Brazilian Music and Acrobatics
Prepare to be wowed by Axé Capoeira's thrilling combination of dance, high-flying acrobatics, rhythmic music, and theatrics. Traditional capoeira music, instruments, and upbeat Brazilian vocals are brought to life by professional capoeiristas and dancers at the height of their skill.
Arriving from Brazil in 1990, Axé Capoeira (AH-shay cap-oh-AIR-ah) has grown into one of the world’s leading capoeira organizations, with more than 5,000 school shows and stage performances and two years as choreography consultant to So You Think You Can Dance Canada.
Oopsie!
Dr. Professor wants to answer the question: Is it okay to make a mistake? When taking her research to the audience, the Doctor fails again and again in hilarious ways. Together, the Professor and the audience find out how mistakes help us learn and make new discoveries. This interactive story about growth mindset and the creative process is brought to life through a seamless weaving of shadow puppetry, original music, tap dance, physical comedy, and audience participation.
Candy Bones Theatre specializes in original immersive theatrical productions and creativity education. Award-winning performing artist Candice Roberts interweaves artistic disciplines such as physical theatre, music, mask, puppetry, clowning, and dance to create stories that explore the humour, heartbreak, trials and tribulations of being a human in this world.
Juggler Extraordinaire!
Mike Battie delivers his show with a large sprinkling of humour, delighting audiences with his performance skills. He’s a master of the unicycle, a virtuoso juggler of many and varied objects, and is not afraid to involve his onlookers in his hilarious physical comedy act. His choreographed “William Tell Overture” is a visual not-to-be-missed treat!
Since 1985, Mike Battie has been delighting audiences across the continent with his comedic juggling expertise. As a young actor, he toured extensively with children’s theatre, learning to juggle as part of his skill set. That was it. Since then, Mike has been developing and using circus skills to entertain and enchant.
Mike has performed at Expos, Olympics, Grey Cups, the PNE, festivals and corporate events too numerous to name. He has appeared in dozens of commercials, television and movie roles.
For many years, Mike has been inspiring young performers through school residencies, Circus West (formerly CirKids), festivals and fairs, and literally hundreds of circus camps across the country. He also instructs privately in the corporate arena, and at colleges and universities in continuing adult education. His dedication to and passion for his craft make Mike a performer you don’t want to miss!
Jess Dance
Jess Dance is a team of passionate dance educators dedicated to bringing meaningful one-day to week-long programs to elementary and secondary schools across BC. The company offers a wide variety of dance styles, including hip hop and other street-dance styles (whacking, house, locking, popping, voguing), breakin', Afrobeat, KPop, Métis jigging, POW WOW, Aboriginal hoop dance, Jamaican dancehall, acrobatics, and jazz! Each residency program is tailored to the specific needs of the school.
Since 1998, Jess Dance has been empowering and inspiring the next generation through dance experiences. The company is proud to provide healthy role models that support students beyond physical learning to developing self-worth, self-expression, and connection with their own bodies and with each other.
Jordan Hanson
Workshop - Jordan Hanson’s enthusiasm for drumming is contagious; he gets new students playing rhythms together within a few minutes. Through hands-on learning, students develop listening skills, creative expression, and group co-operation. A drum is provided for each participant.
Up to 30* participants per session
Up to 5 sessions per day
150 students per day (unless otherwise pre-arranged)
Performance - Jordan also offers a solo performance either as part of a workshop or separately. The 50-minute performance features over 40 different instruments from around the world, expanding students’ musical horizons and inspiring them to explore new sounds and rhythms.
Jordan Hanson studied music in West Africa, Cuba, and Brazil. His programs for schools and community organizations have been the subject of numerous radio and television features. From coast to coast, Jordan has taught more than 250,000 Canadians how to drum!
The Invisible World of Science
There’s a magical world of science all around us, exerting forces that shape our reality. Professor Wow uses his mind-boggling circus skills to reveal these invisible forces that are right under our noses. Using floating objects, he brings the concept of lift to life, helping kids understand how airplanes fly. He breaks the sound barrier with the crack of a bullwhip to give students a visceral understanding of speed’s powerful forces. With expert juggling and balancing skills, plus help from audience volunteers, Professor Wow demonstrates Newton’s three laws of motion, and more.
Since 1998, Aytahn Ross has wowed and educated one million people around the world as a solo artist as well as with his signature character, The Great Balanzo. He’s had repeat invitations to Just for Laughs, performed a solo for Canada’s Governor General, and produced a theatre series at the National Arts Centre.
Pico’s Puppet Palace aims to have their shows presented to diverse audiences globally, and through puppetry, live music and storytelling connect audiences across generations. Each show is an episode of Pico’s adventures and introduces ecological and environmental issues, innovations and ideas.
