Indigenous production commissioned by The Banff Centre pitched internationally

June 1, 2016. Work by Sandra Laronde, artistic director for The Banff Centre, has received international recognition. Backbone, the newest work by Laronde’s Indigenous performance company Red Sky, was recently selected from a competitive pool of 56 applications worldwide by ISPA's Pitch New Works Committee. Laronde will pitch Backbone as part of the 98th International Society for the Performing Arts congress in Melbourne, Australia, on June 3. Backbone is a cutting-edge new dance and live music creation inspired by the 'spine' of the Americas. Featuring eight dancers and live music, Backbone combines contemporary Indigenous dance with athleticism to express its power, formation and spirit. It is co-produced and an original commission by The Banff Centre. Another Red Sky production, Mistatim, was recently nominated for a 2016 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production. Mistatim is about the taming of a wild horse and the forging of the truest of friendships. The Dora Mavor Moore Award recognizes the best of Toronto theatre and opera.