Tonight I 'm going down to the explorASIAN Gala at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts.  Don Montgomery has put together an interesting show that tries to pay attention to each corner of the pan-Asian community while highlighting the Korean community.  It's a tough balance, but the Korean consulate has helped out by bringing over specific artists that would otherwise not be here such as Korean Cultural Foundation ( Musical Baudeogi from Korea) and Dance Theatre ON (from Korea).  Also of interest will be Sekoya, Ya-Wen Vivienne Wang and Bombay Dreams: Krystal Kiran Garib & Zahf Paroo.

The rest of the month will also be very interesting.  The emphasis this year is on the theme: "The Art of Survival."   There will be a number of forums exploring how the Asian Canadian communities have developed within Canada.

Also check out the Asian Canadian History Fair on Sunday at the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch's Promenade.  A variety of different community groups emphasizing topics such as the Chinese Candian Historical Society, Chinese-Canadian Redress, etc. will all have displays up.

Check out the explorASIAN program by clicking here.

Gung Haggis dragon boat April 24 practice review + upcoming events A secret insight to our paddling techniques and practices + planned socials and fundraiser events.   more »

Check out the 1st annual Global Discoveries Festival on the Drive. Lots of concerts, lectures and workshops.... here are some highlights: Friday, April 29, 8 pm SUFI AND FOLK MUSIC OF IRAN Saturday, April 30, 8 pm CELEBRATING THE ORIXAS From Africa to Brazil Saturday, April 30, 8 pm - midnight Drum 'n' Dance Friday, April 29, 9:30 pm Flamenco Heresy, with Oscar Nieto Saturday, April 30, 9:30 pm Rayhan - Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern music Sunday, May 1, 8:30 pm FESTIVAL CLOSING PARTY! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, April 29, 9:00 pm Feso - Zimbabwean Afro-beat band Saturday, April 30, 9:00 pm Adama - Mediterranean-flavoured World-Jazz ensemble Family Weekend in Grandview Park Saturday, April 30 & Sunday, May 1 12 pm - 6 pm FREE Performances and Workshops ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Latin Sounds Showcase Friday April 29, 8pm - 1am, Croatian Cultural Centre. Featuring Santa Lucia, Myles Bigelow Trio, and Adonis Puentes Sounds from Around the Globe Showcase Vancouver East Cultural Centre (1895 Venables Street) Saturday, April 30, 1pm 5pm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Global Discoveries Lecture-Demonstrations RIME CAFE Sunday, May 1, 23pm Zen and the Art of the Shakuhachi Flute, with Alcvin Ramos    more »

This should be an amazing show:  The Korean Consulate has put in extra money to bring performers over from Korea...  Sekoya is a home grown Canadian talent, and it should be interesting to see what Garib and Paroo do with "Bombay Dreams."

Executive Don Montgomery has put in lots of hard work to make this the best Gala show ever!

Click here to download the printable version of the GALA 8.5x11 Poster (2 MB PDF)

Please print out the poster file and display in your workplace and pass along to friends.

Proceeds from the Gala go towards supporting the Society's artistic and multicultural community programs.

Please tell your friends about the Gala. It will be one of the best shows you will see this year. A terrific entertainment value for the entire family!

BUY explorASIAN 2005 Heritage Gala Tickets

• Tickets: $20 - $50 - $80 (GST included - TICKETMASTER fees extra)
• Call 604.280.4444 to Charge by Phone keyword=explorasian
• Advance reserved seating tickets also available from TICKETMASTER outlets
• Buy from TICKETMASTER Online

Bear (centre in the picture) of Bear Kilts has taught me some of the finer things about wearing a kilt everyday.  Bear made the maple leaf tartan I wore with Peter Mansbridge on CBC TV's The National.  Bear gave away a ready to make kilt for Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner which much to my mom's dismay - my father won!

Bear has started up a new blog and has this to say about wearing kilts.

Kilts = more
More fun, more self respect, more life....

Kilts Make You Stronger
"Aren't you cold in that thing"...

Kilts Faux Pas
What's the worst kilt faux pas you've seen...

Goin' Commando
There are three ways to describe...

Kilts and Chicks
Why do women love men in kilts?

