July 1: Geek Quest, TIU, Aajuik
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July 1: Geek Quest, TIU, Aajuik 〰️
ALIANAIT ARTS FESTIVAL
July 1
7:00 PM Canadian North Big Top Tent, Nakasuk School Parking Lot Iqaluit
Geek Quest
(Igloolik/Montréal)
The super-heroes they dreamed of becoming and the geeks they are today; the music of their youth - which they still secretly love - and the dangerous acts they are eager to present: This is what Jim, Jack, Robert and Henri have in store for you in this show that brings together the whole family. Four protagonists dive back into echoes of the 1990’s they grew up with in this new opus packed with absurd, wacky humor and acrobatic feats. Geek Quest, Throw2Catch’s new tall tale. The first version of "Geek Quest'' was created in Igloolik at the Artcirq Black Box, where it became a collaborative show named "Igloogeek" involving youth and artcirq veterans alike, accompanied by the rock legends "Northern Haze" with guest musicians. It was further developed in Montreal and in 2022 Jimmy Qamukaq, Jacky Qrunnut, Gisle Henriet and Jérémie Robert came together to celebrate friendship and everyone's inner geeks at the Iqaluit Circus Festival with the Show Geek Quest!
Jérémie Robert
Montréal
Jérémie Robert works in the circus arts field since 17 years. Specialized in teeterboard, Cyr wheel and character acting, he has been in more than 2500 shows with companies such as 7 Fingers, Circus Monti, Cirque Éloize, Compagnie XY, Cirque du Soleil and Kalabanté. On top of his on-stage career, he explores creation as director and designer on diverse projects (Cirque du Soleil, Châtellerault’s National Circus School, École Boulle, Circus Monti, WRD Circus Club...), he is now artistic co-director of Throw 2 catch. His will to share his passion brings him to teaching in the professional field (Cirque du Soleil, Circus Monti, National Circus School, Tupiq A.C.T, Artcirq) as well as in a social circus context, organizing and directing workshops on 6 continents. These workshops are for him an opportunity to meet local communities and to help youth in precarious situation.
Jimmy Qamukaq
Igloolik
Jimmy is a gifted athlete who competed throughout his teens in the Inuit Games division of One-Legged High Kick. Joining Artcirq in 2004, he trained to become a highly talented acrobat, flyer and clown. He has travelled to 4 different continents with the group and continues to lead workshops at Artcirq’s Black Box space. For Jimmy, Artcirq is a way through which he can share his experiences, be part of a group, and focus on the positive nature of life.
Jacky Qrunnut
Igloolik
Jacky joined Artcirq in 2004 as a technician. Soon after, his talents in clown were revealed and he began training as a performer. He has traveled with the troop, from Timbuktu to Greece, Guinea, Mexico and France. Back in Igloolik, he is a full time father and coordinator of Artcirq’s Black Box programming.
Gisle Henriet
Montréal
Gisle Henriet is a multidisciplinary circus artist from Uppsala, Sweden. He graduated from the Circus Cirkör circus school in Stockholm, Sweden in 2004 and from the National Circus School in Montreal, Canada in 2007. Gisle has worked with companies such as les 7 Doigts de la Main, Norwegian National Theatre, and Cirque du Soleil, as well as performed on the streets in buskers festivals and in events such as the Royal Variety Show and the 2006 Winter Olympic closing ceremony. He regularly works with Artcirq as well as Tupiq A.C.T. and is also the Co-Artistic Director of the Montreal based circus company Throw 2 Catch.
TIU
(Kalaallit Nunaat)
With Pernille's unique voice shining through, beautifully accompanied by the guitarist's detailed fingerstyle, and backed by the bassist's and keyboardist’s sensitive expression, everything goes up to a higher unity. TIU’s songs are life-affirming and evocative, and the music contains everything from love and joy to gloomy melancholy.
