Happenings - Upcoming

Free Creative Movement and Music workshop at Little Peeps

Wednesday March 17th, 2010

At Little Peeps – 768 Queen St East

A fun and creative class designed for boys and girls ages 3 to 5. Using imaginative and physical journeys, fun games and improvisation, children are lead through a great music and dance experience.
Artists’ Play Instructors, Elizabeth Dawn Snell, Jason Vanstone and Virginia Jones have years of experience in the Riverdale and Leslieville neighbourhood bringing dance and music to children of all ages.

Elizabeth, artistic director of Artists’ Play, brings children on a journey in dance through creative movement, ballet and jazz. Jason has introduced a high energy all Boyz class – Mighty Moves and hip hop to Artists’ Play classes. Virginia, having taught music lessons to all ages in Riverdale for quite a number of years, has a wide range of nursery rhymes and fun instruments to share with the children.
Having worked together for children’s birthday parties and special events, Elizabeth, Jason and Virgina are proud to inspire and ignite creativity, music and movement.
Artists’ Play Dance Theatre provides classes for children of all ages at Dundas and Logan!
For more information on our school and the instructors please visit www.artistsplay.com!

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HOLIDAY PARTY – DRESS REHEARSAL FOR TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY!

As the holidays draw near we are all nudged with that little extra something…celebration time:)!

This thursday join the students in ballet, jazz and hip hop classes and instructors/directors of Artists’ Play Dance Theatre as we perform for friends and family in preparation for our show on December 12th with the Riverside BIA for their Tree Lighting Ceremony!

Hot chocolate and dancing! What else does one need?  If you wish to bring snacks or beverages please do so!

Thursday November 26th, 2009 at 6:30 to 7:30

FREE

1112 Dundas street east

For more info call 647 206 2154

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Happenings - Past

Halloween Festival with Labcab at the Factory Theatre!!

Jason and Elizabeth perform about fear.  FEAR OF LOVE, LOVE OF FEAR.  ABSENT – a duet from a solo.

A heartfelt and sad dance theatre piece about fear trying to find it’s way in and one trying to block it out.

Come check out the entire festival as it has theatre, dance, music and more!!! 1pm to 1am at Factory Theatre (Bathurst and Adelaide)

Jason and Elizabeth perform ABSENT in the “Rehearsal Hall” at 7:15 and 10:15

www.labcab.ca

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Tango at Take a Walk on The Riverside!

Elizabeth and Jason will be dancing at Prohibition Gastrohouse on Oct. 23rd at 8pm and later as part of the Riverside’s Take a Walk on the Riverside event running all weekend long!

There are many activities for children including pumpkin carving, face painting, mask making and of course Halloween Dancing with Artists’ Play Dance Theatre.  For the adults there are many sales and specials inside every store.

Check it out!

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Elizabeth Dawn Snell will be performing in Shine

Shine

JULY 24 & 25
doors @ 7:30pm
shows @ 8pm sharp!
$10

hosted by PEPE METRALLA

DANCE, MUSIC, THEATRE & MARTIAL ARTS:

excerpt from ‘LOVE & LIFE’ – a full length show presently in the making.
A push and pull of obsessive compulsions and desire in day to day life.
How to get through it all?

performed by ELIZABETH DAWN SNELL & JASON VANSTONE
of ARTISTS’ PLAY DANCE THEATRE original music by JASON VANSTONE

JANET BEAUCHAMP in ‘SPOTLESS’
an interdisciplinary solo based in theatre, clowning and music

CANdeLA presenting ‘QUITATE TU PA PONEME YO’
a theatre/comedy duet created by DANNY D’ANGELO y MIKO SOBREIRA,
performed by MANUEL RODRÍGUEZ SAENZ y MIKO JONES

writer & director J. BRIAN McDONALD’s ‘TALKING PICTURES’
performed by SCOTT McCULLOCH & LAURA VINCENT

SAMBA from ST JEAN DE BREBEUF HIGH SCHOOL in Hamilton

choreographer/performer MIKO SOBREIRA
in ‘UN SOLO ACOMPAÑAO’, a dance theatre piece

SHANE WALTERS & SHELDON WALTERS demonstrating
various martial arts techniques, drills,and self defense applications

last, but never least…

AARON WATER performs ‘THROUGH SPACE’ in 3-5 parts-
his solo synthesizes hip hop, ballet, and tai chi

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HeartSurge at the Fringe

heartsurge2009_425x553

One man’s journey of pain, hope and revitalization, through human emotion and intense physicality. A joyful Viennese waltz is interrupted by a heart murmur. Three dancers morph into a sinewy pulsating heart, magnifying the physical representation of heart surgery. Through powerful elevated duets, heartfelt struggle becomes a mutual push to recovery.