Physics and Kilts
What makes kilts so comfortable to wear?

Here's a message from Ron MacLeod, Scots Chair for Simon Fraser University


Greetings, for your information. regards, the other Ron

Some Highland Games 2005

The websites have been checked and they all worked when tested; try 
Google if need be.
Thanks to Bruce Campbell for help with the following information:

British Columbia
May 21 - Comox Valley Highland Games, Lewis Park, 489 Old island 
Highway, Courtenay
May 22 – Victoria Highland Games, Bullen Park, Esquimalt, 
June 11 – Sons of Scotland, South Delta Senior Secondary School Oval 
750 - 53rd Street, Delta B.C. 
June 18 – BC & Yukon Legion Highland Gathering, Sooke, 
June 25 – BC United Scottish Highland Games, Coquitlam Town Centre 
Stadium,
July 2 – Penticton Highland Games, Kings Park, Penticton, 
July 3 – 8 – Celtfest 2005 Summer School & Concert Series, Tigh-na-Mara 
Seaside Resort, Nanaimo area
July 3 – 8 -  Piping Hot Summer Drummer, Silver Mountain Resort, near 
Vernon, (world’s largest piping & drumming school)


Alberta
June 18 – Highland Gathering in the Park, Sherwood Park, contact 
cprowse@prowsechowne.com
June 25 – Red Deer Highland Games
June 26 – Edmonton Scottish Society Highland Games, Edmonton, contact 
russell.s@telus.net
August 27 – High River Highland Games, High River 
September 3 -  Calgary Highland Games, Shouldice Park, Calgary 

Saskatchewan
May 20 – Prairie Piping Invitational, Ramada Hotel, Regina at 7:00 PM
May 21 -  Moose Jaw Highland Festival, Crescent Park. Moose Jaw
May 22 -  Regina Highland Games, Campbell Collegiate, 102 Massey Road. 
Regina
NOTE:  all three can be accessed through http://www.reginahighlandgames.org
July 10 –15 – Sound Advice, Saskatchewan Pipe Band Association Summer 
School, Regina, contact iainmacd@sasktel.net

Washington
June 4 & 5 – Bellingham Highland Games, Hovander Homestead Park, 
Bellingham
July 10 – Skagit Valley Highland Games, Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon, 
July 30 & 31 – Pacific NW Highland Games, King County Fairgrounds, 
Enumclaw

Oregon
July 16 – Portland Highland Games, Portland, 

For those in a travel mood, two very large games, 
one in Canada and the other in the USA

Linville, North Carolina, 
July 7 – 10 – Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, 

Maxville, Ontario, 
July 29 & 30 -  Glengarry Highland Games, 

  

Lots of authors, publishers, librarians and members of BC's literary community showed up at Crush Champagne Lounge at Vancouver's Granville Street on Saturday Night. Host John Burns, book editor for the Georgia Straight did a great job introducing the many writers nominated for BC Book Prizes and giving away the evening's prizes.   more »

Ballet BC's Rite of Spring: a wonderful rite of passage for human artistic endeavor and technology

It had been a very long time since I had attended a ballet performance. I sat in the QE Theatre, soaking up the atmosphere, the conversation, the anticipation.  It was all there - everything for a great date event.

Ballet BC's final performance for their 2004 to 2005 season had everything one could wish for.  The dancing evoked both the pathos and atheticism of the human spirit.  And it was downright sexy to watch. The sound system was full if a bit loud for the first act.  For the latter performances, live musicians played off to the side of the stage or downstage and never detracted from the performances, but somehow made it more present.  The music was contemporary, classical, or modern.  Something really for everyone.

And then there was the world premier of John Alleyne's "Rite of Spring" based on the piano score by Igor Stravinsky, accompanied by the mult-imedia video presentation of Jamie Griffiths. A wonderful combination that updated a musical canon with provocative dance and cutting edge digital video technology.  But more of that later.

The show opened up with "Like You" by Nicolo Fonte.  The first thing I was aware of was the almost overwhelming droning of the music, like a full 5.1 surround system with massive sub woofers.  It was a very pleasant contrast to the tinny pre-recorded music that accompanied so many ballet or contemporary dances of the past.  Today's audience is used to digital home theatre surround sound.  This set the atmosphere for the magnificient grace and beauty of Fonte's "Like You." 

