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Over two million viewers watched as Tara-Jean Popowich from Lethbridge, AB was crowned Canada’s Favourite Dancer on the second season finale of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA on October 25, 2009. Finally a new season of CTV’s Gemini Award-winning series returns on Sunday, August 15 at 9 p.m., with encore episodes airing back-to-back beginning Saturday, August 21 on MuchMusic.

In the fall of 2009 and spring 2010 aspiring dancers showed off their skills in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax with the hope of receiving a boarding pass to take them to the next round of competition. Almost 150 dancers moved on to Finals Week in Toronto, where they worked with some of Canada’s top choreographers with the goal of earning a spot in the coveted SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA Top 20.

The Top 20 dancers will now face the nation and perform in front of Canada to gain the public’s votes. The dancers will work in partners and select a different dance style each week, ranging from hip-hop, house and bollywood, to salsa, quickstep, contemporary and afro jazz.

Two competitors are eliminated each week during the results shows.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA SEASON 3 SCHEDULE

Season 3 audition episode broadcast schedule unfolds as follows (times and dates subject to change; visit Dance.CTV.ca to confirm broadcast times):

• Sunday, August 15 at 9 p.m. (two hour premiere) – Toronto Auditions
• Monday, August 16 at 9 p.m.  (two hours) – Calgary and Halifax Auditions
• Tuesday, August 17 at 8 p.m. (one hour) – Vancouver Auditions
• Wednesday, August 18 at 9 p.m.  (two hours) – Montreal Auditions
• Thursday, August 19 at 9 p.m. (two hours) – Finals Week
• Sunday, August 22 at 9 p.m.  (one hour) – Top 20 Revealed
• Monday, August 23 at 9 p.m.  (two hours) – Top 20 Performance
• Tuesday, August 24 at 8:30 p.m.  (half hour) – Top 20 Results

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA has discovered some amazing talent over the past two seasons. Show alumni are performing with Janet Jackson, Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, Ke$ha, and Adam Lambert, among others, making a statement about Canadian dance around the world.

“After two captivating seasons, this fan favourite is going to get viewers’ toes tapping all over again,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, and is produced in association with CTV by Danse TV Productions.

CAST OF SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA SEASON THREE

Gemini Award-winning host Leah Miller is back for Season 3 and is joined by returning judges and dance experts Jean Marc Genereux, Tré Armstrong, Luther Brown and Blake McGrath. Guest judges throughout the five-city audition tour and Finals Week include Edmonton native Stacey Tookey (Calgary auditions), Mary Murphy (Toronto and Vancouver auditions), Mia Michaels(Montreal auditions), Dan Karaty (Halifax auditions), Rex Harrington and Sean Cheesman (Finals Week).

So YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA SEASON 3 LIVE SHOW TICKETS

Request tickets to see one of the live shows here.

The 8th annual Toronto African Dance Festival, a celebration of African dance, music & culture,  takes place this Sunday at Nathan Phillips Square from 3pm until 9pm. Celebrate African arts and culture at this free event  packed with dance workshops and performances from local and International Artists.

Featured performing groups will include:

• Moto Kapia Du Congo
• The Akwaba Cultural Exchange
• Aya Dance Collective
• Kintana gasy
• Manding Foli Kan Dan
• The Esan Mudia Association

There will also be an African Safari Marketplace, an Arts & Craft sale, and a multi- ethnic food court.

More Info: www.africandancefestival.com

More African Dance Events: http://torontodance.com/DANCE/African.php

The Caribana “Carnival” was introduced to Canada by immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago.
First held in 1967, the Caribana Festival now attracts close to one million participants, including a large number of spectators, celebrities, musicians, and “Mas” players from all over the world including North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Caribana 2010 Tickets

You can catch the Parade free of charge by lining up along the Lakeshore Parade route. However, if you want a comfortable seat within Exhibition Place (200 Princes Blvd.) where you can catch the whole performance up close, tickets are affordable ($20 before tax) and considering the parade’s length (approx 4-6 hours), it is definitely worth it.

Watch some highlights from the 2009 Caribana Parade below:

Caribana 2010 Parade Route

The Toronto Caribana Parade 2010 kicks off Saturday July 31st starting at 10am and ends at 6pm (just enough time to get ready for one of Saturday’s many Caribana nightlife celebrations). The Parade route begins at Exhibition Place, travelling down Lakeshore Blvd West and ends at Lakeshore and Parkside Drive (approximately 4.5 kilometres). See map below:

View Caribana in a larger map

TTC to Caribana

To get to Exibition Place,  you can take the 511 bus from Bathurst Station or the LRT from Union Station directly into Exhibition Place.

To get to Lakeshore, you can take the 29 bus south from Dufferin Station, the Lansdowne Express from Lansdowne Station or the Keele Express from Keele Station.

The Lakeshore GO train also stops at Exhibition Place.

Caribana 2010 on TV

As the exclusive broadcast media sponsors, CTV and CP24 will report from the Scotiabank Caribana 2010 parade, Saturday, July 31. CTV will deliver all of the highlights during the CTV NEWS AT SIX and 11:30, while CP24 covers it live all day.

If you would like to watch from home, CTV and CP24 are covering the event.  CTV will deliver all of the highlights during the CTV NEWS AT 6 and 11:30.

CP24 will cover the Parade live from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The  parade will also be streamed live on  the CP24.com website (after 2pm).

More about the 2010 Caribana Festival.

The organizers of Youth Day plan to  set a World Record to have the largest number of people gathered in one place to simultaneously dance the ” Twist” during Youth Day festivities at Yonge-Dundas Square on Sunday July 25, 2010.

