What happens when an Indian directs cowboys through their history?

This is a narrative flipped upside down.

It sees the Wild West through an Indigenous lens – quite literally – and has plenty of cowboy swagger, while taking aim at the injustices of the Indian Act.

Welcome to The Cowboy Act, one of the latest two pieces on stage later this week under the Transformations offerings from Ballet Kelowna.

“We have this chuckwagon which is really the fastest way to transport us, literally and figuratively, to the Wild West,” Artist in Residence Fraser-Monroe told Kelowna10 during rehearsals ahead of the show.

Fraser-Monroe directs his dancers in and around the wagon, one of whom is holding an 1800s camera and tripod. The choreography – to a track by iskwē and Tom Wilson - requires some dare-devil dexterity as much as rhythm and timing. At one point one of the troupe slides under the wheels as it’s pushed across the stage.

“The inspiration for the piece was recognizing First Nations peoples are often misrepresented or staged into photos,” he explains. “And to recognize the impact we actually swapped the roles, so we have an Indigenous photographer travelling to the Wild West to photograph the cowboys.”

Ballet Kelowna says Fraser-Monroe explores the dichotomy between “Cowboys and Indians” and asks: what happens when an Indian directs the Cowboys through their history?

“It’s a comment on representation, in all forms, and it’s also a way for me to criticize the Indian Act, as we go through this by flipping that script, and actually looking at it with a bit of humour, “ he says, noting the title of the performance, The Cowboy Act, in part refers to that infamous piece of government legislation from 1876.

But Fraser-Monroe says while “the meat” behind the concept is issues of representation and the Indian Act, it’s the dancing that will engage Kelowna audiences for this world premiere.

“What comes out on stage is a very fun, fast-paced romp through the Wild West. A lot of movement is influenced by the swagger of the cowboy; of course, rooted in my background in traditional First Nations dance as well as my training in contemporary and ballet.”

Audiences are encouraged to bring some of that swagger with them to the Kelowna Community Theatre by wearing their finest wild west outfits.

The Cowboy Act is one half of the latest Transformations program.

The other performance, Disembark, sees Kirsten Wicklund choreograph a humanistic perspective to her relationship with classical vocabulary and form in a layered study of contrasts. Reflecting on a world disrupted, the dramatic intensity of Disembark is further amplified by cinematic lighting, which creates an otherworldly atmosphere.

The show runs May 5 and May 6 at 7:30 p.m. See ticket info here.