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Andrea Nann Dreamwalker Dance Company
Inspires with Compelling Multi-Arts Presentations
May is Asian Heritage Month, and with it comes an important contribution to Canada’s cultural scene --The Whole Shebang 2007. Presented by the Andrea Nann Dreamwalker Dance Company (ANDDC), in association with the Harbourfront Centre NextSteps and Volcano, The Whole Shebang takes place at 8 p.m. on May 4 and 5, at the Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront Centre for the Arts, 231 Queens Quay West in Toronto. The Whole Shebang is a one-of-a-kind cultural event --a multi-arts program of contemporary visual and performing arts that’s guaranteed to enchant audiences. Tickets, costing $22 to $35, can be ordered by calling the Harbourfront Box Office at 416-973-4000.
The Whole Shebang – Celebrating the Individual Voice within the Collective
Now in its fourth year, The Whole Shebang is an annual program created by the Andrea Nann Dreamwalker Dance Company, featuring contemporary dance, literature, music, visual art, film and video, that reaches across artistic disciplines and brings together culturally and artistically diverse performers as a showcase of the richness of Canadian talent. In doing so, this event introduces new audiences to a range of artistic disciplines and provides youth and individuals of all backgrounds with a diverse array of role models from within the artistic community.
“…The Whole Shebang 2006 is a rich, even heady multi-arts show…the allure of The Whole Shebang is how collectively, these thoughtful artists detail life in the 21st century in all its myriad paradoxes.” --Paula Citron, The Globe and Mail, May 2006
“Golden dance moments to remember and cherish...” --Susan Walker, Toronto Star, May 2004
The Contributors
The Whole Shebang is an outstanding opportunity to see the following talented artists in an intimate setting:
* author-poet Souvankham Thammavongsa, winner of the 2004 ReLit Award for Small Arguments (Pedlar Press);
* Governor-General’s Award winning playwright Judith Thompson;
* K.M. Hunter award-winning dancers Kate Alton and Jessica Runge;
* musicians Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson (Skydiggers, Finlayson/Maize), Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo), Suzie Ungerleider (Oh Susanna) and NDP Member of Parliament (and former member of Grievous Angels and Toronto punk rock band L’Étranger) Charlie Angus; and
* artistic director/choreographer/dancer Andrea Nann.
The program will also feature original work by:
* Genie Award winning filmmaker Peter Mettler;
* Saidye Bronfmann Award winning potter and visual artist Wayne Ngan;
* Juno nominee and Dora winning composer-guitarist John Gzowski;
* video-artist Samm Higgison; and
* lighting designer Aisling Sampson and costume designer Cheryl Lalonde.
The Whole Shebang 2007 Highlights
Readings --Poems and Plays
The readings will feature the launch of Found, a new collection of poems by Souvankham Thammavongsa, as well as a selection from Judith Thompson’s new play, The Palace of the End. These readings explore the personal and global effects of oppression and war in a complex, modern world.
The Palace of the End captures the global effects of the Iraq War. The characters include Lynndie England, the young, female American soldier convicted of torturing Iraqi detainees; David Kelly, the microbiologist who told the BBC that the dossier justifying the invasion of Iraq was grossly exaggerated before dying suddenly; and Najis al Saffarh, a leading Communist in the 1960s and mother of four, who was brutally tortured by the Baathists and finally killed by American bombs. Judith Thompson will read excerpts from the monologue by either Lynndie England or Najis al Saffarh.
Thammavongsa, in her collection of poems, Found, draws inspiration from a discarded scrapbook her father created during the 1970s while in a Lao refugee camp in Thailand. The poems, with their blank spaces and small print, their language so unforgiving in detail that every letter, gesture, break, line and shape becomes for us a place of real meaning, were built out of doodles, diagrams and drawings into a work characterized by elegance and power. Found’s bareness is unrelenting – allowing us to see while holding back much of what we imagine.
Songwriters’ Circle
Prepare to be entertained by an intimate circle of songs and stories by some of Canada’s favourite musicians and songwriters, including old favourites and new material by Charlie Angus, Greg Keelor, Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson, and Suzie Ungerleider.