About the Twist

The Twist was popularized and became a smash hit  in 1960 when the song was covered by one of the most iconic performers of the 1960s, Chubby Checker.  His hit single went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1960, and returned to the #1 spot again in January 1962 – the only single to ever reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in two different chart runs, starting a world-wide dance craze.  This year, 2010, marks the 50th anniversary of ‘The Twist’.

How to Dance the Twist

The Twist dance is performed by standing with the feet approximately shoulder width apart. The torso may be squared to the knees and hips, or turned at an angle so one foot is farther forward than the other. The arms are held out from the body, bent at the elbow. The hips, torso, and legs rotate on the balls of the feet as a single unit, with the arms staying more or less stationary. The feet grind back and forth on the floor, and the dance can be varied in speed, intensity, and vertical height as necessary. Occasionally one leg is lifted off the floor for styling, but generally the dance posture is low and with the feet in contact with the floor with very little vertical motion.

Watch the determined Uma Thurman and her unwitting partner John Travolta dance their interpretation of the Twist in a clip from the movie “Pulp Fiction.”

ABOUT YOUTH DAY 2010:

Founded by Tylaine Duggan four years ago, Youth Day engages young artists to find their passion in the arts, and provides for a free venue where they can demonstrate their talent. The annual celebration deemed the “Largest Youth Festival of its Kind”, is held in memory of Chair Emeritus Gino Empry  and has found a new home at YONGE-DUNDAS SQUARE in the heart of the City of Toronto – the busiest intersection in Canada.

Attendance this year is expected to exceed 12,000 as Youth Day  2010 is also setting a world record for the largest public participation to the Twist, supported by Canadian Hall of Fame inductee and Order of Canada recipient Bobby Curtola and his friend Chubby Checker.

Youth Day Toronto Schedule

• OFFICIAL OPENING:  11:30am with a flag parade
• ATHLETES ON STAGE:    4:00pm with inspirational speech
• MOMENT OF SILENCE:     6:00pm with Toronto Fire Services
• TWIST WORLD RECORD:   8:00pm with audience and Political Candidates
• PUBLIC SING-A-LONG:     9:30pm with audience and all artists
• OFFICIAL CLOSING:      10:00pm with a flag parade

More about Youth Day Toronto:  www.youthdaytoronto.com

Let’s Do the Twist!

Come on down to Yonge-Dundas Square on Sunday July 25 and “Let’s do the Twist” to celebrate the incredible talents of Toronto’s Youth and help them set a World Record! 

The last world record for number of dancers to dance the Twist was set recently in Glendale, California with 1,692 dancers.

“Mao’s Last Dancer” is the inspiring true story of  Li Cunxin, a Chinese-trained ballet dancer who was taken from his childhood village to undertake years of vigorous ballet training.  The movie tells of his extraordinary journey from a poor upbringing in rural China to international stardom as a world-class ballet dancer.

Based on the best selling autobiography, the film weaves a moving tale about the quest for freedom and the courage it takes to live your own life. It compellingly captures the struggles, sacrifices and triumphs, as well as the intoxicating effects of first love and celebrity amid the pain of exile.

A large number of dancers from both the Australian Ballet and the Sydney Dance Company participated in the dance works in the film. Cast: Bruce Greenwood, Kyle MacLachlan, Joan Chen, Chi Cao, Amanda Schull.

View the Trailer below:

It is fitting that the movie is playing on Father’s Day, Li Cunxin being named 2009 “Father of the Year” in Australia,  his current country of residence.

Interview with Li Cunxin

In the video clip below Li Cunxin talks about his life and his decision to write an auto-biography and make the movie.

Interview with Chi Cao

In the following video clip Chi Cao, who plays Li Cunxin, talks about how he became a dancer, how he “got the job” as the actor who portrays Li Cunxin, and of the differences in performing on stage and filming a movie.

Mao’s Last Dancer Toronto Showtimes

Mao’s Last Dancer Links

• Get Toronto Mao’s Last Dancer Showtimes here.
• Read Review by Toronto Star.
• Mao’s Last Dancer Movie Website
• Li Cunxin Website

Salsa on St. Clair is Canada’s largest Latino-themed festival,  having attracted over 1 million salsa lovers to the streets of Toronto since its launch in 2005. The 2010 Salsa on St. Clair Festival will take place Saturday July 17 from noon to 11pm and Sunday July 18 from noon to 9pm.
Don’t miss this summer’s hottest [...]

HH Dance and Fitness having their summer inventory clearance of dance shoes this Sunday July 11, 2010.
HH Dance has a unique selection of stylish salsa and tango shoes, as well as ballroom dance shoes.

About HH Dance Studio and their shoes.
More details about the Sale.

The Community Folk Art Council of Toronto is pleased to present its 4th Annual Multicultural Canada Day Celebration.
Please join us at Yonge-Dundas Square for our 4th annual Multicultural Canada Day Celebrations.  Starting at 12 noon, with the singing of O Canada then followed by multicultural folk dance groups from Toronto and Quebec performing live ethnic [...]

Elizabeth Sadowska and Rhythm & Motion Dance Studio will present the 6th Annual Toronto Tango Festival, the biggest tango event in Toronto, running from Thursday, June 10th through Sunday, June 13th.
Tango Instructors:

Oliver Kolker & Silvina Valz (Buenos Aires)
Pablo Pugliese & Noel Strazza (Buenos Aires, Montreal/New York)
Ney Melo & Jennifer Bratt (Miami, Buenos Aires)
Adam Hoopengardner & Ciko [...]

The  MTV movie featuring Toronto dancers including Natalli Reznik and Miles Faber and starring Romina D’Ugo will air on CTV Sunday May 30th, 2010.
The movie has already aired in the US in February, and a DVD is already available, but now we can watch the two hour dance extravaganza on CTV this Sunday at 8pm.
Watch [...]