John Austin

Featuring DSdanse Youth Company and Dance Works Academy Senior Dancers

DSdanse Youth Company

DSdanse consists of a Junior and Senior Company ranging in age from 9 - 18 years. DSdanse focuses on dance composition and performing. Both companies are made up of committed dancers who chose to come together to make movement magical.The task for DSdanse this year was to create a primary focus with multiple elements that could weave their way through each individual dance. With the word "Balance" as a primary focus and the collaborative force of an exceptional pianist, Nir Blu, those 6 characteristics expressed as 6 dances are: Love, Chaos, Control, Mastery, Secrets and finally Balance. DSdanse is excited to perform these dances once again for S.O.P.A. with Nir Blu on the piano.

Dance Works Performance Company

The 2012 Dance Works Performance Company consists of 18 dancers between the ages of 10-19 years. The company is split into three groups, Pre-Teen, Teen Performance & Competitive. The Pre Teen & Teen Company’s main focus is to develop self expression and skill through the creative process of choreography. The competitive company involves students who wish to take the skills and choreography they have learned to the next level by participating in various competitions throughout BC. This collective group of young performers share in dedication and passion for the performing arts and delight in the opportunity to share this passion with the community around them by participating in many local events year round. With a primary focus on personal growth and a multifaceted performing arts education, DWA company students are involved in many classes in multiple styles such as, Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop, National & World Dance Studies. DWA is delighted to participate in SOPA this year and share some of their works from 2012.

Karen Careless

The Artists:

‘Kunda’ means family, and thus is very fitting for this multi-cultural group of talented artists from several regions of Africa, as well as Canada, who have come together in unity to share African culture through a family-orientated show, also displaying Canada’s ethnic diversity, and encouraging people of all cultural backgrounds to come together and share ideas, beliefs, and traditions, to eliminate boundaries, interact, and join together in peace, unity, and harmony, as one world, one love, and one people... one family.

Fronted by local Sunshine Coast resident Kocassale Dioubate, a griot (traditional story-teller, musician, entertainer, and keeper of tribal history and tradition) from the Mandingo tribe of Guinea, West Africa, together with partner Sasha Belle, Kunda is a collaboration of musicians and dancers who all have well over a decade of experience performing and touring throughout Africa, Europe, North & Central America… Super-talent, Kurai Mubaiwa, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, dancer, and composer, from Zimbabwe will also be gracing the stage, as well as percussionist and phenomenal dancer Mohamed Duranteau from Guinea, West Africa.

The Performance:

Packed with color and energy, Kunda’s performance is rhythmic and joyous! A vibrant and diverse presentation which showcases artistic culture, music, and dance from various regions of Africa through the presentation & demonstration of several authentic handmade traditional instruments, exotic costumes, explosive percussion, high-energy dances, joyful marimba, plus soothing and soft instrumental pieces with great vocals. This fun and interactive show is sure to get your hands clapping and feet tapping - and don't be surprised if you even find yourself singing and dancing!

Let loose and embark on a musical and visual journey to distant lands for a joyous and insightful taste of African culture!

Workshops:

West African Djembe Drumming with Kocassale Dioubate ( 12:00 noon - 1:20 pm)
Learn and explore traditional West African rhythms with djembefola (master drummer) Kocassale Dioubate, born and raised in Guinea - also the birthplace of the djembe drum. Learn different polyrhythms and the different overlaying parts of which they consist, including accompaniments and lead, as well as work on your basic and soloing techniques. Discover the rich traditional and historical cultural use of the rhythm. No experience necessary! Accommodated to all different skill levels and open to people of all ages! Bring your own drum, or request a lender in advance.

Zimbabwean Song & Corporal Rhythm with Kurai Mubaiwa (1:30 pm - 2:50 pm)
In this workshop, Kurai will be teaching some singing which goes with the Mhande Dance rhythm from the Shona tribe of Zimbabwe. Mhande is a celebratory dance for a bountiful harvest in Zimbabwe; people take turns to harvest each other's field and the gatherings are rich with music dance and work at the same time. Mhande is very powerful and vibrant dance from the Shona people, it is characterized by strong singing, clapping, and very physical dances with leg shakers strapped around the legs - the dance and the sound of the leg shakers adds a unique flavour to the rhythm. During this workshop we shall be focusing on the singing, clapping rhythms, and intro steps to the dance.

Guinean Dance with Mohamed Duranteau (3:00 pm - 4:20 pm)
Join Mohamed in this fun, liberating, dance party of a workshop! Whether you've studied African dance for years, or whether this is your first time, you're sure to enjoy this workshop with this amazing dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Come prepared to let go of all your inhibitions and stresses as Mohamed guides you through a fun and high energy warm up, and then breaks down moves into a great choreography - all to the beats of live drumming! Mohamed always makes sure his students get a good sweat, a good workout, and leave smiling and feeling energized!

