 It was a room not full with just passionate exciting people but also overflowing with people proud to demonstrate their culture in the form a dace – the Round Dace. On April 5, 2019, Boyle Street Community Services held its annual Boyle Street Community Services Round Dance. It was presented by the Indian Residential School Program and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Program.
Round Dances are performed by First Peoples across North America. Traditionally, these events are held indoors. These night-time events occur on weekends and special days. The Round Dance is a healing ceremony that has become a social dance for Indigenous people.
The Boyle Street Community Services Round Dance was a fun occasion for indigenous communities in Edmonton to come together, meet old friends, and make new ones as members joined hands in a circle and danced around the drummers and singers. The beat of the drum was like the heartbeat of the community as everyone moved as one in an unbreakable circle, a show of unity. It was a dance for everyone. The children, friends, the family, the youths, and the elders all joined in the fun. Everyone was welcomed. Everyone had fun. It was free to join in. It was fun too. It went until midnight.
