THE ART OF TRADITIONAL HEAD-TYING Set for Toronto Fringe, 7/2-13

Twenty years after immigrating to Canada, Rosemarie Jon-Charles Hicks goes back to her home island in the Caribbean to teach a series of head-tie workshops. The journey brings her face to face with her family, her culture, and the uncertain future of her way of life. Both funny and deeply poignant, Dora-nominated performer Kanika Ambrose's powerhouse one-woman show THE ART OF TRADITIONAL HEAD-TYING plays July 2-13 at the St. Vladimir's Theatre as part of the 2014 Toronto Fringe Festival. Tickets are available via www.fringetoronto.com or 416-966-1062 ext. 1, or at the door.

When Rosemarie Jon-Charles Hicks goes back to the island of Dominica to teach a series of head-tie workshops, her idealism and optimism are tested by her two zany nieces, a lethargic boyfriend, a persistent old flame, and a class of workshop attendees who really aren't that interested. Creator/performer Kanika Ambrose (Binti's Journey, Theatre Direct; Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Humber River Shakespeare; Obeah Opera, bcurrent/Theatre Archipelago) and co-director Virgilia Griffith (Honesty, Suburban Beast/Koffler Centre; Salome's Clothes, Body Theatre) bring to life the story of Rosemarie's awakening to the realities of the island she left behind. Through a series of trials, an uncanny clan, and six weeks of very trying head-tie classes, Rosie is ultimately faced with this question... "If the values, people, and traditions of the place I call home have changed, where is my home now?"

Kanika Ambrose is a Toronto-based multi-disciplinary theatre artist. Her short plays (My Umm Hmm, Sleep Country, and Aprés) have been produced in Toronto festivals including Paprika Festival, rock.paper.sistahz!, and New Voices. She is a Dora Mavor Moore nominee for her role in Binti's Journey, and part of the Dora nominated Outstanding Production, Obeah Opera. Kanika is the founder of Mabouya Dance Company, where she teaches Dominican Bélé dancing.