Andrea Nann --Dance, Music and Video Inspiration
Artistic Director Andrea Nann will feature two dances: INK and Shostakovich.
INK, a rich, deeply expressive work, was choreographed by Nann for a trio of women (Kate Alton, Jessica Runge and Nann), with an original score composed by John Gzowski. This abstract, contemporary work, inspired by Hornby Island potter and ink painter Wayne Ngan (brought to life by video artist Samm Higgison), explores a rich, internal world of breath and movement found in Chinese ink painting.
Shostakovich is a solo dance choreographed and performed by Nann, created in collaboration with filmmaker Peter Mettler. Inspired by Dimitri Shostakovich’s somewhat maniacal Piano Trio No. 2, Nann’s Shostakovich explores the haunting despair and devastation of Shostakovich’s war-torn 1940s Soviet Russia. A recording of the third movement of the Shostakovich piece performed by Andrew Burashko’s The Art of Time Ensemble rounds out this performance. Both dances feature lighting designs by Aisling Sampson and costumes by Cheryl Lalonde.
Matinee Program for Youth, May 3 at 1 p.m.
The ANDDC is committed to facilitating enriched arts learning and experiences for youth by providing opportunities for young people to work and learn with experienced artists. In addition to the evening performances, the ANDDC is working in partnership with the Harbourfront Centre School Visits Program to offer students a 35-minute mini-Shebang program, followed by a 20-minute Q&A period. Artists featured on this program include Kate Alton, Jessica Runge, Souvankham Thammavongsa, Suzie Ungerleider, Andy Maize, Josh Finlayson and Andrea Nann.
This mini-Shebang program, on May 3 at 1 p.m., will act as a preview for the media; cameras are welcome.
CYBERSPACE MUSICAL DANCE PERFORMANCE
Curator: Janet Lumb
Saturday My 12th, 2pm
Free Admission
An on-line dance dialogue infused with originality and innovation, 9 Moments gives voice to two talented Asian Canadian dancers who explore a common universe in their respective ways.
Ina’s South Asian Bollywood pop dance meets Emily’s Chinese classical dance that has roots from the silkroad. These two emergent choreographers from distant yet similar interests will join their bodies and spirits in movement online and in cyberspace. This performance will turn your head around. A wild and twisted delight not to be missed!
Ina Bhowmick has been experimenting with various Indian dance styles since she was three years old. Her work is widely known in Montreal as she has performed and /or choreographed in venues such as Place des Arts and le Cabaret du Casino. She is always looking for ways to add extra spice to the already mystical dance form.
Emily Cheung is an educator, performer and choreographer. She received a B.F.A., B.Ed. and M.A. (2007) from York University. Emily performed in several major shows including Land of Cards, Iron Road, Fringe Festival, Dance Ontario, CanAsian and Dusk Dances. Most recently, she organized “Spring Lantern II” two sold out shows in Toronto debuting three new choreographies including a first Indo-Sino collaboration with Hari Krishnan
Come experience this live cyberspace performance with us!
Toronto Venue
QMusic
401 Richmond Street West, B102
Toronto, ON M5V 3A8
Contact Marilynn Jung, Coordinator
416-516-0287
mhjung@sympatico.ca
Montréal Venue
Oboro
4001, rue Berri, local 301
Montréal (Québec) H2l 4H2
Contact: Rafael Katigbak, Coordinator
516-969-7235
raf@viceland.com
presented by the Artists Health Centre and DUO
On Sunday, May 20th, 2007 the AHCF in collaboration with Dance Umbrella Ontario will present Targeting the Healthy Dancer with Darryl Tracy and Pat Miner. The workshop will explore motor control systems used in dancing. These systems, which will be described in a short lecture, affect strength, power and flexibility. Additionally this year, we will investigate the interactive and dynamic foot and how it affects these systems. Participants will learn a conditioning phrase that includes a newly-created foot sequence.
This practical, day-long workshop includes:
- lecture by Darryl Tracy on motor control systems (flexion and extension against gravity)
- brief investigation into how the foot interacts with the floor and how it affects extension and
flexion dynamics throughout the dancer’s body.
- instruction in a conditioning phrase (including dynamic foot exercises) designed to work with these systems, and to provide balance of strength, power and active flexibility
Parts of the conditioning phrase are inspired by the work of Irene Dowd.
