It's back to school time and already college and university programs are readying their dance teams for the Canadian Varsity Dance Challenge. The inaugural event was held April 3rd this year at York University where six teams competed in the jazz, contemporary and hip hop divisions. The $1000 top prize was awarded to Ryerson University who also received an invitation to perform at Dance Ontario Weekend in January 2011. This year, they hope to double their competitor attendance for the April 2nd, 2011 event.
Montréal is taking its place as the world's premiere circus destination. Montréal Complètement Cirque is the city's first circus festival, featuring homegrown talent and creating space to stage the world's finest. July is on fire with shows, including iD by Cirque Éloize. Directed by Jeannot Painchaud, this multimedia show blends ten circus disciplines with urban dance styles such as b-boying/b-girling, break dancing and hip hop. Backed by an impressive creative team that has transformed the environment, the performers include Mason Ames, Valérie Benoit-Charbonneau, Stacey Carlson, Leilani Franco, Christian Garmatter, Elon Höglund, Olivier Lemieux, Emmanuelle LePhan, Josianne Levasseur, Hugo Ouellet-Côté, Thibaut Philippe, Fletcher Sanchez, Kone Thong Vongpraseuth and Florian Zumkehr.
In the words of Painchaud from the press kit: "In the middle of this surreal megalopolis exists a public place. A public place, as a spot where one can seek refuge and escape anonymity, to express one's individuality and affirm one's identity, in order to reclaim possession of public space, and to dance the city..."
Giving a voice to its neighbourhood residents, Jane-Finch.com offers this interview with choreographer Luther Brown who has deep roots with this Toronto community. Host Sue Chun probes into Brown's history with dance and the turning points in his career, including his journey into resident choreographer and judge on the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Founder and owner of Do Dat Entertainment, Brown has now worked on several major motion pictures and over 100 music videos with the likes of Jully Black, Shawn Desman, Diddy, Janet Jackson, Danity Kane, Alicia Keys, Brandy and Christina Aguilera. Also be sure to check out his demo reel on his website.
Perhaps you missed this American/Canadian craze, but Diane Horner is back making her rounds of YouTube, thanks to FourFour for digging up this video. Back in the mid-nineties when her instructional VHS tape was hot on the shelves, Horner was praised as being among America’s top country line dance teachers. According to DanceLesson.org, her video features, "Cowboy Hip Hop, Jammin’, and the original Hip Hop." So if you still have a VHS player and you're up for being "the hottest dancer at your club," you just may want to pick up a tape.
Torontonians are finally recovered from Saturday's Nuit Blanche where the downtown core of the city erupted into a wild variety of art installations. The Toronto Reference Library busted out with an all-ages dance party, Dance Dance Evolution!, showcasing a variety of styles and workshops each hour.
The night kicked off with the Twist, Charleston, and Disco. When 10pm rolled around, Vybe Dance Company presented Hip hop to this massive crowd. This was followed by sessions in Country & Western, Bollywood, Capoeira, Salsa, Mambo, Swing, Jive, and Fox Trot... ending around 7am.
