Storyweaving Workshop Performance with Spiderwoman Theater

The NYC-based Spiderwoman Theater is the oldest continually running Indigenous feminist theater company in the Americas. Activism, self-determination, and storytelling are at the core of Spiderwoman’s programming, which remains rooted in an urban Indigenous sensibility. For more than four decades, their work has addressed cultural, social, and political issues through live performance and traditional and contemporary storytelling, bridging ancestral cultural practice and Western theater methodology.

Spiderwoman calls this creative practice "storyweaving," where personal and traditional stories are intertwined with movement, text, sound, music, and visual imagery. This framework serves as the foundation for all Spiderwoman productions, training programs, and community outreach activities.

The instructional team includes Muriel Miguel (story creation and director), Louis Mofsie (cultural song and dance), Murielle Borst Tarrant (storyweaving), Penny Couchie (movement and choreography), and Imelda Villalon (voice and vocal choreography). The creative team includes Sherry Guppy (installation artist), Sam Biondolillo (lighting design), and Carter S. King (costume design). Workshop participants include Darylina Powderface, Isaiah Welker, Donna Couteau, Raven Bright, and Tabatha Adams. The production team includes Deborah Ratelle (project manager), Lily Cox (production stage manager), and Alyssa Haley (production assistant). This performance is presented in association with Aanmitaagzi.

This workshop is made possible through the support of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Cultural Development Fund, Materials for the Arts, and the New England Foundation for the Arts.