Tré Armstrong gives back

Tré Armstrong teaching Hip Hop during The Give Back

>> by Jaimée Horn
Tré Armstrong, choreographer, dancer and judge on CTV’s So You Think You Can Dance Canada, is giving back to the dance community. Her company, A New D.A.E.I., recently hosted The Give Back on July 10th, 2011 at Canada’s National Ballet School. The day’s purpose was to provide youth, teenagers and adults the opportunity to be a part of the dance world at no cost. More than twenty teachers offered workshops in various disciplines including Salsa, Contemporary and Bollywood, while Armstrong taught both basic and master hip hop classes. The Tré Armstrong Give Back Foundation was officially launched on August 15th, 2011.
http://anewdaei.com/and/

Sonia Rodriguez co-authors children's book

>> by Cynthia Brett

Sonia Rodriguez, principal dancer at The National Ballet of Canada, and her husband Kurt Browning have co-written a new children's book: T is for Tutu: A Ballet Alphabet, illustrated by Wilson Ong. Intended for children aged six to ten, T is for Tutu explores the art and history of ballet. Though a first book for Rodriguez, Browning has also co-written A is for Axel: An Ice Skating Alphabet.

NAC Foundation announces CEO's National Fund

>> by Samantha Mehra
The National Arts Centre Foundation recently announced the creation of the CEO's National Fund, which will support national performing arts and education programs. The fund honours Peter Herrndorf, president and CEO of the National Arts Centre since 1999, whom the foundation acknowledged for strengthening the centre's national character, setting high artistic standards and prioritizing education. Made possible by contributions from donors across Canada, the CEO's National Fund stands at $1.2 million, and aims to support the NAC's creation and sustenance of country-wide programming, such as national tours by the NAC orchestra, attracting artists from across Canada to take part in NAC-supported national showcases, and engaging Canadians via live NAC webcasts and podcasts.The National Arts Centre also announced the extension of Herrndorf's contract until 2013.
www.nac.cna.ca/foundation

Two new Canadian dance books hit the market

Lata Pada in her own work Revealed by Fire, 2001 / Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann

Chi Long in Marie Chouinard’s bODY_rEMIX/gOLDBERG _vARIATIONS, 2005 / Photo by Marie Chouinard

>> by Jaimée Horn
There are two new titles that dance lovers can start adding to their book collections this month, Compagnie_Marie_Chouinard_Company, and the soon-to-be-released Fields in Motion: Ethnography in the Worlds of Dance. Compagnie_Marie_Chouinard_Company is the first bilingual monograph of a Canadian contemporary dance company. Written by the choreographer herself as well as eight other close contributors, the book includes testimonials from the company’s dancers, and offers an intimate window into Chouinard’s creative universe. Visit www.mariechouinard.com to purchase a copy of the book, or to find out more information about the company. Finally, the release of Fields in Motion: Ethnography in the Worlds of Dance is forthcoming in September after eight years of hard work. Edited by Dena Davida, artistic co-director of Tangente in Montréal, the authors include fourteen Canadian contributors and fourteen contributors from around the world. Published in Canada but with an international perspective, this collection of essays explores the art of dance as cultural practice, revealing the significance of the art form in our contemporary society. Students and dancers take note – a paperback edition of Fields in Motion: Ethnography in the Worlds of Dance will also be released for a more moderate price.

MERGEzine re-launches

>> by Cynthia Brett

MERGEzine, a Toronto-based publication for emerging dance artists, will soon re-launch after taking a one-year hiatus to build its team and apply for funding. A not-for-profit publication, MERGE publishes four to five issues per year and also regularly maintains a blog. Co-editors Rachel Martin and Kelly Morden recently sent out a call for writers, submissions and photos for this fall's "Falling Forward" issue.
www.mergezine.blogspot.com

Canadian government invests in Yukon

>> by Naomi Brand
The Government of Canada announced that it will be investing in arts, culture and official languages in the Yukon territory. The announcement was made in July at the Yukon Arts Centre by Paul Calandra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. The total funding of $1,939,590 will support nine projects in the Yukon under three programs of the Department of Canadian Heritage: the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, the Exchanges Canada program, and the Community Life component of the Development of Official-Language Communities program. Organizations to receive funding include The Yukon Arts Centre, the Adäka Cultural Festival and Breakdancing Yukon Society, among others. "Our support for these organizations ensures that youth and families in Yukon can experience diverse artistic performances and cultural activities," said Parliamentary Secretary Calandra.

CCDT turns on the switch for SolarDance

CCDT Co-Artistic Director Michael deConinck Smith with solar panels on 509 roof

>> by Jacqueline Hansen
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (CCDT, formerly Canadian Children's Dance Theatre) is bringing in the green by going green. The recently renamed company got started on a bright idea it calls SolarDance arts education. Ninety-six solar panels, spanning 6,000 square feet of the studio’s rooftop, will generate enough energy to raise $15,000 for CCDT annually. The company says the new income will finance year-round dance scholarships for twenty neighbourhood children. CCDT is located in Cabbagetown, sandwiched between some of Toronto's wealthiest and poorest citizens.