Based on a true story, Alan Page shared his experience of emotions, physical being and factual, medical information associated with his own heart surgery.  The first incarnation of HeartSurge was shown at fFida 2006 and now incorporates dance theatre. Introducing a character, the host who’s steadfast confidence about his obstacle brings the audience gently along in the story while intertwining social waltz with contemporary dance.

“through the metaphor of lyrical, emotional movement…the piece made a strong impact…”
Paula Citron Globe and Mail

Choreography by:
Elizabeth Dawn Snell

Original Music by:
Jason Vanstone and Al Bee

Dancer/Collaborators
Tanya Crowder
Tyler Webb
Sarah McQueston
Jason Vanstone

Venue:
The George Ignatieff Theatre
15 Devonshire Place (south of Bloor)

Show Times:
All shows are in July:
Wed. 1st: 10:30pm
Sat. 4th: 5:30pm
Sun. 5th: Noon
Tue. 7th: 9:00pm
Thu. 11:00pm
Fri. 10th: 2:15pm
Sat. 11th: 5:15pm
Please note: No latecomers will be admitted. Show length approx. 1hr

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April 26, 2009 – International Dance Day!

International Dance day is coming up and Artists’ Play Dance Theatre will be there.

They will be performing an exceprt from their upcoming Fringe Show “HeartSurge”.

In celebration of International Dance Day 2009, are proud to present an afternoon of FREE dance activities at Yonge-Dundas Square, featuring a variety of dance forms and Toronto-based performers. On stage and off the stage, the square will be alive with assorted performances, interactive dance presentations, open classes and information on an array of dance styles & traditions.

Our artists include: Back to the Underground, Capoeira Males, Thrill the World, Mi Young Kim Dance Company, Gadfly, Vivace Studios, Jennifer Hicks, AKA Dance, Blue Ceiling Dance, Cadence Progressive Contemporary Ballet, Aya Dance Collective, PushPull Dance, Collective Heat, Artists’ Play Dance Theatre, Sanskriti Arts Dance Company, Lady Janitor, Kay-Ann Ward, Jay 9 Dance Projects, Rick Hansen Secondary School, and more. The Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists will also have stationed their recruitment office for The Ministry of Silly Walks Walk-A-Thon, which will begin its absurd Toronto parade on Wednesday April 29th.

We are excited to feature Bboy Cyphers, Capoeira Matches, Nia Demonstrations, Contemporary Choreography, Belly Dancing, Thriller Workshops, Bollywood Lessons, Hip Hop Routines, Dance-Theatre Shows, African Dance, TDSB Students, and more. Situated in the open heart of Toronto, this special public event offers an eye-
opening and interactive experience, highlighting Toronto’s rich, diverse and inclusive dance community. This event is fun for all and we encourage all of Toronto to join us and participate in the Dance Day festivities!

The 28th annual International Dance Day is a UNESCO designated day for celebrating dance and dance artists. London-based dance/choreographer Akram Khan has written the official 2009 message from UNESCO: “This very special day is dedicated to the one language that everybody in this world can speak, the inherent language of our bodies and our souls, of our ancestors and of our children. This day is dedicated to every god, guru and grandparent that ever taught and inspired us, to every song and impulse and moment that’s ever moved us to move. It is dedicated to the little child that wishes it could move like its star, and to the mother who says, “you already can”. This day is dedicated to every body of every creed, colour and culture that carries the traditions of its past into stories of the present and dreams of the future. This day is dedicated to Dance, to its myriad dialects and its immense power to express, transform, unite and delight.”

The Toronto Dance Day Committee and the Dance Umbrella of Ontario would like to thank the Department of Canadian Heritage for their generous support. This event and more are organized and set in motion thanks to Toronto Dance Day Committee: Julye Huggins, Rosslyn Jacob-Edwards, Alexis Da Silva-Powell, Robin Dutt, and Heather Saum in their assistance in organizing this event.

