Posts Tagged Arts and Culture
Arts and Workshops – January 2011 News!
Posted by centauri in Arts and Culture on January 12, 2011
Each month, we try to suggest some of the best around-town arts events and workshops for our local campers in Ontario. Apologies to the many campers we have who live too far away to take advantage of these events… though please do email us with arts events you would like to recommend in your communities, and we will post your suggestions.
If you love dance, check out Dance Ontario’s DanceWeekend 2011 here in Toronto! The event features contemporary, b-boy, ballet, belly dance, Bharatanatyam, jazz, flamenco and African styles of dance. These live performances will engage and inspire – and promise to warm January’s frosty days! Events take place at Harbourfront, and cost only $10. For more information, go to: www.danceontario.ca
If you enjoy musicals, don’t miss Billy Elliot! It’s coming to town at the start of February. For more information, go to: http://www.mirvish.com/shows/billyelliot
This Winter, anyone aged under 25 can experience a key exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario absolutely FREE. The exhibition is called Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts and includes some of the most magnificent works of art from India’s royal culture. Don’t miss this! The exhibition runs until April 3rd. For more information, go to: www.ago.net .
If you’re aged 12-19, and acting is your thing, then you may be interested to hear that the the Toronto Public Libraries has a workshop coming up in March with a professional make-up artist. The subject is make-up for films. Space at their workshops fills up fast because they are usually low cost, or free. For more information, go to: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/search.jsp?N=37867+37849
Older campers may also be interested to learn that Toronto Public Libraries now has audition postings on its blog! For their listings, you can go to: http://torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/arts_culture/audition-postings/
… more suggestions coming in February!
Julie
www.centauriartscamp.com
If you love theatre, you’ll want to hear about this!
Posted by centauri in Arts and Culture, Arts Camps, Theater Camp on November 29, 2010
The National Theatre of the UK has started an exciting new project: they are now capturing their plays live in high definition for movie-going audiences all over the world. This means, for the first time, that you can see their productions without actually heading to the UK! Of course, if you have the option to join other Centauri campers and staff on tour to London and Stratford-upon-Avon next summer it’s always a far better option to see such productions in person as the directors intended (!!) but if this isn’t possible for you, then go to: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntlive and check the press for local viewings. The first upcoming production is Hamlet (9 December) and this is followed in the Spring with a King Lear starring Derek Jacobi, and later by The Cherry Orchard, starred Zoe Wannamaker. This idea is a fantastic opportunity for theatre-lovers worldwide to see some of the greatest plays and the world’s best actors ‘live’ on stage, without even leaving the city.
To learn more about the Centauri Theatre Tour to England in 2011, click here:
http://www.centauriartscamp.com/summer-camps/international-arts-tours.htm
November Arts News
Posted by centauri in Arts and Culture on November 25, 2010
Arts Update
Julie
www.centauriartscamp.com
Centauri Arts Camp: Session 4 update!
Posted by centauri in Centauri Summer Arts Camp. on August 18, 2010
Session 4 is moving along so quickly!
Yesterday we had our annual “Play in a Day” festival. Campers wrote, directed, acted and danced, did lighting, sound, props and scenery for 4 original plays, all from 9am to 7 pm!
The 4 plays were titled “Teenagers vs Werewolves”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, Pandora’s box, “Commotion, Emotion and Rap”! See the photos here!
Actors Cayle Chernin and Dwight McFee came to camp to adjudicate the plays and gave some great feedback on each play. What a great day!
Tonight is the Hawaiian Banquet, then in the next few days a talent show, the “Mythic Olympics” and much more!
Our First Banquet of the summer…
Posted by centauri in Centauri Summer Arts Camp. on July 10, 2010
Cultural Banquet Day is a big event at Centauri… and yesterday was ‘it’! We celebrated China. Campers learned Chinese watercolour technique, and took a workshop on how to make Chinese dumplings (many of our campers have the recipe and want to try it again at home!). We learned Mandarin, and played games to discover how to use chopsticks. Campers also helped with the construction of a giant Chinese dragon!
Then, the banquet. With the dining hall decorated as a Chinese banqueting hall, we wore red for good luck, and ate lemon chicken, ginger beef, sesame tofu, rice noodles, Asian soup and much more. We had a parade of famous figures from Chinese history, and learned a song in Mandarin. Once dinner was eaten, campers took cultural ‘experiences’ such as Tai Chi and ‘making Chinese candy’.
Then, the Grand Finale. In our big theatre, campers waited in anticipation in mysterious red light, while others entered underneath our spectacular Chinese dragon. We banged drums while the dragon danced. It looked amazing! Finally, the evening ended with the telling of a traditional Chinese folk story, accompanied by traditional folk music.
A terrific day was had by all.
The mood here is fantastic right now. So positive and upbeat. The campers are leaping onto their chairs and singing in the dining hall whenever we play a song they know. ALL the dorms are harmonious. It’s wonderful. Everything we love about camp. Happy kids learning new skills, making new friends and discovering more about themselves, in an environment where they can be inspired, excited and creative. It doesn’t get more perfect than that!
Julie
It’s National Poetry Month!
Posted by centauri in Arts and Culture on April 20, 2010
Yes, an entire month dedicated to the celebration of poetry. There are events taking place all over Canada, and the theme of the festival this year is ‘Climate Change’. Check out this link for information about upcoming celebrations and events: http://www.poets.ca/Linktext/npm/National%20NPM%20Reading%202010.pdf
Merida: An Artist’s Paradise!
Posted by centauri in Arts and Culture on March 29, 2010
We just returned from a fabulous trip to Mexico – an opportunity to relax as a family, before plunging into preparations for this summer! We chose the Yucatan in Mexico, and spent several days in Merida. It was, quite honestly, one of the most cultural cities we have EVER visited, anywhere in the world. In addition the being really beautiful, the city teems with art of every description – so much so, that it’s difficult to avoid it. What’s more, nearly everything is completely free. On the first day, we attended a fantastic Salvador Dali exhibition – not the works you normally think of with Dali, but his lesser-known, early pieces. The State Government Building is adorned with enormous murals by the Yucatecan artist, Fernando Castro Pacheco, recounting the history of the Mayan people (their amazing pre-conquest cities, as well as the terrible injustices they suffered afterwards). Every night there are free concerts, performances and dances – everything from folk ballet to Mexican dance, jazz quartets to circus acts. In the restaurants, there is live music, and the works of local artists hanging from the walls. The people of Merida eat, drink, live and breathe the arts. Just a short drive from Merida, there are dozens of Mayan cities to explore – pyramids, murals, and other incredible structures. This city is a dream for anyone who loves culture. Have you visited anywhere in the world that has something comparable? If so, let us know!
Now we’re back, plans for the summer are in full swing. We have just 3 more staff to hire. Day trips to plan. Supplies to buy. Staff Training to design. The International Tour sights to book. A ton of exciting, creative stuff! And we’re not the only ones hard at work shaping this summer. All the Centauri staff are designing their workshops, evening programs and other camp activities throughout the next month, so we should have some very exciting news to reveal to you soon!
Julie