Pico and the Golden Lagoon chronicles Pico's courage, the importance of forging new relationships, and the wonders of the natural world. Journey alongside Pico as she traverses the globe in her iconic yellow bi-plane, uncovering eco-conscious practices through her encounters with a host of unique characters. Stranded on an island after running out of fuel, Pico encounters David, a passionate naturalist, and Lou, a friendly dragon residing by the shimmering lagoon. Will Lou assist Pico in overcoming her fuel dilemma? Discover the answer in this enchanting production crafted from sustainable materials, seamlessly blending puppetry, live music, and storytelling in a mesmerizing spectacle
The company was established in 2016, by Sally Miller and Jesse Hamilton. Sally and Jesse have been performing together since 2002 in various musical and theatrical collaborations.
Expect the unexpected!
Stories come to life with DuffleBag Theatre! Their hilariously engaging introductions to the classics make every audience member part of the performance. Forget about passively watching; DuffleBag’s shows are all about fun, innovation, and joyful participation.
Captivating audiences since 1992, “the nearly world-famous” DuffleBag Theatre performs over 600 shows a year across Canada, the US, and internationally. The company’s repertoire ranges from fairy tales (like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White) to classic stories (such as Robin Hood, Peter Pan, and The Three Musketeers), to Shakespeare adaptations (like Romeo & Juliet), and holiday-themed shows (such as A Christmas Carol.) Each year, DuffleBag makes two story titles available and at least one of them will be available in a French/English bilingual format.
Metaphor
Rap, poetry, freestyle, turntablism, beatboxing, dance, and interactive music come together in Hip-Hop 101. The show explores the history of hip-hop, looking at how hip-hop culture has always shaped the communities it touches, from its roots in African oral tradition to contemporary sounds. Through music, dance, and participatory games, students explore themes of anti-racism, anti-bullying, self-empowerment, acceptance, and celebration. Metaphor’s Hip-Hop 101 is a pumped-up performance of positive hip-hop.
Ndidi Cascade is a Vancouver-born and based hip-hop vocalist of Nigerian-Italian-Irish-Canadian heritage. She is also a songwriter, recording artist, educator, program facilitator, and World Music Education independent schoolteacher. Ndidi has showcased her music across North America and internationally, from classrooms to stadiums. Her music has also been featured on Much Music and MTV Canada.
Dream Big!
Work Hard. Play Hard. Dream Big! A show to inspire passion, play and purpose while showcasing a variety of creative athletic feats involving hula hoops, juggling, spinning plates and humor. Amanda Panda playfully engages students and staff with her skills and audience participation activities, and growth mindset approach to demonstrate the importance of perseverance, practice and play. Amanda’s book, Mandi the Clown and the Hula Hoop Circus, is referenced to reinforce the message of working hard and dreaming big.
Entertainer, author, and entrepreneur, Amanda Panda has been performing for over a decade. She’s the author of a children’s book that inspires following your dreams and has shared her circus story across Canada both in person and virtually. Her business, Hula Hoop Circus, is where education meets entertainment by providing circus performances and workshops to encourage discovery learning and self-confidence.
Rainbow Dance Theatre
Dancing light! In this interactive performance by Rainbow Dance Theatre, students see three dances featuring electronic costumes, props, and puppets. The light wire technology enchants students with professional dance AND gets them excited about the technology component of STEM learning.
The dance artists reveal how they use the STEM engineering design process to create innovative technologies in dance art, such as wearable electronic costumes and electronic puppets.
Students participate in demonstrations of how engineering design and coding are used to create dances, with selected students invited up to create their own “ilumidance” with a five-foot-tall light wire puppet.
Living Rhythm – Joel Hanna
Living Rhythm explores various cultural rhythmic styles as expressed with hand percussion, guitar, and dance. Playing a variety of instruments including cajón, djembe, bodhran, shakers, claves, while incorporating tap dance and body percussion, the trio weaves together the music of Spain, Cuba, Ireland, and Japan with forays into such styles as rhythm and blues, rock, and hip-hop. As an ancillary benefit, the show demonstrates how relevant math is to all music in answer that age-old question, "When will I ever use fractions in real life?"
Joel Hanna / VanTap Joel Hanna has a background in Irish dance, tap dance, flamenco and martial arts. He has done command performances for Queen Elizabeth II and United Nations diplomats. He starred in Riverdance: The Show; created Revolution: Sweat, Dance, Rock & Roll launching in NYC at The Joyce. Joel's artistic journey is defined by his extensive experience in various dance forms, musical compositions, and percussion techniques. He is currently the Executive Director of the Vancouver Tap Dance Society that produces the popular youth program, TapCo of which VanTap is the professional offshoot.
Las Americas
Dazzle your students with Grupo America’s visual explosion of glamour, colour, and spirited music! This Latin dance extravaganza presents folkloric and contemporary dances from Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and the US, taking audiences on a journey from the pre-Columbian to the modern era.
Students learn about the three main influences in dances from the Americas: European, African, and Indigenous. Each dance is introduced with a brief description of the country and the dance’s origin and story. Schools have the option of selecting their own program that features one or more countries or influences.
For over 20 years, Grupo America has been amazing North American audiences with their talented dancers and choreographers from some of the best folkloric ballets in Latin America.
Workshops are available in the Lower Mainland
Rain City Improv
Fast paced, hilarious, and highly interactive! Every show features fun, interactive improv scenes using willing volunteers and audience suggestions. The performers adapt to and engage any crowd, whether it’s a gymnasium full of elementary school students or a small group of high school seniors. Students gain confidence through the collaboration, creativity, and imagination of improv storytelling.
