Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 10, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC) has launched its schedule for the 2007-08 season.

There are six big acts set to perform in Yellowknife, but as Ben Nind, executive director of NACC said, the organization is trying to reach out further into communities around Northwest Territories.

Fraser Walters, Victor Micallef, Peter McCutcheon and Remigio Pereira are the Canadian Tenors. They will be travelling to Yellowknife and Inuvik in December. - photo courtesy of Northern Arts and Cultural Centre

"In many ways, it's not a Yellowknife institution - it's truly territorial," he said. He says NACC's mandate is "to give support to artists who are in those communities but also to artists who are travelling to different communities."

Last year, NACC brought entertainment to seven communities including Yellowknife. This year, he said, there are already plans to work in six of these communities.

"We know there are events that will be held in Fort Smith, Inuvik, Hay River, Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah," he said. "We're now looking for opportunity to reach out further."

Some of the shows which have already been planned for the communities include a trip to Hay River by the Swinging Sisters in November and a Canadian Tenors show in December in Inuvik. NACC is still planning for community shows, which will take place in the new year.

The season will start, however, in Yellowknife with a performance by Prince Edward Island-based group Chucky Danger Band in October, which Nind describes as a mix between The Beatles and The Killers.

"Chucky Danger Band is one of the top rising groups in Canada," he said.

Ozgur Culha of NACC explained how this season is going to be different.

"I think this year is more energetic ... especially with the young start," she said.

Other acts that will be travelling to Yellowknife for performances and workshops include Juan Martin, The Swinging Sisters Club, Toronto Dance Theatre and Tanya Tagaq-Gillis.

"I think we've got a fantastic group of artists that are representative of music and dance - some of the best in the country now," said Nind. "We're looking for performers that are on top of their game that you generally wouldn't see even in southern Canada."

Along with performing, the artists will also give workshops during their stay in Yellowknife.

Nind says NACC strives for more than just a good mix of entertainment and is confident that it will achieve its goals this year.

"We're also here to push our audience and to give them a memorable experience when they walk out," he said. "As every season is, this is another to remember."