Sparrow d’Legend
Toronto Mas Camp, Carnival Nationz has released its theme for 2010 and its line up of costumes. Nationz, the 2009 Champions decided to make The Mighty Sparrow the band theme this year. This means costumes are named after various Sparrow songs such as D’ Lizard, Jean & Dinah, Obeah Wedding, Congo Man and others. After attending the launch event, I’ve got say I am pleasantly surprised and inspired to see thousands of young people learning about the Calypso legend. The launch began with a video that took clips from some of Sparrow’s live performances and videos from the 1950s onwards. I thought this was great, rather than simply honouring the artist’s work in name only, the audience got a chance to learn about Sparrow’s life and his music. I had no idea he was born in Grenada!!!
Check out all the costumes here:
http://carnivalnationz.com/gallery/index.php/Carnival-Nationz-Band-Launch-2010
We live in an amazing city and we are so blessed to have creative people making creative costumes. I am so proud of all the people involved in volunteering their time to make sure Caribbean culture says alive and the next generation is able to learn about our magnificent past. It takes sooooo many individuals to setup mas camps, recruit people, do promotional work and tons of other stuff, that is the spirit of community arts. I am wondering when people will finally be able to see these costumes as art, beautiful pieces of art that are deeply interwoven with our histories?
Don’t want to make it seem like I am shamelessly plugging Carnival Nationz, so here are more info on other bands:
:: Toronto CARIBANA Mas Bands 2010 ::
(2010 Competing bands are currently listed alphabetically and NOT in order of appearance)
Black Sage (Selwyn “Nip” Davis & Corey Howard) {Category A}
2010 Presentation: “Kopy Kat”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections: 7
Costume Price: $100-$140
Kiddies Costumes: $50
Mas Camp Location: 60 Barbados Blvd, Units 4 & 5
Mas Camp Hours: 7pm-10pm weekdays | 2pm-6pm weekends opens May 15th
Phone: Corey 647-242-7715 Nip 416-286-0097 Alvin 905-940-2944
Email: corey@blacksagecarnival.com, nip@blacksagecarnival.com,alvin@blacksagecarnival.com
Website: http://www.blacksagecarnival.com, http://www.scsc.ca,http://www.nipdavis.com
2010 Launch Date: Sat May 1st @ Northern Tropics (Ellesmere and kennedy)
Pre Caribana Brunch: Sunday April 18 @ Northern Tropics 1pm – 5pm
Callaloo (Marlon Singh) {Category A}
2010 Presentation: “Halloween”
Music on de Road: JMC 3VENI (Live Band 5 Times T&T #1 Band on the Road), Ravi (Chutney Soca Monarch King from Karma), DJ Shiva (from Bacchanal Radio), Blackberry Soundcrew, DJ Spinz, Tony Soul (from NY/Miami) & Crystal Vibez
Number of Sections: 11
Costume Price: $135-150 All-Inclusive / Also VVIP available (Inquire within)
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: TBA
Mas Camp Hours: noon – 1am
Phone: 416-576-0694 | 416-845-3754
Email: callaloocarnival@gmail.com
Website: http://www.callaloo.net
2010 Launch Date: Sat May 15 @ Everest Banquet Hall
Carnival Nationz (Bryce Aguiton, Dwayne Pitt, Marcus Eustace) {Category A}
2010 Presentation: “Sparrow… D’Legend”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections: TBA
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: 533 McNicoll Avenue (Vic Park and McNicoll)
Mas Camp Hours: 7pm-10pm weekdays | 2pm-6pm weekends (opens in June)
Phone: 416-565-4079, 416-985-8488, 416-930-9650
Email: info@carnivalnationz.com
Website: http://www.CarnivalNationz.com
2010 Launch Date: Sat May 1, 2010 @ Sound Academy 2
Connections – TCC (Mervyn Skeete) {Category B}
2010 Presentation: “TO BE ANNOUNCED”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections: TBA
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: TBA
Mas Camp Hours: TBA
Phone: 416-492-5584 | 647-295-5584
Email: gemstonestcc@aol.com
Website: http://www.tocarnival.com
2010 Launch Date: TBA
De Freitas Carnival (Ken Defreitas & Justin Hospedales) {Category A}
2010 Presentation: “Reign of Fire”
Music on de Road: Renegade Squad (Blueberry Bashment), Dj. Chief (Worldwide 89.5FM), Jump Up Kingz (Got JUK), Dj. Bass (Island Breeze 89.5FM)
Number of Sections: 8
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: TBA
Mas Camp Hours: Mon – Thu 5pm – 9pm / Fri – 5pm – 10pm / Sat: 12pm – 10pm / Sun: 2pm – 8pm
Phone: 416-209-0834
Email: defreitascarnival@gmail.com
Website: http://www.decarnival.com
2010 Launch Date: TBA
Doldron, Doldron & Associates (Courtney Doldron) {Category B}
2010 Presentation: “TO BE ANNOUNCED”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections: TBA
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: TBA
Mas Camp Hours: TBA
Phone: 416-986-7875, 647-928-5609, 416-779-4211, 416-833-2641
Email: csdoldron@rogers.com
Website: N/A
2010 Launch Date: TBA
Fantazia International (Will Morton) {Category B}
2010 Presentation: “Fashion Runway”
Music on de Road: DJ Dingolay
Number of Sections: 7
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: TBA
Mas Camp Hours: TBA
Phone: 289-888-1247
Email: fantazia_09@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.fantaziainternational.net
2010 Launch Date: Sat May 15th, 2010
Genesis Mas (Russel & Jerry Jerome) {Category C}
2010 Presentation: “Exotic Birds”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections: 6
Costume Price: $120 / ($250 individual)
Kiddies Costumes: $50
Mas Camp Location: TBA
Mas Camp Hours: TBA
Phone: N/A
Email: N/A
Website: http://www.GenesisMas.com
