That’s A Wrap!

February 28, 2011 | Write a Comment

Many thanks to everyone who helped make the 2011 Water’s Edge Festival fabulous. The three days flew by in record time but the memories will last forever. Whether you experienced one event or the entire weekend, we thank you for coming.  Here’s Artisitic Director, Diana Clark:

Tags: Water’s Edge Festival  |  WEF11

Water’s Edge Festival at a Glance

February 25, 2011 | Write a Comment

Hurray! Hurray! The Water’s Edge Festival starts today and we hope to see you at the Evergreen Cultural Centre. Here’s an “at a glance” schedule to help plan your weekend fun:

FRIDAY

• 9am - 3pm Children’s Choir Workshop
• 12pm – 5pm Those Who Can, Teach! Gallery Exhibition
• 7pm – 8pm Day of Singing Family Concert
• 8pm – 9:30pm Drum Circle with Milton Randall

SATURDAY

• 10am – 12pm Live Model Collage with Gay Mitchell 
• 12pm – 2pm All-Canadian Guitar Jam
• 12pm – 9pm Those Who Can, Teach! Gallery Exhibition
• 1pm – 3pm  Weaving Magic with Wendy Anderson
• 1:30pm – 2:30pm Ballet Kelowna Open Rehearsal
• 2pm – 6pm S.O.N.G Cafe
• 3pm-5pm Dance Exploration Workshop
• 4pm – 6pm Chinese Brushwork Workshop with Arabel Luk
• 8pm Ballet Kelowna: Actions Consequences

SUNDAY

• 9:30am – 11am Ballet Master Class with David LaHay
• 10:30am – 12pm Gospel Experience Workshop with Dee Daniels
• 12pm – 4pm S.O.N.G. Cafe
• 2pm Dee Daniels in Concert
• 4pm – 6pm Those Who Can, Teach Offical Opening Reception
• 4:30pm – 6:30pm Water’s Edge Festival Closing Reception
• 7pm PechaKucha Night Coquitlam Vol. 2

Be sure to post your favourite moments as a comment on the blog or on our Facebook wall and, if you’re inclined to tweet tag us (@WatersEdgeFest) the official hashtag is #WEF11.  Of course, phone works too and you’re welcome to call the Box Office at 604.927.6555 for tickets or other information.

Tags: Water’s Edge Festival  |  WEF11

Festival Starts Tomorrow

February 24, 2011 | Write a Comment

After months of work behind the scenes, we finally get to share all that Water’s Edge has to offer tomorrow through Sunday.  We do hope you’ll join us!

Tags: Water’s Edge Festival  |  WEF11

Ballet Kelowna’s Brett Trach is a hometown boy

February 22, 2011 | Write a Comment

While surfing through Ballet Kelowna’s amazing website and reading up on the company members, I was thrilled to discover that Brett Trach hails from Coquitlam! The 23 year old dancer took some time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions.

JC: You are from Coquitlam. Born and raised or are you a transplant from somewhere else?
 
BT: I was born and raised in Coquitlam.  I’ve lived in the same house with my family since birth.

JC: What high school did you attend? 

BT: I attended Langley Fine Arts School from grade 8 until grade 10.  For my last two years of high school I attended Centennial Secondary School.  I was quite involved with the theatre company there.  This has benefited my performance quality greatly.

JC: How long have you been dancing? How long ballet?
 
BT: I have been involved in acting and musical theatre since the age of 7.  I began my serious dance training at the age of 16 at Tri City Dance Centre owned by Shannon Stewardson.  I studied there for 4 years and that is where my love and knowledge of dance grew.

JC: When did you join Ballet Kelowna and how did you get there? Out of curiosity, does one audition?

BT: I joined Ballet Kelowna for the 2010-2011 season, which begins in late August and ends at the end of April.  Before that I had danced with Josh Beamish’s MOVE: the Company, The Source Dance Company, and The ArtsUmbrella Dance Company.  I moved to Kelowna for the length of the contract and my parents graciously drove me there and got me settled in.

I auditioned for the company back in 2009 (in Vancouver) but was not offered a job at that point. David [LaHay, Ballet Kelowna's Artistic Director] contacted me in the summer of 2010 when he needed to fill a male spot in the 6 person company.

JC: Describe a  typical day for company members?

BT: We have a daily ballet class for 1.5 hours beginning at 8:30am but most of us are there around 7:45am to stretch and warm up.  Then we rehearse till just after 3pm with an hour lunch break.  After that we all try to go swimming, to yoga, pilates, and the gym etc. because our bodies are our instruments.

JC: At Evergreen, the company will be performing  several works including Gioconda Barbuto’s new piece, called “Capture”, “In Stride” and “Dvorak Dances” by David LaHay and Simone Orlando’s “Stage Within”.  Which is your favourite and why?
 
BT: My favourite piece is Gioconda Barbuto’s “Capture,” because it is contemporary ballet and the process of creating it was amazing.  I love to dance and I feel that in this particular piece I can really let go and show it.

I find “Dvorak Dances” most challenging because it is so elegant and classic that there is little room for error.  You also have a female dancer depending on you to be there for her as a partner.

JC: The Spring Tour looks great. Lots of dates. How do you keep your sanity when on tour?
 
BT: This will be my first touring experience for that long so I can’t really say.  I am glad that we all get along and have a really fantastic group dynamic.