The costumes were simple.  Red singlets for the men, that really showed off their gluteus maximus muscles (Did I mention it had been a long time since I last saw the ballet? I think it was the Joffrey's dances set to the music of Prince in 1993).  The women wore red dancing shifts that flowed easily and evocatively.  I was really taken by the beauty of the physical human body, and how deceptively smooth and light the dancers moved on stage.  Sometimes in pairs, trios or in large groups, movement flowed up and around, swirling like swallows in a meadow, playfully, artfully, deliberately.

15 Heterosexual Dances choreographed by James Kudelka contrasted with the first piece by Fonte, both with it's lightheartedness and its choice of classical music - Beethoven's Kreutzer sonata #9, Opus 47. And yet it complimented the previous program by building a balance... to the seriousness of the opening piece.  

Kudelka is known as an innovative choreographer for this works with both the National Ballet of Canada and Les Grands Ballets to push the envelope.  He created mechanical repetitive movements that at times seemed comical but were still deeply moving for the overall presentation.  Master musicians Jane Coop and Andrew Dawes performed the Beethoven  Sonata for Violin and Piano from the left side off the stage.  A spotlight shone on them, highlighting the virtuosity of their performance but never detracting from the dancers who moved in the dances of couples. It is a beautiful piece that fit beautifully with the dancers and reminded me of how I always and forever will associate J.S. Bach's Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins to the beautiful choreography of  George Balanchine's "Concerto Barocco."

Very sexual without being explicit, always heterosexual, evocative, sometimes angry, provocative, sometimes coy, seductive sometimes disfunctional - in all the ways that heterosexual relationships are known to be (and homosexual relationships too for that matter.)  The classical music was beautiful in its simplicity, as were the costumes that were simple work clothes, dance shifts, velour gowns, or pants.

What really stood out for me was that the dancers seemed to be colour-blind casted in their roles.  The Ballet BC Dance dancers roster is mostly visibly caucasian with two Chinese dancers and two African-American dancers who were not always paired together to be a "nice racial couple."  In fact, the dancers interact simply as dancers, in inter-racial pairs or trios, as if race doesn't or shouldn't make a difference.  This seems to be in contrast to the challenges faced by Asian Canadian actors for theatre, television or movies as many local groups such as Firehall Arts Centre and Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre challenge the Myths of  Casting.  My event companion and both were struck by this, as we are very aware that classical music is very integrated racially. Since we are both multi-generational Chinese-Canadian, the recognition of dancers of Chinese ancestry resonates strongly for us, especially since we are both involved in inter-racial relationships ourselves.

John Alleyne (who incidently was born in Barbados)  recieved the inaugural 2005 Vancouver Arts Award for performing arts.  He has greatly advanced his craft while helming Ballet BC as artistic director.  Bravo to Alleyne for pushing the envelop on what is to many people, a "warhorse" both for dance or for music. His version of Igor Stravinky's "Rite of Spring" is intimate, opening with four-hand piano duo - banishing any memory recollections to the moving dinosaurs in Walt Disney's Fantasia set to Stravinsky's orchestral score or even of the large company of dancers traditionally used  for this piece originally choreographed by Ninjinsky for its 1913 premier.  It was Ninjinsky's ritualistic choreography combined with Starvinsky's primal musical score outraged the Parisan audience causing a riot.

Thankfully, 21st Century audiences are much more appreciative of modern and post-modern art.  We have witnessed the sexual revolution in both society and in art.

Alleyne's contribution for his version of "Les Sacre du Printemps (Rite of Spring en francais) were not only to update a more sexually provocative work, but also to ask multi-media artist Jaime Griffiths to create interactive video imagery including "live capture" as part of an interactive moving video projection as a component part of the set.

The dance opens with scrim creating a "wall" between the audience and the stage upon which a gentle image of leaves blowing, leaves growing and leaves changing... was subtly projected.  The dancing was strong and provocative, and behind the scrim, it seemed projected into a dream.  It developed to demonstrate force and beauty, with primal energy as conflict rose and ebbed between the dancers..  Okay... sounds like a cliche - but watching it in the moment, it was very exciting.  I am at a loss of words to describe it otherwise.

