The Yukon’s cultural contribution to the Vancouver Winter Olympics is all coming together.
On Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Yukon Arts Centre, audiences will see what the world will see later that week from B.C. Place.
One Word: The Yukon Experience, pulls together select performances from The Yukon Experience and What the Land Remembers. It is a 30-minute show that will lead off the medal ceremony on Feb. 20, starting at 6:30 p.m.
“There are 120 artists, Elders, youth ambassadors, staff and crew involved,” says Michele Emslie, Culture at 2010 coordinator.
“We are very proud of what Celia has created and all of the hard work that has gone into the show.”
Celia McBride is the artistic director of the event, known as The Yukon Day Victory Ceremony Performance, that includes video and live performances.
Although this is a big night, considering it will be on the world stage — “The stadium holds 12,000 people and it will be internationally telecast,” says Emslie — a more complete show can be seen on Feb. 19 at the Surrey Live Site. Then, again, it will be seen Feb. 23 at Richmond OZone.
The Yukon government has invested $2.6 million in this cultural showcase, that includes the visual art of Sewing our Traditions: Dolls of Canada’s North exhibit, to show that the Yukon is a good place to invest, to celebrate First Nation culture and to expose Yukon artists and performers to the world.
The “stadium show” will appear in the middle of a three-day block that highlights the three Northern territories.
“I think we are all pretty confident,” says Emslie. “We feel the responsibility to represent the Yukon and the wonderment of who we are.
“We are anxious to see what the reaction will be.
“It’s another opportunity to rise up another notch as only Yukoners can.”
There will be two shows on Tuesday, Feb. 16: one at 5:30 p.m. and the other at 7:30. Tickets are available at the YAC Box Office, Arts Underground and www.yukontickets.com.
