Recent History – 2004-2006
By Gary Rusak, 15 April 2005
It came to her in a dream.
“It was Greg Dobrowolski’s 50th birthday,” recounted Sadie Lukan, director of the Riding Thunder Dance Theatre.
“There were all these dancers there and I was going crazy trying to think of ways to raise money for these kids because I felt bad just asking for it.”
A few nights later, while she slept, the perfect way to raise funds for Riding Thunder’s southern tour came to her.
“I woke up at 3 o’clock and I wrote down that all those dancing women need to be seen,” she said. “So I started phoning and they all agreed.”
The nocturnal inspiration led to the creation of Women of the Earth, an evening dance performance featuring an array of different styles including native, Brazilian, East Indian and even a belly dancer.
“I’m hoping for a big crowd,” said Lukan. “We did one in 1999 and we had to come back and do another. We want to see what kind of success it is because we want it to be an annual thing.”
The event takes place on Friday evening at Unchagah Hall. On Saturday morning Riding Thunder will be embarking on a weeklong tour of Vernon, Kelowna and Revelstoke. Lukan is looking forward to bringing her native dance troupe to a
bigger audience. For her, the group that she founded in 1998 is about much more than just a few choreographed numbers.
“We inspire and educate aboriginal youth through music dance and storytelling,” she said. “Every dance is a story. We have lost so much and I am pleased and
honoured to be able to teach the younger ones so that when my generation dies off we won’t lose everything. This is my project.”
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for youth and $5 for children under 10.