Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre (KDT) is a Canadian not-for-profit contemporary dance organization and registered charity (Business No. 826507949RR0001) founded in 2001. Led by Rotinohnsyónni (Haudenosaunee) artists, the company specializes in works that intersect Indigenous performance traditions with contemporary dance through what it describes as "resurgent process, practice, and embodiment."

History and mission
Originally operating as an artist-run sole proprietorship from 2001, KDT formally incorporated as a not-for-profit in June 2005. The organization, under the artistic direction of Santee Smith Tekaronhiáhkhwa, focuses on research, creation, and dissemination of performances rooted in Indigenous methodologies. Its work emphasizes visually striking, visceral productions that integrate cultural narratives and embodied knowledge systems.

Artistic approach
KDT’s productions explore themes of identity, cultural continuity, and decolonization through hybridized movement vocabularies. The company collaborates with Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to develop works that challenge conventional performance frameworks while maintaining ties to Rotinohnsyónni traditions. Its educational programming promotes arts-based communication and intercultural dialogue.

Organizational structure
Designated by the Canada Revenue Agency as a charitable organization focused on arts education, KDT supports emerging artists through mentorship and commissioning initiatives. The company’s activities include international touring, community workshops, and interdisciplinary collaborations that foreground Indigenous creative leadership.

[1] https://www.kahawidance.org [2] https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/kaha-wi-dance-theatre/ [3] https://www.kahawidance.org/kahawi-dance-theatre [4] https://www.charitydata.ca/charity/kahawi-dance-theatre/826507949RR0001/ [5] https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102341350