dance Immersion Summer Showcase Presentation @ TD Irie Fest

Artists Biography

1. Mississauga Celebration Square - July 14, 2013 - BEYOND SOUND EMPIJAH Beyond Sound Empijah - Since debuting last year, Beyond Sound Empijah has perfo rmed at private and public venues in Canada, South America, the United States and the Caribbean. Beyond Sound’s unique mix of classical and modern drum and dance genres has captured the imaginations and minds of artists and non-artists alike. Beyond Sound Empijah is a collective of young, professionally trained drum and dance performers from organizations from across the GTA, such as Ballet Creole, Collective of Black Artists

(COBA) and the Ngoma Drum and Dance Ensemble. Performers range in age from 10 to 26, and bring a combined 25+ years of experience in the traditional African diaspora, the art of djembe, doudou playing and contemporary dance. As a collective of young artists, Beyond Sound Empijah’s mission is to engage youth in educating other youth through drum and music. Beyond Sound Empijah is proud to recognize the sponsorship and support of African Drums and Art Crafts and Afiwi International.

1. Oshawa Memorial Park – July 21 2013 - LUA SHAYENNE & CO.Lua Shayenne & Co. presents contemporary and traditional African dance works that explore current subject matters with the aim to be a vehicle for spiritual and social progress. Choreographer and founder, Lua Shayenne draws on the aesthetics and values of traditional African dance and culture to create

dance pieces that seek to upset and challenge multiple conventions and stereotypes. Lua Shayenne & Co. promotes community development as well as cross-cultural exchange and collaboration with national and international artists.The company showcased its full length production DEPARTURE 00:00 at the Lower Ossington, October 11-14, 2012. A Danceworks CoWorks Series event and partnership with Amnesty International, the one hour and half show featured three new pieces choreographed by Lua Shayenne: War Child, Landed Immigrant and African Suite. The company has also been featured in Canada’s major venues and festivals such as DansEncore Danse Festival, Enwave Theatre, Afrofest, Irie Festival, Kuumba and more.. www.luashayenne.com

The performers today are Walter MacLean on dundun, Derek Thorne on djembe. The Dancers are Natasha Phanor and Lua Shayenne. Lua Shayenne and Company will present traditional dances and rhythms from Guinea, West Africa.

1. IJO VUDU– Nathan Phillips Square – August 4 2013Sani-Abu began performing and touring at the age of 15 with Benin City's Uyi-Edo Dance Theater Troupe. He spent the past seven years in New Jersey and New York performing, teaching and collaborating with top leading dance companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Company, The Seventh Principle, Michael Mao Dance Company, The Brighton Ballet Theater in collaboration with the Moscow Ballet, Zawadi African Dance Company and Sankofa Dance Theater to name a few. In April 2005, Sani moved to

Toronto to start ijo vudu! a traditional African dance company and Sani-Abu School for African and Contemporary Dance and in no time found a well-spring of artists bursting with enthusiasm to study and perform with him. He obtain an Artist-Educator Foundation Certificate through the Ontario Act Council and The Royal Conservatory of Music .With inspired guidance, Sani is swiftly schooling his performers in the traditional drum rhythms, social dances and cultural history of his native Country Nigeria. Since his arrival, he has been actively teaching and performing, and has quickly become a highly sought after artist in the city.

2. GIBSON MURIVA– Nathan Phillips Square – August 4 2013

Dancer and choreographer from Zimbabwe, Gibson Muriva is noted for his fusion of the African, Classical Ballet and Contemporary dance forms. Raised in the ghettos of Harare, it was there that his mother, a dance teacher, introduced him to the rhythms of African dance. At the age of 17 he began his formal Ballet and Contemporary training with the National Ballet of Zimbabwe where he was named “Best Dancer”. During his training he became an apprentice with the Tumbuka Dance Company, and later a full

company member. During his time with Tumbuka he had the opportunity to tour internationally and to dance as guest artist with the South African Ballet Theatre. Later he went on to dance with The Tavaziva Dance Company in London UK and with Decidedly Jazz Dance Works in Calgary before settling in Montreal in 2007 to further pursue his choreographic career.

Rebel is a wake-up call to my home country, Zimbabwe, to rise up, stand up and find the courage to fight on claiming their stolen rights and their birth right: the freedom of expression. These right we forgot how lucky we are when we have it. “Today, I am rising up my voice for a change.”

3. MIKHAIL MORRIS – Nathan Phillips Square – August 4 2013Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Mikhail Morris' love and passion for dance started at the age of eleven where he pursued training and performance in high school. Mr. Morris has choreographed and worked with some of Jamaica’s top Reggae and Dancehall artists such as Elephant Man, Mr. Vegas, Bennie Man, Tarrus Riley, Tifa and RDX just to mention a few. Mr. Morris graduated with a Dance Certification in 2009 and is thankful that his journey, passion and opportunity for further development have led him to Toronto’s top dance companies such as Ballet Creole. From there he continued his journey, and at this present day his dream continued with COBA (Collective of Black Artists). Additionally, Mikhail Morris is the new

Assistant Director of the (C&YDT) Children and Youth Dance Theatre, where one of his goals is to create pathways for children to pursue their talent as young artists. DOING AN AUTHENTIC DANCEHALL CHOREOGRAPHY

4. ELITE DANCE COMPANY– Nathan Phillips Square – August 4 2013

Elite Dance Group- The Elite Dance Company Inc. is dedicated to promoting awareness in the art of dance. The company opened its doors to dancers 4 years old to young adults all over the Greater Toronto Area on October 4th, 2000. The Elite Dance Company is an interpretive Christian dance

group with its main focus on spiritual and creative interpretive dances. Under the artistic direction of

Stacy-Ann Vassell-Whiteley, the group also works in disciplines such as jazz, tap, modern, lyrical and Afro-Caribbean drumming

and dance styles. Mime is also used as an interpretive dramatic form. All members of the Elite Dance Company Inc. dance solely for the enjoyment and the perseverance of excellence.

5. JASMYN FYFFE & NATASHA POWELL– Nathan Phillips Square – August 4 2013Jasmyn Fyffe is making her mark on the Toronto dance scene as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. A choreographer described as “Alvin Ailey meets street dancer,” (Allan Ferguson – Director: Nelly Furtado Music

Video), her work is created within a movement style that is an eclectic blend of her versatile

training background while maintaining a strong contemporary foundation. “She’s a young artist whose body of work is developing in a style all her own.” (Sway magazine – Anya Wassenberg)

A Toronto native, Natasha Powell is not only recognized as an extremely versatile and passionate artist, but more importantly, a soulful mover. Her training started in ballet, jazz, and tap, then branched out to street dance forms hip hop, house, waacking, and funk styles. Her extensive dance vocabulary stems from training across North America with some of the best in these forms. As a performer, select credits TV and film credits include Nickelodeon’s “Spectacular!”, HBO Series “The L Word”, and “Centre Stage 2”

Jasmyn Fyffe & Natasha Powell, Co-Producers and Choreographers of “Gimme One Riddim” will present an excerpt from this spectacular dance theatre production.

6. CHILDRENS YOUTH DANCE THEATRE– Nathan Phillips Square – August 4 2013

Childrens and Youth Dance Theatre was founded by Andrea Douglas in September 1993, and is a non-profit community organization that offers a structured dance program with classes three days a week at the Driftwood

Community Centre (in the Jane Finch Community). Caribbean Dance, Jazz, Modern (Graham/Horton) and creative Movement, include the various dance styles offered. The organization focuses on nurturing and harnessing the dance talents of children and youths ages 4 and over.