Festival History

The Dancers of Damelahamid produce the annual Coastal Dance Festival (CDF), in partnership with The Anvil Centre in New Westminster and the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. The CDF takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), q̓wainƛən (Kwantlen), and qəyqəyt (Qayqayt) people.

The Coastal Dance Festival is a celebration of the stories, songs and dances of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast. The Festival presents the rich artistic practices of artists from British Columbia, the Yukon, Alaska, Washington State, and guest national and international artists. The CDF consists of ticketed evening performances, weekend public performances, and a youth program including K-12 performances and artist workshops.

The Coastal Dance Festival provides an opportunity for Indigenous artists to share and support one another in a celebration of song and dance, bringing recognition to their unique and diverse cultures and showcasing their artistic strength. Audiences are invited to witness these practices to see that Indigenous arts are thriving and vibrant.

Since its inception in 2008, the festival has proven to support and inspire the professional and artistic development of Indigenous artists, as witnessed in the growth of the emerging artists and the presentation of artists from year to year. The CDF presents a youth and emerging artist program that includes performances for K-12 school audiences and workshops with established artists. This program is an opportunity for mentors and youth to come together in a responsive environment which strengthens intergenerational ties.