2010 Launch Date: TBA
Guycan Group (Raj Persaud) {Category C}
2010 Presentation: “Sparkle Guyana Sparkle”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections:TBA
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes:TBA
Mas Camp Location: TBA
Mas Camp Hours: TBA
Phone: N/A
Email: N/A
Website: N/A
2010 Launch Date: TBA
Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club (Louis Saldenah) {Category A}
2010 Presentation: “Portraits”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections: TBA
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: TBA
Mas Camp Hours: Daily noon-11pm (open from June 7)
Phone: 416-560-4419
Email: saldenah@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.saldenahcarnival.com
2010 Launch Date: Sat May 8, 2010 @ Embers Banquet Hall
Mas Toronto (Errol Achue) {Category A}
2010 Presentation: “TO BE ANNOUNCED”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections: TBA
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: Tam Heather Country Club – 730 Military Trail, Scarborough, (west of Morningside)
Mas Camp Hours: Mon-Thur 6-10:00pm | Sat 6-11pm | Sun 6pm-8pm
Phone: 416-282-7712, 416-283-6161
Email: info@mastoronto.com
Website: http://www.mastoronto.com
2010 Launch Date: TBA
Pleasure Players (Whitfield Balasco) {Category B}
2010 Presentation: “TO BE ANNOUNCED”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections: TBA
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: 4TBA
Mas Camp Hours: TBA
Phone: 905-568-9136
Email: werfamily2@hotmail.com
Website: N/A
2010 Launch Date: TBA
Toronto Revellers (Jamaal Magloire) {Category A}
2010 Presentation: “Disco Fever… Aint No Stoppin Us Now”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections: TBA
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: TBA
Mas Camp Hours: TBA
Phone: TBA
Email: info@torontorevellers.com
Website: http://www.TorontoRevellers.com
2010 Launch Date: Sat May 8, 2010 @ Everest Banquet Hall
Tribal Knights (Dexter Seusahai) {Category A}
2010 Presentation: “HOLLYWOOD: Glitz & Glamour”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections: TBA
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: TBA
Mas Camp Hours: TBA
Phone: 416-893-1867
Email: carnivalartsent@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.TribalKnights.com
2010 Launch Date: Sat April 10, 2010 @ Grand Luxe
Tru Dynasty Carnival (Thea Jackson) {Category C}
2010 Presentation: “Fever – What Makes You HOT”
Music on de Road: TBA
Number of Sections: TBA
Costume Price: TBA
Kiddies Costumes: TBA
Mas Camp Location: TBA
Mas Camp Hours: TBA
Phone: 647-883-9033 / 416-768-8292
Email: trydynasty@gmail.com
Website: http://www.trudynasty.com
2010 Launch Date: TBA
YMCAYOUTH Federal Government Summer Internships
If you know a young person out of school please let them know about these summer internships…
THE OPENING DOORS PROJECT at City Hall! Wednesday March 31st
Bring your friends and family and come out and:
- get to know the PROJECT
- see the DIGITAL STORIES
- see the ART
- hear RISE (Recovery In Song Everlasting) Choral!!
- meet the PEER TRAINERS
This is a NEW CMHA-Toronto initiative partnered with Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services and Across Boundaries. Citizenship and Immigration Canada have provided funding for this initiative. The Opening Doors Project is available to do FREE peer-led workshops on mental health/anti-discrimination/anti-racism starting April 12th.
Wednesday March 31st
5:00 PM – 7:00PM
City Hall
HopeWorks Connection Film Fest 2010
AN EVENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO BROADEN THE VISIBILITY OF CREATIVE AND INSPIRING FILMS FROM THE AFRICAN DIASPORA.
Feature Documentary Film “A Linc In Time” by Nicole Brooks, a revealing portrait of the great Lincoln Alexander, the first black Member of Parliament in Canada elected during the turbulent American civil rights era and the first black Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Performances by TC3 – The Toronto Children’s Concert Choir and Performing Arts Company
1:00pm – 2:00pm Children/Family Films
“Henry Box Brown”, “Garrett’s Gift” and “Sticks and Stones”
2:30pm – 6:00pm Teen/Adult Films
“War Child” and “Life and Debt”
6:30pm – 9:00pm Reception with director Nicole Brooks
Feature Documentary Film “A Linc In Time”
Tickets: $10.00 Single Day Pass, $35.00 Group Pass (4 People)
*Tickets are available at the door*
1:00pm – 9:00pm
50 Nantucket Blvd, Scarborough
For more information:
Phone: (416) 751 – 9970
Email: info@tc3.ca
Website: www.tc3.ca
who knew grannie: a dub aria
who knew grannie: a dub aria, written and directed by ahdri zhina mandiela and produced by Obsidian Theatre Company in association with Factory Theatre, has its world premiere March 18 – April 4, 2010 (with previews on March 13–14 and 16–17). who knew grannie: a dub aria, sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group, is about four cousins who reunite for the burial of their grandmother, the woman who raised them. They go back to Jamaica and reclaim their past and discover who they are through childhood games, songs and powerful memories. On the wings of the symbolic sankofa bird, the cousins go on a powerful cathartic journey full of joy, laughter and pain to the music of the heart and the drums of their homeland. Factory Artistic Director Ken Gass says that the award-winning mandiela “… has a unique muscular poetic voice that drives this imaginative and very theatrical new form, the dub aria.”
who knew grannie : a dub aria