International Dance Day 2009
DANCE IN DUNDAS SQUARE!
April 26, 1pm to 5pm
Yonge-Dundas Square

(corner of Yonge and Dundas, across from the Eaton Centre)
FREE to the public

We will be preforming at 4PM. See you there!

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Performing with the Parahumans – April 21, 2009

Elizabeth Dawns Snell and Jason Vanstone will be performing with the Parahumans again. Details below.
paras-my-mind-roberto

‘Birthing New Dendrites’ – The Parahumans

A 35 minute Dance, Music, Lighting Improvisation immediately following back to back classes by Heidi Strauss (Technique) and Dave Wilson (Improv). Accompanied by The Parahumans live band, the event will be followed by a Q&A. Admission by Donation, plus Meet the Dancers Reception.

Featuring: Kate Stashko, Skye Nicolson, Cara Spooner, Kate Nankervis, Elizabeth Dawn Snell, Erin Merrifield, Robyn Alfonso, Jason Vanstone, Sarah McQueston, Penny Chivas, Vanessa Kimmmons, Kaitlin Torrance

Winchester Street Theatre, 80, Winchester Street, Toronto
Tuesday April 21
8.30pm
Info: dcwilson@mcmaster.ca

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Artists’ Play …a Cabaret! April 4th, 2009

aplaycab040409
A show, a party, a time and place to enjoy!

Featuring performances from A.P.D.T.’s upcoming fringe show “HeartSurge” as well as guest performers from actors, comedians to dancers and poets.

A short dance lesson to kick off the night and a band to get you up and on your feet after you have been thoroughly entertained!

Location: 1112 Dundas Street east (Dundas and Logan)
When: April 4th at 7pm
Cost: $10 – all ages welcome, under 12yrs – free!

Featuring Performances by:
An exceprt form Artists’ Play Dance Theatre’ “HeartSurge”
Dave McKay
Andrew Hanna
Ben Bootsma
Joel Benson + Rob D’Ambrumenil

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Special Guests with the Parahumans

On Saturday February 14th, 2009

Elizabeth Dawn Snell and Jason Vanstone will be special guests is this great new show with the parahumans.

My Mind Is Going is the latest production by The Parahumans, conceived and directed by Artistic Director – Dave Wilson. The show combines dance, theatre, poetry, film and expressionistic drawings, featuring 10 dancers and actors and 3 musicians.

The 60 stark and expressionistic drawings of human forms by Bogos Kalemkarian introduces the show. Dave Wilson’s dance film Pressing Home, shot in industrial Leeds (UK) continues to indicate the need of the mind to roam to territories unknown.

Act 1: Wandering Mind, includes several pieces of text and performance written and directed by Dave Wilson with additional material from Muriel Stuart. Plato and his three female students travel time and space to uncover ‘The Good’, often stumbling on the pain and suffering of humankind. Plato, now resident in Toronto, shows a keenness to expand his Neo-Academy into the Golden Horseshoe area. Dance of Death links the Bolshevik Revolution with Ballet and I Want To Make A Dance With A Film Behind Me (Toronto Premiere), explores the need of the unrestrained ego to increasingly manifest more of itself. Stuart’s The Seed Shop and Interiors are presented as World Premieres.

Act 2: Still Minds Are Receptive, presents a counterpoint to the soft-spoken of monkey mind, that cannot stop chattering. This Zen-like section is a unique collaboration of improvised, in the moment dance, lighting and live music. The 33-37 minute work draws subtle strength from the ambient-rhythmic electronic score of The Parahumans Band. The strong dancers’ ensemble includes 8 emerging dance artists from Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa.

Artistic Director: Dave Wilson
Actors: Sharmila Dey, Katie Murphy, Zita Nyarady, Avi Phillips
Dancers: Penny Chivas, Vanessa Kimmons, Sarah McQueston, Katie Murphy, Liisa Murray, Kate Nankervis, Zita Nyarady, Cara Spooner
The Parahumans Band: Mike Lobel, Avi Phillips, David Stein
Lighting Designer: Patrick Brennan; Costumes: Pat Mohan; Visual Art: Bogos Kalemkarian

MY MIND IS GOING – THE PARAHUMANS
WHERE: Winchester Street Theatre, 80, Winchester Street, Toronto
WHEN: February 12/13/14 – 8pm; February 15 – 2pm (pwyc), 8pm
COST: $16; Students, Seniors, CADA – $12
INFO/RESERVATIONS: dance@mcmaster.ca; (416) 588-9452

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