Sampradaya Dance Creations presents Horizon Series
Join me on Sunday, April 3, 2016 for the Sampradaya Dance Creations’ Horizon Series showcasing emerging artists. For more information, visit Sampradaya’s website .
Dancing Damsels Dazzle at Toronto International Dance Festival
It is not often one gets the opportunity to see all world dance forms on one stage. Last night, Torontonians got the chance, thanks to Mississauga-based Dancing Damsels, who brought together dozens of dance groups showcasing their art at the DD Dance Fest 2015. This is the international dance festival’s second year running and the Dancing Damsels, a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote cultural integration and exchange by celebrating arts from all cultures of life, has an important vision, given the multi-cultural fabric of Canada, and it is one I fully support.
Dancing Damsels troupe
Held at the Armenian Youth Centre in North York, it was thrilling to see Indian dance, which I have a fondness for ever since I visited India, and Egyptian bellydance, which I have been a student of, along with dances of Israel, China, Korean, Brazil, Mexico, Poland, and even contemporary ballet with the troupe Momentum. As someone who knows first-hand how challenging it is to get a festival off the ground, there is massive potential for a much bigger dance festival for many more Canadians to enjoy in years to come, with the right support. So I whole-heartedly encourage others to get involved.
Here are some other moments from the festival:
Chinese Dance troupe
South Indian dancer
Members of Dancing Damsels organization, including my friend Bhavna Bhatnagar who invited me.
Festival organizers being recognized on-stage
The lovely emcees
Pictured with my friend and festival sponsor, artist Bhavna Bhatnagar, and other lovely friends. Photo courtesy of Bhavna Bhatnagar.
Eifman’s Anna Karenina ballet mesmerizes
Tonight, I saw a mesmerizing performance of the ballet, Anna Karenina, choreographed by Boris Eifman, St. Petersburg Eifman Ballet. The ballet is based on Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, considered the greatest novel ever written, and is a psychological drama revolving around the love triangle of heroine Anna Karenin and her husband and lover. It is a story that is intensely filled with passion, leading to rejection and, ultimately, self-destruction.
The style of dance combines classical ballet with modern technique, giving it quite a unique, creative expression. Somber, yet passionate, elegant and stylish, Eifman’s Anna Karenina captured my attention from start to finish. In fact, it had me sitting on the edge of my seat during the final act. Bravo!
Principle Roles:
Anna: Natalia Povoroznyuk
Vronsky: Sergey Volobuev
Karenin: Dmitry Fisher
About Eifman Ballet:
When founding St. Petersburg Eifman Ballet in 1977, Eifman broke the rules and resisted the trends to develop his own personal form of expression that combines classical and contemporary dance and theatre. He has won all the highest awards in the arts in Russia, including the People’s Artist of Russia, and has been honoured with France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. “This production leaves one applauding the Eifman company for its passionate integrity, and Eifman himself for a gift for showmanship,” stated The Daily Telegraph, London
*photo credit: Eifman Ballet
In Pictures: Rongali Bihu Festival in Assam, India
SHANNON’S TRAVEL BAG: travel tips for women
Shannon travels to India. This is part 3 in a series of articles.
In Pictures: Rongali Bihu Festival in Assam, India
I’ve just returned from an amazing 2-week trip to India. As I wrote in my previous post, the first stop on my journey was attending the Rongali Bihu Festival in Assam, the north-eastern state in India that is located south of the eastern Himalayas – and where “Assam tea” comes from. Rongali, meaning “colours,” is a special celebration of the Assamese New Year and coming of spring, with the hopes of peace and prosperity. Rongali is one of three Bihu festivals that take place throughout the year, with Rongali being the biggest in Assam.
On April 3-5th, 2015, the community in Guwahati, Assam, held a multifaceted Bihu festival highlighting the arts and culture of the Assamese communities and tribes. This included folk dance, rock and Bollywood music (including Bollywood star, Papon), handicrafts, fashion, traditional sports and oh-so-yummy food.
Assam, the gateway to the northeast, is unexplored – and more than ready for tourism. The festival was designed as a much-needed tourist draw that, under one platform, features the essence of Assam, a state which boasts a number of wildlife sanctuaries, the Brahamaputra River, is home to the one-horned rhino and Royal Bengal Tiger, and is large tea-growing region. “This is a springtime Bihu where there are a lot of festivities, and people are singing and dancing, and making merry,” says Rongali Festival organizer, Shyamkanu Mahanta.” This is a typical way of focusing on our own culture to promote tourism.”
