The Assiniboia Ethnic Jubilee has a busy stage full of cultural specialties, involving music, dance and food on Oct. 19.
For the third year, the committee of organizers has gathered together an incredible collection of cultural dancers and musicians to perform at the Prince of Wales Centre in Assiniboia, most of whom call the southern Saskatchewan area home.
There is an incredible lineup of performers, representing more than a dozen different cultural specialties — Japanese drumming, Hellenic story dance, First Nations dance, and South Indian music and traditional dance, among many others.
The Choban Ukrainian Dance group from Regina will be returning, as well as the Blakely Irish Dance Team, the Moose Jaw Scottish Dance Club, and Assiniboia’s own Highland dancer, Hayley Gibson.
Also featured will be the Caribe Folks Art Dance Troupe, who specialize in the Carribean style of dance, and the Burundian Drumming Group from Regina, who have brought over their specialized drums from Burundi, Africa.
The Japanese Taiko drumming group is promising a high-energy performance of their art, and a group of younger performers will do a Korean Mask Dance, traditionally preformed for special occasions.
The Noopura Dance Academy will demonstrate the South Indian style of dance and music. Alongside the Greek musicians, the Arkadia Group, The Daughters of Penelope will be preforming traditional dance from various areas of Greece.
Christie-Anne Blondeau will join forces with Fred Foerster to share her incredible blues voice again this year, and Assiniboia’s Sam Yap will take the stage with his own music as well. The Tilted Kilts are also set to perform during the Jubilee.
The Rainbow Dance Troup from Treaty 4 territory will preform, comprised of First Nations youth who are versed in a number of different traditional dances. There will also be a tipi set up outside the venue, featuring the arts of the Lakota Nation, as well as an interactive beading demonstration.
The entertainment is set to be well worth the watch, and attendees will also be treated to an incredible selection of food vendors set up throughout the hall as well.
Organizers felt it was important to celebrate that diversity in Assiniboia and in Saskatchewan, which is why they began putting together this showcase event. The first year featured a number of hometown performers and has since expanded to include those from neighbouring communities.
Last year, the event saw approximately 800 people through the doors, which organizers hope to see again.
Admission to the event is $5, with food vendors setting their own price for their tasty goods. Doors will open at 11 am, and opening ceremonies will commence at 12:30 p.m. There will also be a Kids Corner of activities from 2-4 p.m.
For updates on the day’s schedule, check out the Ethnic Jubilee’s Facebook page.