All workshops are open to people of all ages, all levels, and all types - no experience necessary!!
Each workshops is 1 hour 20 minute duration and cost is $20 per workshop. To register please phone the Gibsons Heritage Playhouse ph # 604 886 8998 or e-mail : housemanager@heritageplayhouse.com


KUNDA African Culture Music & Dance
One World One Love One People

Vitaly Beckman

“Jaw-dropping show” - The Province
"Inspires Wonder" - The Vancouver Sun
"Blows Minds" - The Vancouver Courier

The Show: Through the arts and crafts of illusion, Beckman creates a performance brimming with bewilderment and wonder; he performs jaw‐dropping, mind‐bending magic. Audiences that came to see his shows leave the performance stunned, shaking their heads, unable to comprehend what they just experienced.

Highlights: In Sensation of Magic, Beckman takes great pride in the fact that every illusion in the show is an "impossible dream" to accomplish. They include “Super Vision,” where he demonstrates his ability by reading from borrowed newspapers, from a distance of up to 50 ft. Beckman can make people disappear from ordinary photographs and appear on another. He also demonstrates object levitation, a paintbrush that paints by itself, escapes from chains using only mind power, and makes drawings of objects turn into the real thing: a concrete example of his belief that dreams can become reality.

This show includes two new illusions: A Mystery in Your Own Hands, where a playing card is teleported from one audience member to another, and Life from a Picture, where he makes a magazine photograph come to life.

"The show is not just magic,” says Beckman, “It’s about the realization of our dreams and the celebration of the human spirit. With the belief that we are only limited by our own imagination, the audience gets to experience the sensation that nothing is impossible, and that they can realize their dreams, or experience the sensation of how would life be, if there were no limitations.”

"That is astonishing!" - CBC Radio
"How did you do that?!" - Sophie Lui, Global BC News
"That's amazing! ...Love it!" - Michael Eckford, Urban Rush
"Unbelievable magic" - Johanna Ward, The Express

Vitaly Beckman: Vitaly Beckman is an accomplished stage illusionist. He has performed internationally in theatres, at corporate and charity events, and on TV and radio. Born in Belarus, he grew up in the Middle East, where he began practicing magic at the age of fifteen. He has lived in Vancouver, British Columbia since 2008.
 

From left, Joe Mock, Shari Ulrich, Rick Scott
 

Rick Scott, Joe Mock and Shari Ulrich pioneered rogue folk in BC in the mid 70s. Legendary for their fearless arrangements, flawless harmonies and musical hijinx, Pied Pumkin toured far and wide and sold over 30,000 LPS from the stage. Each Pumkin went on to a successful solo career before reuniting in 1998 after a 20 year hiatus. They since released two CDs, PLUCKING DeVINE, a selected retrospective taken from vinyl, and PIED ALIVE, recorded live on tour. Their children's CD PUMKIDS won the 2007 Canadian Folk Music and Western Canadian Music Awards. In 2011 the Pieds released a PIed PEar Collectors Edition CD combining two albums from the 70s previously only available on vinyl. They will reunite for a brief tour in July 2012, and are delighted to include Heritage Playhouse.

Can laughter heal?

Come and see former Cirque du Soleil physical comedian Gerardo Avila with Luke Lukaszek, old time comedy partners from Expo 86, Festival du Baie Saint-Paul and Festival Internacional Cervantino. They will tickle your bones with classic and new clown pieces guaranteed to make you laugh. Enjoy the rich music and sounds of well-known Vancouver guitarist Emad Armoush and also appearing Yvette Cormier and Maggie Guzzi. Don’t let us down, take us up on it.
 
Free raffle for a “clown nose”
 
Emad Armoush, is an accomplished Flamenco and Arabic musician living in Vancouver, British Columbia. Originally from Syria, He has been performing locally and internationally for the last 10 years. He started by learning Flamenco guitar and rhythms, but his love for music expanded his endeavours to learning the singing style and other instruments from around the Mediterranean, such as: the Flamenco rhythm box “Cajon”, Arabic drums such as “Dumbak” and “Daf”, the “Oud” ( Arabic Lute) and the Arabic reed flute “Nay”. He is well known as a Flamenco and Arabic singer/guitarist performing in concerts, recitals and other large events. He has also appeared and recorded on CBC Radio, Zed TV, and has performed at many festivals in Canada and France. He performs regularly as a soloist or with his group "Aire´ Flamenco" at the following local venues, La Zuppa, Dulcinea Cafe, Chai Gallery and East is East. He is currently devoted to studying and teaching guitar.

J. WAYNE ROWE
LAW OFFICE
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