The  piano duo James Anagnoson and Leslie Kinton performed a fourhand one piano score as part of Alleyne's more intimate and minimalist presentation.  The pair is known as one of Canada's foremost piano duos, and they provided a marvelous minimal soundscape, emphasizing the beauty and immediacy of live music.  Personally, I loved hearing Stravinsky's score performed as a fourhand one piano piece.  This was adapted from the actual piano rehearsal score that Stravinsky created for Nijinsky to work with.

http://www.joeink.ca/press-kit-releases.htm

Alleyne's Rite of Spring marries the technology of video and light with the beauty of dance and Stravinsky's modern music. While Griffiths is known for her cutting edge work with Joe Ink. for their collaboration of Grace, her role with Ballet BC was much more subtle and complimentary.  Images of the dancers are "captured" and digitally enhanced/distorted and then projected on the screen.  It emphasizes movement as the images decay on the screen.  It also opens up possibilities of what else could be done, as this new media merges more closely with contemporary arts as we presently know it. 

When Griffiths first showed me a video of her Grace performance, I was very excited, as it reminded me of the exciting work done by Edouard Locke and LaLaLa Human Steps, as they played with the interaction of physical dance, light and sound.  Griffiths as an artist is also at that same innovative forefront.  But while Grace was an "in-your-face" performance theatre work, Griffiths contributions here are much more subtle and complimentary.  They enhance the dancing experience as opposed to becoming the star or the object of the show.

"John was very trusting, and gave me lots of room," says Griffiths.  "He has a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve and he did it. Most other people I have worked with, have a general idea that becomes focussed in the process, but John always knew what he wanted.  It's not a fully realized collaboration. This was meant to be a stepping stone, for working with the interactive media. There's only so much you can accomplish by having only a few days to work together."

One can only imagine what will happen with John Alleyne and Jamie Griffiths collaborate fully on a project.  Ballet BC takes Rite of Spring to Vancouver Island for additional performances.  For Griffiths, she takes Grace to the Edinburgh Festival, where it will be introduced to presenters from around the world.

Check out Alex Varty's pre-performance interview with John Alleyne in the Georgia Straight:
Rite Angles

Check out Kaija Pepper's review for the Globe & Mail:
Ballet B.C. offers a more intimate Rite of Spring

Announcement: Here's are some of choices to attend for this week to celebrate BC Book & Magazine Week: April 23 to April 30, 2005. Saturday, April 23 - The BC Book Prizes Soiree Sunday, April 24 - The Book and Magazine Promenade Wednesday, April 27 - Raincoast Books Spring Poetry Launch    more »

The Terry Book Club will air on North by Northwest on CBC Radio One. Part One: Sat., April 30, 7 - 8 a.m. Part Two: Sun., May 1, 8 - 9 a.m. Photos and stories from the Live taping on April 21, in CBC's Studio One with hosts Sheryl Mackay and John Burns with author Douglas Coupland + Terry Fox's brother Darrell Fox Lots of photos...   more »

Ballet BC's The Rite of Spring meets Jamie Griffiths, Multi-Media artist + link to Kevin Griffin's article on Jamie and Ballet BC from the Vancouver Sun   more »

Colour TV: New shows for April 23, 24 & May 1 with host Prem Gill April 24 - Fred Lee and Catherine Barr May 1 - Nelofer Pazira   more »

Good challenging practice last Sunday - to get us going and see what we can do - consider it as setting our base piece. Every thing is up from here on. You can really see how well people are learning to paddle better, and to work together as a group. Very noticable differences between the start of the practice and the end. Good job by Bob to lead us through the exercises and paddle lessons to help us improve. 1) Please send me your shirt sizes 2) Please give or send me a cheque 3) 1 boat or 2 boats? 4) Next Sunday - practice is at 2pm 5) We are organizing the Pre-festival Paddler's Party. 6) May 7th is a team social at Doolin's Irish Pub. 7) Ideas are open for apres-practice activities.    more »

The Terry Book Club will air on North by Northwest on CBC Radio One. Part One: Sat., April 30, 7 - 8 a.m. Part Two: Sun., May 1, 8 - 9 a.m.   more »

