Dance Immersion Presents QUEENS CALLING This Weekend

dance Immersion proudly presents Queens Calling, a celebration of sisterhood, kinship and womanhood from eight dynamic and diverse female choreographers from across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. This powerful performance is part of TD Bank's Then and Now Series for Black History Month, and runs this weekend, February 6-7, 2015 at Harbourfront Centre Theatre (formerly Enwave Theatre).

dance Immersion's 2015 Showcase Presentation, Queens Calling is dedicated to the 219 girls tragically abducted from a boarding school in Chibok, Nigeria. It features an inter-generational cast of female choreographers who will captivate and transport audiences with their electrifying work, bringing positive energy to the challenges that still exist for women around the world. Eight acclaimed diverse choreographers grace the stage with works that range in style from Contemporary African and Lindy Hop to Modern and Caribbean.

Audiences will be taken on an emotional and searingly honest journey by these outstanding dance artists who bring their formidable talent to the stage with works ranging from remounts to premieres:

Paulette Brockington (U.S.), master teacher, winner of a 2012 Michigan Heritage Award, 2004 World Swing Dance Championships West Coast Swing Jack and Jill, and 2000 World Fast Dance Championships);

Ghislaine Doté (Montreal; born in the Central African Republic, raised in the Ivory Coast), Artistic Director of Virtuo, winner of a Gloria Mitchell-Aleong Award, dance credits include companies Flak, the Montreal Opera (Starmania), Cirque du Soleil and currently part of the Sinha Danse company (since 2007);

Jasmyn Fyffe (Toronto), recipient of 2013 Frankie Award (Montreal) for outstanding choreography/choreographer, 2012 nominee for the first-ever Young Centre Dance Awards, dance credits include the touring musical UMOJA and companies Gadfly, Red Sky Performance, KasheDance as well as Pulse for Brooklyn, N.Y.'s Wave Rising Series;

Sharon Harvey (Toronto), performer, educator and advocate of injury-free dance conditioning who has performed with Ballet Creole, Canboulay Dance and Azaguno Dance;

Charmaine Headley (Toronto; born in Trinidad), one of the co-founders of the highly regarded COBA (Collective of Black Artists) where she performs, choreographs and teaches; former dancer with Barbados National Dance Theatre Company and Toronto's Usafiri Dance and Drum Ensemble and OMO dance companies;

Zab Maboungou (Montreal; grew up in Congo-Brazzaville), founder of acclaimed Zab Maboungou/Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata, winner of 2014 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award and 2013 Prix Charles Biddle (Quebec);

Michèle Moss (Calgary; born in England), teacher of jazz, dance pedagogy and world and social dance on four continents, Assistant Professor at U of C dance faculty, co-founder Decidedly Jazz Danceworks; and

Alesandra Seutin (U.K.; born in Zimbabwe, raised in Belgium), Vocab Dance Company member, 2014/15 Trailblazer Champion nominee by the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora, first and only U.K. artist to be selected by icon Germaine Acogny (the mother of African contemporary dance) to be part of the transmission of her technique.
dance Immersion is a not-for-profit organization recognized for its steady engagement in producing, promoting and showcasing dancers and dances of the African Diaspora. The organization was founded in 1994 by Vivine Scarlett and was established to address the need for additional presentation, skill development, and networking opportunities for dance artists of African descent. During its 20 year history, dance Immersion has experienced considerable success in connecting with artists throughout Canada and around the world, and provides opportunities for audiences and participants to experience firsthand the global language of dance, and its ability to build bridges between diverse cultures.

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