Cultural Night Market

Join Amanda Fox, an Ojibwe dancer from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory with over 30 years of pow wow experience, for an empowering and educational fitness session. This high-energy, follow-along workout blends pow wow dance steps, songs, and teachings with fitness principles to promote wholistic wellness while celebrating Indigenous culture.

Each session weaves in the history, stories, and spirit of pow wow, giving participants the chance to strengthen their bodies, uplift their minds, and connect with culture in a respectful and inspiring space. Open to all backgrounds and fitness levels, this unique experience nourishes body, mind, and spirit—everyone is welcome!

Award winning Greek-Canadian singer, songwriter, band leader and recording artist George Sapounidis aka 'Chairman' George has been called a poster boy for Canadian multiculturalism and is a polyglot who sings international folksongs in more than 15 languages. Born and raised in Canada with Greek roots in Asia Minor, he performed earlier in his career under the Greek moniker Ouzo Power, then later as ‘Chairman’ George to audiences in the world's most populous nation: 40 performance tours of China in 25 cities including at the Beijing Summer Olympic Games, the Great Hall of the People, the Forbidden City Concert Hall and on stage beside some of China's pop and classical music icons.

Stuti is a Bharatanatyam artist based in Ottawa. She has received rigorous training in Bharatanatyam since age 5 and earned her Diploma in Bharatnatyam from Kalamandalam Performing Arts and Research Centre, Kolkata, in 2005. In 2019, Stuti completed her Bharatanatyam Dance graduation and continued her training with the eminent Guru Shri Kalakshetra Amarnath Ghosh, a Doordarshan-graded (Government of India approved) Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi artist in Chennai.   

Stuti also received training from Dr. Apoorva Jayaraman’s Study room course and the Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai. She has studied Kuchipudi, another primary Indian classical art form, and Nattuvangam, an art of rhythmic recitation to accompany dancers in Bharatanatyam by the eminent nattuvanar Shri. R.LV Hemanth Lakshman.  

Stuti owns a dance school – Kalagriha School of Performing Arts in Kanata. She teaches beginner, intermediate, and advanced dance lessons to kids, youth and adults of the South-Asian community in Ottawa. 

Akawui is a Canadian singer-songwriter of Chilean and Indigenous Mapuche descent. He was introduced to South American folk music by his father at a very young age. This Indigenous-Chilean cultural heritage, combined with his diverse personal experiences, deeply inspires his musical fusion.

Performing primarily in Spanish, Akawui has carved out a unique Latin sound within the alternative music scene. He brilliantly blends hip-hop and rock with traditional vocals and folk influences from around the world. For fans of urban alternative music, this artist-activist unites the tribal with the modern, creating a truly novel sonic experience.

On stage, he delivers an engaging performance that is both powerful and tender. Addressing subjects close to his heart with humor, sarcasm, and love, Akawui captivates his audience while championing Indigenous communities worldwide. He incorporates traditional songs and instruments into his music and collaborates with other Indigenous artists. Akawui’s lyrics convey socially conscious messages, recounting the realities of diverse communities and highlighting the human condition. His bold message of decolonization and the revitalization of Indigenous peoples creates a powerful, compassionate, and inspiring show.

Fana Soro is a hereditary master of the balafon, West Africa’s big wooden xylophone. Fana hails from the Senoufo tribe in northern Cote d’Ivoire and spent 9 years as a member of the prestigious Ballet National de Cote d’Ivoire touring England, Holland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia, Martinique and West Africa. In 1990, he moved to Norway to perform throughout the Norwegian educational system and work as Artist in Residence at the International Children’s Museum in Oslo. From there, Fana continued to tour throughout Northern Europe with the celebrated West African group, Super Djembé Kan. In 1997, Fana moved to Vancouver and formed Masabo, a performance group specializing in traditional West African music, dance and story. Fana and his family have made their home in Ottawa since 2010.

Master percussionist Fana Soro introduces students to traditional playing techniques of the djembé, West Africa’s most popular drum. Fana also shares call and response songs in his mother tongue of Senoufo.

Born and raised in South Africa, Jacqui Du Toit is known for her animated stories from the mother land. By combining gestures, movement, singing, facial expressions, and dramatic impersonations that spark the audience, Jacqui knows how to captivate the audience with more than just words. She is the co-owner of The Origin Arts and Community Centre.

Jacqui Du Toit shares contemporary, historical, and traditional stories from Southern Africa in a vibrant performance accompanied by a live drummer. Stories of Nelson Mandela, tales from Zimbabwe, traditional Zulu stores, fables of Anansi, and Jacqui’s own journey to Canada today all form part of the fabric that she weaves from the oral tradition.