Dancing, drumming, dreaming together
The Thousand Faces Festival celebrates two days of outdoor arts, culture, and cuisine
The Thousand Faces Festival returns for its 13th year on June 21 and 22, bringing a weekend full of myth-inspired performances and multicultural cuisine to the Alberta Avenue Community Centre.
Blending theatre, dance, music, and food, the festival showcases voices from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and artistic disciplines.
The Artistic Director of the festival, Mark Henderson, says the event brings artists and audiences from different walks of life together to share stories of their culture.
“We can find where we are connected at the root,” he says.
Henderson started the Thousand Faces Festival in hopes of expanding classical theatre and reflecting Edmonton's cultural diversity. He attributes the festival’s unique atmosphere to its emphasis on audience participation, which invites attendees to become part of the storytelling rather than just spectators.
This year’s theme (dancing, drumming, and dreaming) will come to life through hands-on drumming workshops and a variety of cultural dance performances.
“I would hope that [attendees] come back feeling culturally and spiritually richer, and that they’ve had a really good meal and a really good time with their neighbours,” Henderson adds.
For the first time, the festival will take place almost entirely outdoors, bringing performances closer to the community and making space for more guests. The festival has drawn over 500 attendees in past years, but organizers expect that number to double this year thanks to the added capacity and visibility of the outdoor setting.
Shreela Chakrabartty, community outreach coordinator, says now that the festival is primarily outdoors, it can be available to the city at large. “It would be nice for this to become a pride of Alberta Avenue,” she says.
Chakrabartty encourages people from all areas of the city to come out and enjoy the festivities. She says many people leave the festival feeling more connected with different cultures that they may not have been exposed to before.
“It’s an icebreaker for learning about other cultures in ways that are fun and approachable,” she says.
Chakrabartty hopes people can get out of their comfort zone, find a rewarding experience, and expand their horizons by attending the event.
“This festival is a place where you will learn and discover things you never thought you would need or want to know.”
Thousand Faces Festival
Saturday, June 21, 2-9:30 pm
Sunday, June 22, 1-5 pm
Alberta Avenue Community Centre (9210 118 Ave NW)
Admission is by donation
For volunteer opportunities, visit the Thousand Faces Festival website
Lovely pictures Shreela!
This article really inspired me to attend. Thanks to Rat Creek Press, our community newspaper.