More photos coming soon!
Theatre Direct presents WEE FESTIVAL
May 12- 19th, Theatre Direct presented the first ever, theatre and cultural festival for the early years. I was excited about this initiative and HAD to be a part of this celebration. Early in the week I was able to attend the Wee Festival's conference, listen to and interact with "scholars and researchers from a wide variety of disciplines as they present snapshots of their research, discuss themes and trajectories relating to early years, creative development, cognitive ability, theatre, digital media, and play".
I especially enjoyed a presentation by Kate Einarson, a Ph.d candidate and researcher investigating how infants and children learn about music.
Here are a list of other topics that were presented
- Bethany Corey
A Range of Possibilities: Audience Roles in Theatre for the Very Young - Ben Fletcher-Watson
The Baby Audience: defining the developmental capabilities of babies and toddlers - Leslee Silverman
Public attitudes and trends in the context of developing, and presenting theatre for early years - Heather Fitzsimmons Frey with Emma Miles
Trends and Ideas in Theatre for Babies and Early Years - Caroline Fusco
Talking to urban children and parents about play - Hilary Leung and Nick Shim
Sago Mini – Designing and Testing Digital Play for the Very Young - Marc Richard
Creative Dance as Embodied Learning - Elyne Quan
Darkness and Light: Creating Theatre That Matters for Young Audiences or “How To Not Be Afraid of Taking Ideas Really, Really Far
I would encourage you to visit weefestival.ca to learn more about the conference and festival.
Rise Up & Rise Above
Saturday May 10th, at the Toronto Plaza Hotel, I attended and performed for Rise Above Now. This free event was dedicated to educate, empower and inspire others to become successful through means of social development, economic advancement and spiritual growth.
For more information see http://riseabovenow.tumblr.com
It's MUSIC MONDAY! Let's Celebrate!
Music Monday is an annual event that brings together thousands of students, musicians, parents and community members across the country to celebrate the gift of music in our lives, on the same day at the same time. The Coalition for Music Education launched Music Monday in 2005.
It is a full day of celebration, always on the first Monday of May. In 2013, Music Monday is on Monday, May 6th. In many communities a magical moment happens at the same point during that day, that is, at 9 am Pacific time, 10 am Mountain time, 11 am Central time, 12 pm Eastern time and 1 pm Atlantic time, and 1:30 in Newfoundland, when schools right across the country are united by one piece of music.
Across the country and around the world. Our goal is to “Fill the Skies with Music.” Hence we encourage you to take your music to the fields and to the streets on this wondrous occasion. The idea is that if one were to open the front door of his or her home and stand on the street on the first Monday in May, one would hear music and the skies would be filled with melody.
World Culture Bazaar Celebrates Sri Lanka!
What a wonderful time I had at World Culture Bazaar's monthly event celebrating art & culture. This month attendees learned about the culture of Sri Lanka. Special guests spoke on the history, traditions, art, politics and we even feasted on a few signature treats. My contribution to the event was performing the Sri Lankan national anthem. I first heard it 2 weeks ago at an event and felt compelled to learn it as the sweet melody was stuck in my head.
At the end of the evening, we toasted (non alcoholic) to a prosperous Sinhalese New Year! Suba aluth avuruddak vewa! (Happy New Year)
FREE STEELPAN CLASSES FOR KIDS
Greetings everyone! Hope all is well. I am excited to let you know that Afropan Steelband will be offering FREE steelpan classes for kids 7-13 years. I will be instructing the children classes and look forward to making music with our returning and new students. I am exceptionally happy that we are able to offer this class as I know children activities can be quite costly. Please take advantage of this offer and if you are unable to at this time, tell a friend.
Classes are every Saturday from 11am-12pm and will begin May 3rd. There is a cost for sticks which range from $10-$20 depending on the instrument. To reserve a spot, send an email to classes@afropansteelband.com with the name and age of the child. Space is limited so reserve early.
The Scoop | Networking Event
On April 9th, 2014, The Scoop, a creative networking event, took place at the Lillian H. Smith auditorium in Toronto. Culture Days Ontario spoke of engagement through culture and it's positive impact upon our communities. Toronto Public Libraries announced an offer of free venues to artists and cultural groups during Culture Days. As well, Neighbourhood Arts Network and Toronto Arts Council presented opportunities to connect artists to funding, a challenge regularly faced by creatives and organizations.
Spectacular performances by Roma Dancers, Paromita Kar and Iana Kormarnytska and soulful songstress Domanique Grant were well received.
The event was presented in partnership with Culture Days Ontario, Toronto Public Library, Toronto Arts Council and Neighbourhood Arts Network.
Photos coming soon..
Steelpan With Souls
Click to view larger image
Pan-African Book Expo Photos
Pan-African Book Expo
Pan African Book Expo, Sunday April 6 at the Jamaican Canadian Association
World Culture Bazaar Celebrates the Irish Culture
Another successful evening of sharing culture through the arts. This month World Culture Bazaar celebrated the Irish culture. More info to come...
These are the moments
Every once in awhile I meet people who are so enthralled by the steelpan, I smile a huge smile because that's how I feel too!
After a performance one afternoon, I visited Castries Barber Salon. This 40 year establishment always has instruments on hand: guitars, a djembe, bongos, tambourines and if you request it, a keyboard. A man came in with his son and daughter. Right away his daughter came over with the biggest smile on her face. I asked her what her name was and she said Alba.