Here are some highlights:
Several Assam tribes prepare to perform Bihu dances in competition (50+ dance forms)
On stage…all dance groups had their own distinct costume and dance form. Truly amazing.
Festival organizer, Shyamkanu Mahanta, and emcee, a famous Assam actress/dancer, Barasha Rani Bishaya.
A closer glimpse of the lovely star emcee, Barasha Rani Bishaya.
Dignitaries in attendance, including Tourism Minister of Assam, Ms. Sumitra Patir (seated in the lovely traditional Assamese sari)
Then this happened…I was interviewed by “DD News” TV Delhi. I was also in a number of Indian newspapers – read more about it). The traditional dress I am wearing actually came with me from Toronto!
And there was a thrilling dance drama performance of the classic tale, Kaliya Daman, in the famous form called Ankia Bhaona, which has been performed in India for 500 years. All actors are male, including female roles.
Fashion show of saris by a local Assam designer Mehzabin Ershad. Loved this!
Designer Mehzabin Ershad reacts to the roaring cheers of the crowd.
Famous Assam singer, Manas Robin, one of several artists who performed; with a former TV journalist attending.
Manas Robin rocked the house. I really enjoyed his music.
My new travel friend, Tom Peters, former editor of a major Canadian newspaper. I had pitched him many news stories over the years, though never met him until the flight from London to Delhi (lesson: never burn bridges!)
Some of the vendors… above is an exhibition on how silk is created from worms.
To my surprise, I became somewhat of a celebrity, with locals wanting to take photos with me.
Assam is known for its silk.
“Gamochas” Assamese traditional hand towel and fabric.
This girl is donning traditional Assamese fabric.
Smoking meat, fish, veggies the Assamese way.
Drummers from the Meishing Tribe.
Yeah, I’m a groupie.
Tourist plays a traditional Assamese game. You are blindfolded, spun around a few times to disorient, and then you have to guess where the pot is – and hit it once with a stick. Great for laughs (yes, I did it, too)!
Towering over crowd is my fabulous and trusted guide, Dipankar Borkakati, who took good care of me. Thank you, Dipankar.
Lovely women from Assam Tourism managing the heat and humidity better than me.
My guides, transportation and accommodations in India were provided by Vasco Travel, whose team worked tirelessly on perfecting every detail, even checking in with me daily.
Where to Stay: Hotel Dynasty (4 star) is situated on the banks of river Brahamputra, and in the business centre of Guwahati, Assam, with facilities including a spa, health club, bar and restaurant, and more. Rooms from $106 CDN and up (www.DynastyHotel.in).
***
Read my first article about my India travels here.
Read my Q&A with India travel expert, Vikas Abbott from Vasco Travel.
Stay tuned for the next article in my series on India…
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For more information about Rongali Festival and 2016 plans, visit www.RongaliAssam.com.
Traveling to India? Vasco Travel (www.vascotravel.net), based in Delhi, is the industry leader in in-bound travel to India (in Canada, Vasco is represented by Canadian Travel Services www.CanadianTravelServices.ca). For flights, visit Air India (www.airIndia.in), a Star Alliance Member (my route was Toronto-London-Delhi-Guwahati). Resources: India Tourism (www.IncredibleIndia.org) and Assam Tourism (www.AssamTourism.gov.in).
A night celebrating Indo-Canadian women
I had the opportunity to speak last night at the Indo-Canadian Arts and Culture Initiative’s (ICACI) gala celebrating International Women’s Day and the achievements of Indo-Canadian women. I got a traditional dress for the evening, which I must say, was a hit!
It was great to meet The Hon. Dr. Kellie Leitch, Canada’s Minister of Labour and the Status of Women, who was in attendance and said a few words in honour of International Women’s Day and her new initiatives for women and girls.
(The Hon. Dr. Kellie Leicht)
A number of awards were handed out to some extraordinary women for their accomplishments. There was traditional dance performances, music and (my favourite) traditional Indian food. We were joined by the Consul General of India, Mr. Akhilesh Mishra and his lovely wife, and my friend, Reeti Mishra.
The “hero” award recipients are:
Arts and Culture – Anu Vittal, Artist and Poet
Diversity – Puja Amin, Founder, Sanskriti Arts
Performing Arts – Vandana Vishwas, Musician
Media – Anjum Nayyar, Founder, Masala Mommas
Entrepreneur – Renu Mehta, Founder and President, Imagebuilderz
Community Leadership – Deepti Aurora, Philanthropist
Congratulations to all!