Pat Miner and Darryl Tracy are both faculty members of the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. As colleagues, Miner (highly acclaimed dance teacher & 2004 DanceOntario award recipient) and Tracy (dance artist and physiotherapist) have been collaborating for several years in their approach to dance training. Sharing their combined expertise, they have developed innovative ideas about class work and supplemental training.
Sessions involve practical components, so participants are asked to bring comfortable clothing/dancewear. Part of the conditioning phrase may require a small towel or sweater.
Pre-registration for the day is required, as space is limited.
Registration: 9:30 a.m. Workshop: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Date: Sunday, May 20th, 2007
Workshop Fees: $40 / DUO Members: $32 / Students and Seniors: $30
Location: Toronto Dance Theatre, 80 Winchester Street (in Toronto near Parliament and Carlton Streets)
To register, please fill out and mail or fax the attached form, or contact the AHCF at 416.351.0239 or info@ahcf.ca.
METRO-CENTRAL YMCA
20 GROSVENOR ST.
(North of College, West of Yonge)
May 26th @ 8:08 PM
$8.00
Series 8:08 is a monthly performance workshop showcasing new dance ideas, works in development and newly completed works choreographed by professional and emerging Canadian choreographers. The audience becomes a part of the exciting creative process by giving the artists written feedback about the works they see. An open-dialogue between the choreographers and the audience is encouraged at our post-performance meet and greet.
This month’s Series 8:08 choreographers: Carlynn Reed, Andrew Turner, Caroline Niklas-Gordon, Marie-Julie Asselin, Jennifer Robichaud and Alyson Vishnovska.
Info. Line (416) 504-6429 x 40, www.series808.ca <http://www.series808.ca/>
Toronto Dance Theatre
5-minute solos for one of TDT's extraordinary dancers by
12 artists including DUO clients
Marie-Josee Chartier
Yvonne Ng
Holly Small
TICKETS & INFORMATION
May 23 - 26, 2007
Wed-Fri, 7pm and 9pm
Sat, 2pm and 8pm (8pm performance part of TDT's End-of-Season Gala)
Winchester Street Theatre
80 Winchester Street
Tickets: $15-$20
(discounts for students, seniors and CADA)
For tickets please call 416-967-1365
An exciting new initiative by Toronto Dance Theatre, the 12 Solos project is conceived as a creative hothouse that brings together twelve highly accomplished Toronto-based artists with TDT's exemplary dancers. 12 Solos will be performed May 23-26, 2007, at the Winchester Street Theatre.
The participating artists are: Carol Anderson, Marie-Josée Chartier, Elizabeth Chitty, Robert Glumbek, Eda Holmes, Hari Krishnan, Matjash Mrozewski, John Oswald, Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay, Holly Small and Lex Vaughn.
This project will inspire debate about the expressive potential of the human body and the act of collaborative creation by bringing twenty-four different points-of-view to the act of solo dancing.
Artistic Director Christopher House has invited twelve creators, with a wide range of backgrounds and working in a variety of disciplines (music, photography, design, visual art, dance, performance, theatre, writing and video), to each choreograph a 5-minute solo for one of TDT's dancers. These 'non-dance' artists have developed an interest in the body through their own artistic practice, and each of the 'dance-based' artists has an interest in other disciplines.
The project will give each of the dancers a stimulating new interpretive challenge, and will provide each of the choreographers with the opportunity to work with one of the best dancers in the country. It will also provide a fascinating, revolutionary experience for the participants and the audience.
tiger princess dance projects
Yvonne Ng, choreographer
presents
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
12 – 1 p.m.
Part of the free concert series in
Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre
At the Four Seasons Centre,
145 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON
This “collection” is a series of self-portraits of the life and history of dance artist Yvonne Ng—her Chinese bloodline, her South Asian heritage (she grew up in Singapore) and her acquired Canadian identity. During this performance, she will present Collection #2: VoyAge and Collection #3: Headdress. Ms Ng is the artistic director of tiger princess dance projects and the curator of the popular dance: made in canada/fait au canada series.
“I carry my homeland in my body—in my dance.” Yvonne Ng
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