Alba tried my steelpan and became very excited. After showing her how to hold the sticks and hit the notes, we began learning the tune, "Mary Had a Little Lamb". 20 minutes later Alba had the learned the song on the steelpan. What an amazing moment. She was beaming with pride. Moments like these make sharing this instrument worth it. Who knows, maybe Alba will become the next greatest pannist. Time will tell...
Canadian Chinese Junior Golf Association
I was invited to the Canadian Chinese Junior Golf Association over the March Break. Some of the kids that were there were trying golf for the first time and love it. I played for their end of week award ceremony and had a few kids that were intrigued with the steelpan and wanted to see it up close. Thanks for the invite, I had a blast!
World Culture Bazaar Celebrates Black History Month
World Culture Bazaar embarked on a second year of celebrating various cultures through the arts with people of all ages and backgrounds. What a wonderful evening it was learning about Black History with host Dewitt Lee, special guest speaker Kirk Mark and guest artist Josh Benjamin.
York South-Weston BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT
Tuesday, February 25, from 7pm - 9pm at Greenborough Community Church (2000 Keele St)
House of Culture is a local business in York South-Weston.
This will be a great evening of entertainment, delicious food, and inspiring speakers as we celebrate Black History Month together! With performances from local Toronto artists Suzette Vidale, Beyond Sound and Dance Immersion, as well as speeches from Jean Augustine, Alvin Curling, and Lekan Olawoye, we know that the only component we are lacking in this great event is YOU!
We'd love to see you there! Please RSVP at http://yswblackhistorymonth.eventbrite.com/
Please forward this invitation widely in your networks, all are welcome!
Follow the Toronto North Stars all the way to Trinidad Panorama 2014
In celebration of her birthday, Black History Month and 20 years of teaching Jamea Zuberi is embarking on a trip of a lifetime. She will be accompanying school age members of the Toronto North Stars Children Steel Orchestra to take part in a 3 year community building project to the 2014 Trinidad and Tobago annual carnival festival, bookended by the Trinidad and Tobago National Junior Panorama 2014 and the Trinidad and Tobago 2014 National Steelband Panorama finals.
Although this will not be the first time the Canadian veteran teacher will be taking school aged young people to her country of birth, it will be the first time she is taking a group made up of a Jane and Finch community based steel orchestra, sponsored and run by parents, family and friends, starting with her own. North Stars' first sponsors were Ms. Zuberi's own parents - her mother Marilyn Lyder purchased the first set of North Stars' uniforms, and her father, steel pan virtuoso Kelvin Stowe Lyder, is the arranger who mentors the young musician arrangers. Like 19 year old Simon Lendore who arranged his and the group's first composition of Rihanna's "What's my Name" 3 years ago during the band's first rehearsals.
The Toronto North Stars Children Steel Orchestra, # (hash tag) Building Characters of Steel, is a youth driven musical group whose members come from different communities around the GTA. " We are a diverse group of children and young people, age ranging from 6 to 20 years old, who all have a passion for music and performance in common. Our aim is to harness our love for the steelpan as a vehicle on our quest for better knowledge of our Caribbean ancestry, and to achieve a post- secondary education as part of our repertoire."
North Stars has performed in a variety of events including opening the Caribana parade in their first summer 2001, at the Ontario Black History Society Brunch, A Different Booklist calypso tent, and community movie nights.
When questioned about the experience, Ms. Zuberi's only comment was " I am blessed to be the happiest woman alive."
Pink and Black Affair
I was honoured to be invited to attend and perform for the Scarborough Church of God's annual fundraiser. I was blown away by the caliber of musicians involved. Teens and adults all gifted with steelar skills. The MC had the crowd rolling with laughter with his jokes and interactive comedy. The evening ended with the band performing a high energy set which had everyone singing and on their feet. One of the things that I appreciated was the theme of appreciating, caring and showing consistent love to those around us, something that we sometimes take for granted and need a reminder of every once in awhile. #BeTheChange
Learn to play the Steelpan
Are you interested in learning to play the steelpan?
Steelpan classes for teens (14 years & up) and adults will be starting January 22 for 10 weeks. Come and learn about the history and development of this illustrious instrument and learn to play a song.
We have a lot of fun so bring a friend. Limited spots available.
Click flyer to see more info
Marche's Spirits & Spices Week Kicks Off
Spirits & Spice @ Marché Toronto ~ http://www.spiritsandspice.com/
Exclusively at Marché Toronto, Spirits & Spice is a week long celebration that invites everyone to enjoy the warm aromas, savoury spices, pulsating rhythms and exotic cuisine of the Caribbean.
During Spirits & Spice, Marché will feature a selection of Caribbean dishes alongside it’s usual menu items. The food is cooked right before your eyes with seasonal products from the region. You can find Caribbean inspired beverages and smoothies at the juice station, while the bar will carry Caribbean beer, rum and other spirits. Caribbean desserts and even coffee will also be available for guests.
The week kicks of with an opening VIP reception on Monday, January 13th and ends on Friday, January 17th.
Throughout the week there will be celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, live music and exciting contest giveaways. Over 30,000 patrons are expected to take part in the week long festivities, many of which will be delighted for a taste of the tropics in the heart of winter.
Taste a variety of delicacies from around the Caribbean, while sampling the region’s finest spirits and cocktails. There will be plenty of excitement all week long, capped off with an exciting musical finale!
Spirits & Spice is a truly remarkable dining experience and authentic cultural celebration.
Marché Brookfield Place Street Level
181 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3
Tel: +1 647 350 6999 ext.4
Business hours
Sunday – Thursday
7:30am – 11:00pm
Friday-Saturday
7:30am -1:00am
