- Story by Lin Stranberg Photography by Lia Crowe
Keilani Elizabeth Rose is a Vancouver-based young woman with multiple talents, deep convictions and a very busy calendar. She dances, acts, writes, produces and even deejays91裸聊视频攁ndshe makes her feature film debut this winter in The Sinners, a teen cult thriller that premiered at California91裸聊视频檚 Mammoth Lakes Film Festival under its pre-Netflix title of The Color Rose.
She has several projects on the go, all of which began during the pandemic.
91裸聊视频淢y best way of coping is to create,91裸聊视频� she said.
So when COVID-19 hit last spring, she co-created FLIMSY, a web series, with two-time Grammy winner Printz Board and an all-star cast.
91裸聊视频�FLIMSY was born because we desperately needed some light and love to take our minds off of the heavy time the world was in. We found an innovative way to film in isolation, bring our community together across borders and countries despite the lockdown, and make some art. It kept our minds distracted, our hearts hopeful and the frequency positive.91裸聊视频�
FLIMSY went on to win awards at international festivals, and Keilani went on to another collaboration with Printz Board on Within the Silence, a short film about domestic abuse involving a hearing-impaired seven-year-old, which she hopes will draw some much-needed attention to the disabled community.
After a deejaying stint in Tulum this winter, she91裸聊视频檚 back in Vancouver for a project dear to her heart. She91裸聊视频檒l produce and play the lead in Breathe, an experimental short written by Cody Kearsley (of The CW91裸聊视频檚 Riverdale).
91裸聊视频淥ur hope is to uplift communities struggling with addiction and substance abuse, specifically the Indigenous community. Part of our exploration with this film is to create awarenessof the destructive generational effects of colonization on Indigenous peoples. It91裸聊视频檚 important to us to share this story through a resilient lens, which inspired us to establish the first Native Youth Mentorship Program, inviting local Indigenous youth to shadow crew members during principal filming so they can get a feel for the industry. I want them to know they can have a place and a voice here.91裸聊视频�
As part of her journey, Keilani has also started to write her first feature film, a story about an Indigenous girl who survives the foster care system as part of the 91裸聊视频淪ixties Scoop91裸聊视频� and finds her way back to the strength of her family and her community. Its working title is Sunflower. Keilani identifies strongly with the Indigenous community and her intersectional cultural heritage: she grew up in Prince George, BC, with a Hawaiian mother and Lheidli T91裸聊视频檈nneh antecedents, including the famed Granny Seymour, a highly honoured elder of the Lheidli T91裸聊视频檈nneh Nation.
91裸聊视频淪torytelling is part of my existence,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淢y people, both Lheidli T91裸聊视频檈nneh and Hawaiian, never had a written language before colonization: history, knowledge and culture had always been traditionally shared through stories, song, dance and chant. This is a beautiful way of life I get to represent and perpetuate with my creativity.91裸聊视频�
Her Hawaiian mother, an accomplished hula dancer, was a huge influence.
91裸聊视频淪he really instilled in my sisters and me valuable lessons about creativity, following your heart and fighting for your beliefs. We grew up in poverty but our home was always filled with joy and love. Mamma made sure of that. She can make magic out of anything.91裸聊视频�
With the support of her mom and her community, she was able to study dance as she grew up.
91裸聊视频淪eeing all the sacrifices my mom made so that my sisters and I could grow up with our artistic outlets is something that stays with me every step of the way. Without her selflessness, my sisters and I would not be where we are today. We were also blessed to have in our corner angels like Judy Russell and Bunny Murray at Enchainement Dance Centre, who made space for us to access our brightest potential.91裸聊视频�
Keilani was the first recipient of the Performers North Special Assistance Fund, established to enable underprivileged kids to participate in the company91裸聊视频檚 festival tours that their families otherwise couldn91裸聊视频檛 afford.
91裸聊视频淭his was my first experience with a community that stood for inclusivity. That feeling of people believing in you so deeply is a driving force for me to do everything I can to make it count, and do my part to give back and make space to include others with less privilege whenever I have the chance. 91裸聊视频�
She moved to Vancouver to pursue dance and landed a contract on the Disney Dream, part of the Disney Cruise Line, which introduced her to Broadway-level production values. Dancing at that level led her to an agent, and that led her to acting.
Right before her big break on screen, Keilani got excited about deejaying. She quickly became professional and played on the international circuit, as well as for local legends like the Vancouver Canucks hockey team and musicians Tegan & Sara. Her signature sets weave together stories and messages through music, which has always been a big thing in her family. Her sisters Tiare and KeAloha play ukulele, her uncles played drums, and KeAloha also sings and writes music.
91裸聊视频淢usic and dance and acting are so complementary that I feel the strength and diversity they give my artistry. Acting reconnected me to the power of my voice and led me to the questions, 91裸聊视频榃hat stories do I need to tell?91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频榃hose stories need to be elevated and amplified?91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频楬ow can we create greater unity and compassion by sharing these stories?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
She adds: 91裸聊视频淓specially right now, with the momentum of awareness and progression for the #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter and #IndigenousSovereignty movements and the fight against Indigenous invisibility, we as artists really get to recognize the power we hold with our platforms and make informed, deliberate choices about the content we create to promote unity and equality.
91裸聊视频淩epresentation matters so much. And being a female person of colour in this industry gives me the ability to influence great change. It is a responsibility that fills me with purpose and inspiration.91裸聊视频�
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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