Sook-Yin Lee: behind the scenes of DNTO live in Halifax
Halifax is one of my favourite cities. Steeped in history but brimming with a youthful vitality from universities and an art college, it's a paradoxical place: rough and tumble, progressive and old-fashioned.
DNTO Live
Halifax is one of my favourite cities. Steeped in history but brimming with a youthful vitality from universities and an art college, it's a paradoxical place: rough and tumble, progressive and old-fashioned.
When I land in Halifax, things feel manageable. A few of my best friends live here which makes me immediately comfortable. Truth be told, I'm happy to get away for a few days from the scandal at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto.
We're here to do a DNTO live show. On the road we are a lean and mean crew of three: Andrew Friesen, Kaj Hasselriis, and I. It was Andrew's good idea to come to Halifax and coincide our live show with the opening of the brand new Central Library-- a marvel of architecture and community gathering.
Arriving at the library, I'm met by a long line up of enthusiastic CBC listeners waiting patiently out in the cold, hoping to get a seat. I'm energized by their warm appreciation. As I make my way to say hello to them, we cross our fingers hoping they'll all get in, and they do! No one is left outside.
I'm pumped to be playing with some of Halifax's best storytellers: Candy Palmater, El Jones, Bill Wood, Anthony Adams, Lynn Jones and musician Mo Kenney. To see us on stage is striking. We're Mi' kmaq First Nation-Trini-Chinese-Canadian-Black-Nova-Scotian and Queer---a refreshing reflection of a Canada you don't often see together in mainstream media.
The place is packed and there is an energetic flow between audience and performers. In the front row, a young woman watches while knitting a pair of socks.
This is the first time I've seen tactile hand-signers-for-the-hearing-impaired take centre stage at a DNTO live show; their gesturing arms and expressive faces are an incredible performance in itself.
We take turns at the microphone, to share our experiences that are at turns hilarious, sad, difficult, and uplifting. By the end the crowd jumps to their feet and gives a standing ovation after Halifax Poet Laureate, El Jones, presents her powerful poetry summation of our time together.
Thank you Halifax for coming out and connecting with us, for reminding me of why I work in public broadcasting. It was so swell to be with you. You're a beauty!
Hear DNTO Live in Halifax on Saturday December 6, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on CBC Radio One across Canada.
(Photos Courtesy: Chelle Wootten)