KASHEDANCE Artistic Director - Kevin A. Ormsby The company is rooted in the connection of technique, creative exploration / process and performance, while investigating the space where “Traditional and modern dance from Africa and the Caribbean merge seamlessly with elements of classical ballet in pieces that are fresh and vibrant.” [Anya Wassenburg]. KasheDance’s most recent work, FACING Home: Love and Redemption with co-choreographer Chris Walker has toured the US, Jamaica and was voted Top 10 performance of 2015 in Madison, WS. The company has performed to critical acclaim at the Canada Dance Festival, Dancing on the Edge Festival, Fleck Dance Theatre, Jamaica Dance Umbrella and the Re:Generations Conference in the UK. Its Artistic Director draws inspiration from collaborations with visual arts, music, spoken word, and video. "Walker and Ormsby show what inspiring collaboration can yield, for what began three years ago as separate creative research projects…create scenes, anecdotes, and subversive impressions that vividly demonstrate the seductive power of dance.” [Keith Garebian] For more info visit www.kashedance.com
Music
KALABASH | is a true "Art" project where the musicians experiment with layering jazz harmonies over the folk and popular rhythms of the Caribbean. The result of this fusion is a scintillating strand of contemporary jazz, continuing in the tradition of T&T’s Clive Zanda. Performance highlights include: The Super Dome for Essence Magazine's 25th Anniversary Music Festival, New Orleans 1995; Beaches Jazz Festival 1995, Toronto; accompanying famed Jamaican folklorist, Marjorie Whylie, University of Toronto, Faculty of Music; opening the 2002 Barbados Jazz Festival at Sunbury House; "PanJazz in de Yard" Festival 2008 in Tobago; Jazz Artists on the Greens 2010, Trinidad; performances at 2015 Pan Am Games; appearance at Canadian Opera Centre jazz series; appearances at TD Toronto Jazz Festival and at Toronto's top jazz venues: Pilot Tavern and Jazz Bistro; and recently at 2017 Steel City Jazz Festival, Hamilton and 2017 & 2018 Kensington Market Jazz Festivals, Toronto. For more info visit www.kalabash.com
THEATRE
DANIEL JELANI ELLIS | is a Toronto-based artist raised in Jamaica by a village of theatre artists, poets and educators. This varied and vibrant village engendered his fascination with community and art, particularly how they clash, connect and intersect. His work explores intersectionality – the themes, stories and human experience of the intersecting identities of race, sexuality, gender and class. His lived experience as a black queer working- class settler informs his art practice and drives his commitment to celebrate those of us who live on the margins. He was Assistant Director on workshop productions of Black Boys by Saga Collectif and Dark Love by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard. Recent acting credits include Phil in Risky Phil (Young People’s Theatre), Will in The Circle (Tarragon Theatre) and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pacific Opera Victoria). Recipient of Dora Nominations for Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Production and Outstanding Performer in speaking of sneaking and The Theatre Centre's Emerging Artist Award for performance in Maria Gets A New Life by Cliff Cardinal. A graduate of the English Acting program at the National Theatre School of Canada and alumnus of the Playwrights Unit at Obsidian Theatre Company and Emerging Creators Unit at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Ellis is currently in residency at Buddies in Bad Times as part of We Other Sons collective.
CARNIVAL ARTS
SUGACAYNE DESIGNS Brings a unique carnival design aesthetic and “mas-building” experience to local and international Caribbean carnivals. We have been creating intricately designed carnival costumes in Toronto, Miami, Cayman Islands, and Trinidad for the better part of the last decade. Our application of the concepts and traditions have also become a great educational tool for our volunteers and student participants during high season and through year-round workshops. In 2017 we advanced costume design through a partnership with Ryerson University's Design Fabrication Zone. The Chrysalis Project leveraged advanced digital design and fabrication methods, while maintaining artistic integrity rooted in culture. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Ryerson for 2018 and beyond. For more information visit www.followyourinstinct.org