There were entertaining Bollywood performances by Sanskriti Arts, and singing by Vandana Vishwas and Raghbir Chauhan.
Here is Mokshi Virk, Director, ICACI on stage with the young dance performers and our lovely emcee:
Selfie with talented artist and friend, Bhavna Bhatnagar…
And a very special THANK YOU to Mary Tripi, owner, The Private World of Mary Tripi salon, for making my hair presentable for the event!
More photos to be posted soon – the professional ones! 🙂
Always uplifting to celebrate women’s achievements….
Shannon
Upcoming event celebrating Indo-Canadian women
I am honoured to be a guest speaker on March 18th at this fabulous gala celebrating Indo-Canadian Women in the Greater Toronto Area, in support of the Indo Canadian Arts & Culture Initiative.
http://www.mississaugaartscouncil.com/…/indo-canadian-arts…/
Shannon
We must do more to support Canadian artists
About 50,000 years ago, a creative explosion occurred in our human evolution when Homo sapiens suddenly developed new skills and forms of self-expression. They began painting, created music and designed musical instruments. They made decorative jewelry from ostrich eggshells, fashioned clothing and invented advanced tools. This “dawn of culture,” according to authors Richard Klein and Blake Edgar, is when humans began to display abstract thinking and develop culture and art, and is considered to be the most significant cultural event in human history.
Symbolic thinking – that is, thinking and communicating through abstract symbols — is the foundation of arts, music, language, mathematics and science.
(Art courtesy of Julie Himel)
Fast-forward to the 21st century, human beings have come a long way in our creative arts since decorating ostrich eggshells, and one thing is for certain: artists make our world a colourful and interesting place. Innately curious and inquisitive, artists create beautiful, dramatic, thoughtful forms of art that please and engage the human eye and ear, or get us to think — or move our bodies. Artists also play an important role in society because they document history in the making. Think of all the artifacts and works – ancient and modern — that are in museums and institutions around the globe.
And yet, given their importance, many artists — from painters to filmmakers to dancers to writers — are still today unable to survive economically from their art alone. Often times, they are asked, almost expected, to provide their talents or skills for next to nothing, or nothing at all. As Jenn Goodwin, Toronto-based dance artist and programmer for Scotiabank’s Nuit Blanche, put it: “You would not ask a plumber to give their services for free.”
As a nation, we do not support them enough.
Historically, artists have always had to rely on personal patrons, like a rich uncle. Today, we are fortunate in this country that our governments have become larger-scale patrons with their various funding and resources for arts and culture, but the arts is always vulnerable to cuts and economic down-turns. Fortunately, we do have a number of philanthropists who support the Canadian arts, such as The Honourable Margaret McCain, who I interviewed last season.
And so, this season, on my show Extraordinary Women TV, I wanted to bring out the stories of local independent artists, the challenges they face and how they get their support to continue doing their art. I wanted to play a role, albeit a small one in the bigger picture, in advocating for them.
So I went on-location over the summer to various art shows, such as the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition and Distillery District, and visited galleries. As I walked around with my cameraperson and spoke with these artists, I realized they are truly extraordinary — not because of status or financial wealth, but because it takes bravery to not only create art, but to share your art with the world. As Toronto-based artist, Karen Taylor, says: “As an artist, you feel naked and exposed.”
Artist Julie Himel, an award-winning Toronto painter and mother of a young child, has managed to find support to do her art full-time and balance it with having a family. On a personal level, during difficult times, she turned to her art as a means of healing, as so many artists do. Her work, which is nothing short of magnificent, can be found in public and private collections internationally. “If you keep your eye on beauty and simplicity, life can be a lot happier,” says Himel.
Abstract artist, Kate Taylor, works out of her studio home in Toronto and her art appears in private collections around the world. Blending art with business, she spearheads The Artists’ Network, an organization geared to helping and supporting visual artists create sustainable businesses and professions.
And so, if I have a take-away from filming this season’s show it is this: Toronto has many remarkable and talented artists, women and men, who make our city a colourful and interesting place. Their art has value — and so do they. My wish is to see many more Canadian businesses, and those with deep pockets and rich resources, taking a greater role in supporting independent artists. Surely today we are much more awake than we were at the dawn of culture 50,000 years ago. The stereotype of the “starving artist” should no longer linger in our collective consciousness.
