Sanderson explained.
Youth from Outside Looking In rehearse their dance routines in Brant County on April 30, 2024. (Stefanie Davis/CTV Kitchener)
The program mainly focuses on hip hop routines, because it doesn’t require specific studio space or equipment.
“We’re starting to incorporate more Indigenous cultural dance into the formations and even into the music,” Sanderson said.
There are a variety of reasons why students get intrigued to try the program, and many stay involved for several years.
“I wanted to feel comfortable with myself as I was facing a lot of bullying because of how my body looked because I have scoliosis,” 19-year-old Hosiah Turtle said.
Turtle has been part of the program for three years.
Madi Ottertail, who has been involved for six years, said she heard about it through older friends and wanted to give it a try.
“I like dance because it gets me moving, but it’s also a fun way to express yourself,” Ottertail said.
With a few days left until they travel into Toronto, the dancers say they have mixed feelings.
“This year I’m very confident in myself,” Turtle said.
“I’m very, very excited and kind of nervous for the show.”
Two shows will be held at Toronto’s Meridian Hall on May 10 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING BMO clients face outages in Canada, U.S. following data centre fire alarm
Bank of Montreal clients on both sides of the border Thursday morning have reported outages with banking services. BMO said its technical team is investigating.
Drive one of these vehicles? You may pay 37 per cent more than average insurance costs due to thefts
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
'I'm not wealthy': Ontario senior shocked she owes $40,000 in capital gains after gifting land
An Ontario senior who wanted to help her daughter and grandson eventually own homes one day decided to give them two lots on her property as a gift—but she didn’t know it would eventually cost her tens of thousands of dollars.
Want to turn off Meta AI? You can't - but there are some workarounds
If you use Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram, you've probably noticed a new character pop up answering search queries or eagerly offering tidbits of information in your feeds, with varying degrees of accuracy.
opinion Trump's Republicans falling far behind in fundraising, infrastructure
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, Washington political analyst Eric Ham explains how and why Republicans -- up and down the ballot -- are falling far behind Democrats in both fundraising and infrastructure.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
Canadians' interest in buying EVs fades as barriers, concerns remain: J.D. Power
A new study finds fewer Canadians say they're interested in buying an electric vehicle as concerns remain about limited driving ranges, high prices and a lack of charging stations.
McDonald's says US$18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.