Tags: Ballet  |  Ballet Kelowna  |  Brett Trach  |  Waters Edge Festival

Diana Clark, Artistic Director

February 21, 2011 | Write a Comment

Diana Clark is a joy to know. Her creative drive, warm personality and commitment to excellence are second to none. Every Festival requires the effort of dozens of planners, contributors and supporters but there’s always a creative visionary who adds their energy, talent and enthusiasm to the final selection. For the Water’s Edge Festival, Diana Clark is that person.  In this audio interview, Diana talks to Angela Crocker about the 2011 Festival:

Diana Clark on the 2011 Water’s Edge Festival

Be sure to say hello if you see Diana on site next weekend. She’ll be delighted to welcome  you to the events.

Tags: Diana Clark  |  Water’s Edge Festival  |  WEF11

Gay Mitchell Teaches Live Model Collage

February 21, 2011 | 2 comments

Port Moody artist and Evergreen Cultural Centre art instructor, Gay Mitchell will be teaching a two hour Live Model Collage class as part of the Water’s Edge Festival. On Saturday, February 27th from 10-Noon, Gay will work with participants as they create their own works of art. 

The model will be Ericca Vohra, a former Miss India, bringing the vibrancy of India’s colourful culture to this Coquitlam studio. Gay spoke to Angela Crocker about the workshop in this podcast:

Gay Mitchell on the Live Model Collage Workshop

While the workshop is free to attend, there is a $5 ($5.60 with HST) materials charge to offset the cost of art supplies.  Pre-registration by calling 604.927-6552.

Tags: Artists  |  Ericca Vohra  |  Gay Mitchell  |  Water’s Edge Festival  |  WEF11

Nick Sartore on PechaKuchaNight Coquitlam

February 20, 2011 | Write a Comment

What a treat to have a PechaKuchaNight come to Coquitlam!  PechaKucha is an art form that brings together many different presenters each with the opportunity to present 20 slides for 20 seconds each. These brief, energized presentations are as thought-provoking as they are entertaining. One of this year’s presenters, Nick Sartore chatted with Angela Crocker about his experience preparing for the event.

Nick Sartore on PechaKuchaNight Coquitlam Vol.2

On Sunday, February 27th, Nick will be joined by fellow presenters: 

• Miranda Anderson, Film Maker
• Daryl Anselmo, Creative Entrepreneur
• Joyelle Brandt, Artist
• Diana Clark, Artistic Director Coastal Sound Music Academy and Water’s Edge Festival
• Susan Jessop, Artist and Educator
• Francis Lemieux, Designer and Cabinet Maker
• Masha Levene, Digital Artist
• Melanie Montgomery, Mother of 3 and Owner Bossy Moms Boutique
• David Pacholko, Graphic Designer
• Lisa Robinson, Salon Owner and Stylist Mint Hair Lounge
• Nick Sartore – Artistic Director Shift Performing Arts Society
• Saima Shah – Yoga Therapist and Owner Vital Energy Yoga

PechaKucha Coquitlam Volume 2 has been arranged by Mandara Lebovitz and Helen Daniels from ArtsConnect. Click here for more information and to buy tickets (just $12!). We hope to see you on Sunday, February 27th at 7:00 pm.

Tags: ArtsConnect  |  PechaKucha  |  Water’s Edge Festival  |  WEF11

Andrew Clark and the All-Canadian Guitar Jam

February 19, 2011 | Write a Comment

Guitarist, songwriter, teacher and all around great guy, Andrew Clark sat down with Angela Crocker to talk about next weekend’s All Canadian Guitar Jam. In this podcast, he affirms that all levels of ability are welcome and even those who don’t play guitar can come to watch and enjoy. Have a listen:

Andrew Clark on the All Canadian Guitar Jam

We’ll be at the Evergreen Cultural Centre in the Rehearsal Hall at Noon on Saturday, February 27. If you need the free song book to bone up on the playlist, you can get a copy here. Come jam with us!

Tags: All-Canadian Guitar Jam  |  Andrew Clark  |  Water’s Edge Festival  |  WEF11

Jon-Paul Walden on the Festival

February 14, 2011 | 4 comments

From Ballet Kelowna to PechaKucha Coquitlam to the vocal “WOW” factor of Dee Daniels and the amazing free workshops, Jon-Paul Walden and Angela Crocker are enthusiastic about this year’s Festival. Walden, Executive Director of the the Evergreen Cultural Centre, shares his top picks for Festival weekend including the incredible free activites throughout the weekend – Drum Circle; dance workshop; collage, fabric arts and Chinese painting workshops; gospel singing workshop and the All Canadian Guitar Jam.

Tags: All-Canadian Guitar Jam  |  Ballet Kelowna  |  Gospel workshop  |  PechaKucha  |  Water’s Edge Festival  |  WEF11

Carrie Tennant: Master Choral Clinician

February 8, 2011 | Write a Comment

Carrie Tennant is one of the most respected choral directors in Vancouver. Her work with the Coastal Sound Youth Choir and other vocal groups draws not only singers but audiences, too.  Students from Grade 3 to Grade 8 participating in the Waters’s Edge Festival “Boys and Girls Singing Day” will be treated to positive, nurturing and energizing choral signing experience. In this interview, Carrie talks about what’s in store for the day:

Carrie Tennant on Waters’ Edge Festival 2011

Carrie’s students will perform in an evening concert that will include the Coastal Sound Children’s Choir as special guests. Here they are in rehearsal under the direction of Diana Clark:

Tags: Carrie Tennant  |  Coastal Sound Music  |  mainstage concert  |  Water’s Edge Festival  |  WEF11