Check out my coverage at the Toronto Art Exhibition on my YouTube Channel.
On the topic of creativity, check out my book, The Whispering Heart, Your Inner Guide to Creativity.
Extraordinary Women TV season 2 premiere on Rogers TV
Extraordinary Women TV launches season two on Rogers TV
Premieres Sept. 16th at 7pm ET in Toronto/Scarborough
TORONTO, Sept. 11, 2013 – The television series, Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner, a weekly talk show for women about putting our dreams into action, premieres its second season on Sept. 16, 2013, at 7:00 pm ET on Rogers TV Cable 10 & 63 in Toronto/Scarborough. Hosted by Shannon Skinner, a new episode featuring inspiring interviews will air every Monday, with several repeats throughout the week.
“More than ever, women are seeking empowerment to follow their hearts and dreams, and my hope is that all women from the Toronto area will tune-in to Rogers TV to get insightful tips and tools from the women who are doing just that,” says Shannon Skinner, the show’s host, producer and creator.
The season’s premiere episode features the CEO and director of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Victoria Dickenson, who talks about her career as the head of one of Canada’s most important cultural institutions, as well as her life as an historian. Shannon’s second guest is Mehrak Mehrvar, a women’s rights advocate and founder, Ni Ni Boutique, who discusses her work around the world supporting the rights of women, and also her social enterprise helping women entrepreneurs especially in Cambodia.
Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner got its start as the first-of-its-kind web TV talk show that is an inspirational, relevant and informative resource for women who want to follow their hearts and dreams, and live extraordinary lives. In January 2013, the show began airing on Rogers TV in Toronto/Scarborough. This past summer, the show was also picked up on Rogers TV Mississauga and Richmond Hill.
Shannon’s guests are successful women from all walks of life – many high-profile — from Toronto and across Canada, from a range of industries, including: arts and entertainment, business, finance, charities, eco, media, experts – and more.
This second season will include insightful interviews with one of Canada’s most successful women, Debbie Travis; as well as Joelle Adler, CEO of Diesel Canada, one of the world’s largest global apparel brands; to name a few.
Some past notable guests include: singers/songwriters Jully Black, Sarah Slean and Suzie McNeil; entertainment editor, Gloria Martin; news director/anchor, Kym Geddes; dean of law faculty, U of T, Mayo Moran; fashion designer and Canadian icon, Linda Lundstrom; president/CEO, ROM, Janet Carding; Rebecca MacDonald, founder, Just Energy; actress Sarena Parmar; Plan Canada’s president/CEO, Rosemary McCarney; beauty expert, Cheryl Gushue; among many others.
More than 230 one-on-one, in-studio interviews have been conducted and archived since its inception in September 2010. The show is produced and owned by Shannon Skinner and Comfy Chair Productions Inc., and is filmed in Toronto.
Rogers TV’s full scheduling information for Toronto: click here.
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Media contact:
Shannon Skinner
416-576-8809
shannon@skinnerpublicity.com
Dream a bigger dream
To dream a dream is at the heart of the human spirit. From the dream emerges new ideas, innovation, breakthroughs, business opportunities, the arts and prosperity.
Dreaming has taken us to the moon and Mars. It has given us automobiles, movies, books, the iPhone and Facebook. We can tweet from space, and jump from the edge of space to Earth below because of a dream. Humans can live longer, healthier lives thanks to dreaming. Leaders like Martin Luther King have inspired and mobilized the masses because of a dream.
It is the spirit of the dream that propels us forward.
I confess: I am a dreamer. While I had always thought this is a good trait to have, not everyone would agree.
Like my father.
At the age of 21, when I finished my undergrad, I thought it would be a great adventure to work overseas in London, England. So I decided to share my dream with my family. After I enthusiastically expressed my loosely thought-out plans with my father, who listened to my one-sided conversation from behind a wall of newspaper that he was reading, he replied rather coolly with words I will never forget: “Shannon, you are such a dreamer.”
“Humph, I’ll prove to you just how much a dreamer I am…watch me!” I mumbled to myself. As if being a dreamer was a bad thing. This made my hackles rise because what my youthful ears heard from underneath the wet blanket tossed onto my dream was this: You can’t do it.
So the next day, I did what any rebellious youngster would do: I booked a flight to London, with no real, solid plans beyond that. I set out to prove to my father wrong; that I was not “just a dreamer,” but had the power within me to make it happen. That incident gave me the kick-in-the-butt I needed to follow my dreams, which has become an ongoing theme in my life ever since.
