'My son had a dream': A family rejoices at an Indigenous ballet's opening night - Action News
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New BrunswickAnn's Eye

'My son had a dream': A family rejoices at an Indigenous ballet's opening night

Possesom Paul wanted to wrap up the ballet as a gift for every member of his family. That's what he told them as they gathered around his grandmother's table before the opening night of his ballet Pisuwin.

Pisuwin opened in Fredericton on May 12

Two ballet dancers hold hands on a stage.
Pisuwin features Indigenous dancers, costumes and music. (Ann Paul/CBC)

This is part of a series called Ann's Eye, featuring the work of Ann Paul, a Wolastoqey content creator. You cansee more Ann's Eye pieces by clicking here.

Possesom Paul wanted to wrap up the ballet as a gift for every member of his family.

That's what he told them as they gathered around his grandmother's table everything happens there anyway, Ann Paul said before the opening night of his ballet Pisuwin.

Featuring Indigenous actors, costumes and teachings, plus music composed by Juno-winner Jeremy Dutcher, the ballet is co-directed byPossesomPaul and Igor Dobrovolskiy.

It premiered May 12 in Fredericton with the Atlantic Ballet Theatre to a room full of love, said Possesom's mother, Ann Paul. The production will tour across Atlantic Canada.

"It was a story for everybody. Everybody took what they needed from it," she said.

A man stands in front of a theatre building, looking up at the sky with his arms spread wide.
Pisuwin was the dream of Possesom Paul. Seeing it become a reality was a full-circle moment for his mother, Ann Paul, whose personal mantra is wish it, dream it, do it. (Ann Paul/CBC)

Paul had seen bits and pieces of the ballet ahead of opening night through her work as a CBC contributor for Ann's Eye, but she purposefully avoided seeing the entire show that's something she was saving for the premiere.

Of course, she felt personal prideand was even screaming with it as the show ended. She ishis mother, after all.

She likes to say "we are proud," though, because she attributes her son's success and upbringing to her entire community.

"I sometimes feel that it's more of a community effort in bringing up our children. It's not all me," she said.

WATCH | Possesom Paul opens up to his family ahead of opening night:

The creation of Pisuwin, from a mothers perspective

1 year ago
Duration 3:22
Anns Eye: Ahead of opening night, Pisuwin co-creator Possesom Paul sits down with his family.
A smiling woman wearing a colourful skirt stands in a crowd of people.
As a mother sitting there, it was surreal, Ann Paul said. (Ann Paul/CBC)
Two women stand next to each other, smiling.
Ann Paul stands with her own mother, Elder Maggie Paul, outside the theatre. 'Everybody that could be there was there,' she said. Family came from as far as Quebec to watch Pisuwin. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A family sits around a wooden table with water bottles and pop cans on it.
Before opening night, Possesom Paul's family gathered around his grandmother's table to talk about the ballet. (Ann Paul/CBC)
Two ballet dancers twirl on a blue stage.
With the ballet, its just the beginning. It really is, Ann Paul said. (Ann Paul/CBC)

Ann's Eye

Photographer Ann Paul brings an Indigenous lens to stories from First Nations communities across New Brunswick.Click hereor on the image below to see more of her work.

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