Tla’amin ballet star brings cultural stories to the Kelowna stage

A Tla’amin ballet dancer who has taken on an artist residency in syilx homelands is seizing the opportunity as a way to express and share the beauty of his culture through dance.

Earlier this year, Cameron Fraser-Monroe became the first artist-in-residence in Ballet Kelowna’s 20-year-history. In the past few months, the 24-year-old has been working on crafting several performances grounded in Tla’amin Nation history, protocols and stories.

Fraser-Monroe said he’s made it a personal mission to respectfully incorporate the teachings and values of his community into his work.

“It’s not something I’ve been assigned to do, but something as an artist that I want to do,” he said. “Everytime I’m creating, I’m trying to lift up everyone I can with me.”

While the Tla’amin territory is on the northern Sunshine Coast, Fraser-Monroe grew up in Vernon in syilx homelands.