The second time I was called a dreamer was more recent — and equally powerful. One lovely evening in early 2010, I had dinner with some friends, a married couple who I have known for many years. That night, I shared an idea of creating a radio show, only to get the same cool reply I received years ago: “Shannon, you are such a dreamer.”
Ouch. And so, the challenge was on.
What my friends did not know was that, having grown up in a family of broadcasters, I had deep within me a vision that I would be doing something career-wise in broadcast. It was what I knew. However, being the introvert I am, what I lacked was the courage to do it. My friends probably picked up on that, rightly so.
Eventually, I was able to refine my vision and dig deep inside to drum-up more courage; a bravery I knew I had, but not yet unearthed it. And so I dreamed a bigger dream, and did go on to create, not a radio show, but my web TV talk show, Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner.
But, I didn’t stop there with my dream. This dreamer went bigger…
I am pleased to say that on Monday, January 7, 2013, at 7:30 pm ET, my talk show Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner premieres on Rogers TV Cable 10 & 63 in Toronto/Scarborough.
My special guests for this first episode are Toronto-based singer/songwriter, poet and visual artist, Sarah Slean, a Juno and Gemini award nominee who has made eight albums including the recent critically-acclaimed album, Land & Sea; and actress, Sarena Parmar (who I have blogged about before) who has starred in the Gemini-nominated series, How To Be Indie, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Flashpoint, The Border, and the feature film, Radio Rebel. She is also an ambassador for the “Because I am a Girl” program.
These are two successful artists in their own right who, in these interviews, share their dreams and what inspires their hearts. I suppose I might also call them “dreamers.”
And that is a good thing.
Lastly, I thank my father and my married-couple friends for calling me on my dreams.
“Look, dad, no hands!”
Extraordinary Women TV announces guests for Rogers TV premiere
For Immediate Release
Extraordinary Women TV announces special guests for Rogers TV premiere
TORONTO, Jan. 5, 2013 – On Monday, Jan. 7, 2013 at 7:30 pm ET, Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner premieres on Rogers TV Cable 10 & 63 in Toronto/Scarborough. Shannon’s special guests for this first episode are Toronto-based singer/songwriter, Sarah Slean, and actress, Sarena Parmar.
Sarah Slean has made eight albums, including her latest, the critically-acclaimed double-album, Land & Sea. She has starred in two short films and a movie musical, published two volumes of poetry and, as a visual artist, held exhibits of her paintings. She has written two string quartets and shared the stage with five of the country’s leading orchestras. Slean has been nominated for three Junos, two Geminis, and her records have been released worldwide.
Shannon’s second guest, actress, Sarena Parmar, has starred in the Gemini-nominated series, How To Be Indie, playing the role of Indie’s older sister, Chandra Metha. Parmar has also guest starred in Degrassi: The Next Generation, Flashpoint and The Border, and the feature film, Radio Rebel. She is also an ambassador for “Because I am a Girl” program created by Plan Canada.
“These are two accomplished artists in their own right who share what inspires their hearts and how they achieved their success in my interviews with them,” says Shannon Skinner, producer and host, Extraordinary Women TV. “I encourage Torontonians to tune-in and get inspired by their stories.”
Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner is a first-of-its-kind web TV talk show that is an inspirational, relevant and informative resource for women who want to follow their hearts and dreams.
Shannon’s guests are women – many high-profile — from a range of industries, including: arts and entertainment, business, finance, charities, eco, media, experts – and more. Some notable guests include: singers/songwriters Suzie McNeil, Sarah Slean, Selina Martin and Amy Sky; media personality/relationship expert Jen Kirsch; journalist/author Jan Wong; businesswomen Rebecca MacDonald and Kelsey Ramsden; game inventor Laura Robinson; actresses Sarena Parmar, Lisa Berry; Plan Canada’s Rosemary McCarney; former Chatelaine editor Rona Maynard; among many others.
More than 170 one-on-one interviews with successful women from all walks of life, from Toronto and across Canada, have been conducted and archived since its inception in September 2010.
For full scheduling information, visit: www.rogerstv.com/ExtraordinaryWomenTV
For information, contact:
Shannon Skinner
Producer/Host, Extraordinary Women TV
416-576-8809 (cell)
shannon@skinnerpublicity.com
www.ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com