Aajuik Collaboration
(Greendland/Nunavut)
Glenn Møller
Kalaallit Nunaat
Glenn Møller is an accomplished musician who plays with various bands and soloists. He plays keys, synth (analog) and accordion. This is one of several collaborative projects he has worked on with muscians from across the North. He is a member of the Aajuik Collaboration.
Aka Niviâna
Kalaallit Nunaat
In a space of existential questions and philosophical wonder, Aka Niviâna takes you into her world and allows you to explore her mind, as well as your own. “I may not have a lot of answers, but thousands of questions” is the way she lives her life and expresses herself – with no definite artform, but a curiosity and openness to try new things. She plays Julia Navarro in the upcoming season of HBO’s “True Detective – Night Country”, has various publications of poetry and has presented several keynote speeches at the UN and several other conferences. At this festival she participates as a poet, songwriter and performer.
Maaliannguaq
Kalaallit Nunaat
Maaliannguaq is a 23 year-old, songwriter/singer from Kangaamiut. Although being new on the music scene, Maaliannguaq has already been featured on MŪK’s album “Nipipalaaq” and played at Arctic Sounds in 2022. Her songs are moving in different genres and themes; darkness, happiness and love. Maaliannguaq is a member of the Aajuik Collaboration.
Athena Lings
Kalaallit Nunaat
In 2019, the now 19-year-old upcoming artist, Athena Lings, published her first song on the online platform SoundCloud. Her first song, I know it’s different, speaks of the difficulties of being young and homosexual in Greenland. Her latest song, Depression in the roads, is emotional and relevant to climate change. Growing up with nature as her backyard, her latest song contains much significance. Athena has published other songs with subjects like: depression, insecurity, coming of age and loss. Athena was nominated for the talent of the year price at the Koda Awards in March 2022 and performed on live television. Her music is experimental and flows in different directions, not sticking with a certain genre. Athena is a part of the Aajuik Collaboration.
Ivaana
Kalaallit Nunaat
Ivaana is a singer-songwriter. She’s been singing her whole life, and is originally a member of the Ol-sen Kids. Ivaana slowly started writing her own songs about five years ago, where the songs are calm and come from the heart. With a soft voice and down to earth melody is it easy for the audience to connect with the songs she is playing. Ivaana released her very first EP in November 2021, and recently was awarded as the Talent of the Year, 2022, from the Koda Awards.
Jaaku Sorensen
Kalaallit Nunaat
Jaaku Sorensen is a Greenlandic singer/songwriter with a powerful and distinctive voice. He writes songs in English, Danish and Greenlandic, often about difficult topics, but also about the good in the difficult. The music is best described as acoustic pop-rock, with strong, catchy melodies, accompanied by varying guitar playing. Jaaku is a member of the Aajuik Collaboration.
666god
Iqaluit
Thomas Lambe - known as 666god - is a rapper/producer from Iqaluit, Nunavut. Originally from Grise Fiord - the northernmost community in Canada - he spent his childhood in Iqaluit. A self taught musician who is always working to improve his technical and artistic skills, all the while mastering the rules of the music industry in the process. 666god’s music blends cutting-edge beats with a unique style of laidback flows and spitfire rhymes. He seamlessly mixes urban and pop culture with elements of being raised in Nunavut. 666god frequently collaborates with artists all over. This year he is a part of the Aajuik Collaboration.
KimOJax
Kalaallit Nunaat
KimOJax started as a rapper in 2008, where he was found by two rappers who called themselves Jayen Dawgs. KimOJax has released one album, and a single track on spotify and iTunes, but has worked with many different artist, who have released singles or albums.
Jaqqa Petersen
Narsaq, Kalaallit Nunaat
Jaqqa is a multi-instrumentalist from south Greenland who plays with different artists from Greenland and Nunavut in Canada. He has enjoyed being on stage since he was a kid in his hometown Narsaq and loves to be a part of the music scene wherever he lives.