Here's a message from George Sapounidis - that affable Greek-Canadian who sings in Mandarin Chinese. He is producing his new indepedent CD and invites people to support him. I gave him my $20 when he was last in Vancouver for a Spring concert at the Michael J Fox Theatre in January. + pictures   more »

World Poets’ Night Out - Wednesday, April 27, Ariadne Sawyer hosts Vera Manual, Bernice Lever, Yoli García, Umberto Assandri, Luis Gutiérrez, Wayne Lavallee.   more »

Here are excerpts from the Ottawa Citizen story by Haley Mick with files from Joel Baglole of the Vancouver Sun. Tracey Hinder, the Vancouver regional CanSpell winner made it through the words appetitost, nival, and calypso at the national spealling bee in Ottawa over the weekend....   more »

My 2nd cousin Tracey Hinder is on the cover of the April 16 Vancouver Sun today - again! And there are more pictures and stories about the 8th grader on page A5, B1 and B10. Artilcle contains quotes...   more »

The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team hit the water for its first practice on April 10th, Sunday at 2pm.  It was a nice high overcast day, that held off on raining until after our practice.  The team members who came out were mostly enthusiastic rookies who all were warned that "dragon boating is addictive" by coach Bob Brinson.

Team director and founder Todd Wong, led initial introductions, warm up stretches and steered the boat in and out of the brand new dock at the Dragon Boat Association compound.  2 year veteran paddler Nick also steered the boat during the practice that allowed Todd to help beginner paddler with their stroke, while coach Bob Brinson led the day's lesson.

Paddlers were introduced to a little about dragon boating history, paddle instruction, and the practice closed off with some practice starts to demonstrate how everything is put together.  For a collection of newcomers, Coaches Bob and Todd were very impressed with how fast the rookies learned and were able to move the boat together.

Next practice is April 17th, Sunday at 2pm.  CCC Dragon Boat Association Compound at the MATCON warehouse at 260 West 1st Ave. at the North foot of  Crowe Street.  For best parking - go to the foot of Columbia at West 1st, and drive into the parking lot on the North Side of the Street - go park beside the Sea Walk, and walk West towards the Cambie Street Bridge until you see the signs for the Dragon Boat compound immediately after the bends in the walkway.

Newcomers are welcome.  Call me at 604-987-7124

Cheers, Todd

I won a copy of Terry, the pictorial book by Douglas Coupland, on Tuesday, the 25th anniversary. CBC Radio's BC Almanac asked listeners to phone in with their memories of Terry Fox. All people who got to speak on radio also had their names put in a draw for the book. + links + pictures...   more »

Twenty-five years ago on April 12, Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope journey with the quest to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Click here for the story from CBC. + links to CBC Radio and "Sounds Like Canada" with Shelagh Rogers.   more »

1. Nobody hires ugly people. 2. Nobody hires women for non-gender specific roles. 3. Nobody hires actors of colour to play roles that are not race specific. 4. Nobody hires actors with physical or mental disaiblities, even if the role calls for it. 5. Nobody hires anybody from general auditions. 6. Everybody always hires the same people over and over again.   more »

Maclean's Magazine published a good story about Terry Fox by Ken MacQueen their April 1 issue, titled The Relentless Terry Fox. Quotes by Betty Fox.   more »

Good interview in today's (Friday April 8th) Vancouver Sun with Darrell Fox, the younger brother of Terry Fox and now national director of the Terry Fox Run Foundation, page B2-B3 of the Westcoast section. Comments about story and Darrell.   more »

This is from the Sounds Like Canada website. CBC Radio and TV plan a week long event of memories and recollections of Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope...   more »

The first dragon boat practice for Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team will take place on April 10th, 2pm. Interest in this special team specializing in multicultural, intercultural and cross-cultural activities is growing fast. Each week more people are asking to join the team. I am now looking into starting up a second team - although registration will be more expensive - I am also looking into a team sponsorship (details to be revealed soon).    more »

I listened with great interest to CBC Radio's Sounds Like Canada on 690 AM this morning, as guest host Kathryn Gretsinger talked with Judith Ray, who was then head nurse of the pedriatric ward at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster.    more »