Founded in 2021 by Vancouver TheatreSports alumnus Taz VanRassel, Rain City Improv focuses on unscripted comedy theatre for ages 5 to 105. For over 25 years, Taz has performed for thousands of diverse audiences, establishing himself as an enthusiastic member of both the Vancouver and global improv community.
Big Bandology
What better way to inspire elementary students to study music at the high school level than by exposing them to the big band sound? The Ladies provide an irresistible introduction to the instruments students can play in high school band class. By showcasing each instrument through musical selections from jazz, swing, and popular classics, this 11-piece ensemble gives students an unforgettable taste of their musical possibilities.
Directed by trombonist Casey Thomas-Burns, the Leading Ladies Little Big Band first came together to perform a single show in 2019 and have stuck together ever since. In addition to performing, this dynamic and vibrant group of young women shares a mission of education and community outreach.
Workshops available - please inquire.
Nayana Fielkov
Presto! The Great Lambrusco turns scarves into eggs! Coins appear from thin air, and a cupcake gets baked in a shoe! But what’s really happening here? Can we believe everything we see? In this comedic unfolding, the audience finds out that illusions are not reality, and that to find true magic, we must slow down, observe, and listen.
Acclaimed performing artist Nayana Fielkov has performed at festivals and venues across the country with her genre-bending approach to theatre. She is co-creator of award-winning RAGMOP Theatre, Habitats, Underbelly, and The Myrtle Sisters, and is a founding member of the Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret.
Blues Rocks! This brand-new show from KBAM! introduces students to one of the most basic elements in Western popular music: The Blues. Through listening, singing, and active participation, students will learn to recognize the essential chord progression of the blues that has influenced countless other styles of popular music. Examples used in the show include everything from spirituals to Jimi Hendrix, Robert Johnson to White Stripes, and teen pop to TV theme songs.
The show features the 4-piece band What’s Next which includes two members who have performed with the ever-popular Speed Control. The band has appeared in numerous festivals, corporate parties, weddings, family and corporate events for the past 10 years while filling dance floors and getting rave reviews.
Pow Wow Dancer Hello my name is Peter White, I come from the Yaqan Nukiy tribe (Creston, BC) which is a part of the Ktunaxa Nation (kootenay.)
I’m a Men’s traditional dancer, the dance originates from the Sioux (Dakota, Lakota, Nakota) people. It’s one of the oldest dances around to this date, it is a war dance.
This dance touched me because I’m a warrior myself, being a cancer survivor this dance has helped bring out the inner warrior in myself.
By special arrangement with Jess Dance.
Black Dog String Quartet
Students will be having so much fun listening to String Theory that they won’t realize they’re developing vital cognitive skills. While sharpening their ears to pick out the intriguing complexity of a round, a canon, and a fugue, they’ll realize that classical music — with a few pop tunes thrown in — is really very cool.
Formed in 2007, the Black Dog String Quartet is a unique and versatile ensemble featuring some of Vancouver’s finest young musicians. The group has collaborated with 54-40, Marianas Trench, Bleeding Through, and many others. Individual members have performed live on stage with some of the world’s top acts, including Rod Stewart, Kanye West, Sting, Michael Bublé, Mariah Carey, and Video Games Live.
Spaced Out! Captain Blankety Blank has been given the use of a starship by the Canadian Space Agency to take a group of passengers on a journey, but none of the passengers knows quite where they’re going. Whatever their destination, the passengers soon realize that to get anywhere, they need to dump their emotional baggage and take on the roles of the bridge crew. Space entities, nefarious nebulas and mutiny will plague the journey. Will they all make it?
David’s Story: My name is David C. Jones: Coach, Teacher, Keynote Speaker, Actor, Filmmaker, Host/Emcee, Improv Artist, based in Vancouver, BC.
As a former caregiver and an active coach, my chief joy, my reason for living, is helping people. Guiding them to unleash themselves and get out of their own way, to expand their experiences, to push past the boundaries of what they thought was possible.
I have grown from a bullied and abused young man into an adult who has won awards for advocacy work, teaching, and comedy. I have performed and taught workshops around the world, produced a television series and was the Entertainment Manager for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Uzume Taiko
Performance: Get ready for an energetic show filled with a variety of drum-playing styles, exciting rhythms, and irresistible beats! Uzume Taiko drummers perform choreographed martial arts based taiko drum songs. The show includes some history of the instruments in rural Japan and how the ensemble drumming style "kumi-daiko" developed after the Second World War to become popular around the world. The drummers teach a taiko song using verbal notation and demonstrate the basic taiko drum stroke and martial arts stances used in taiko drumming. Their loud fusion of North American, Asian, and European sensibilities captivates audiences of all ages.
Workshop: Uzume Taiko’s hands-on taiko drumming experience is a comprehensive introduction to taiko drumming, with all student taiko drum gear provided. Students engage in physical warm-up exercises, martial arts stance, vocal shouts, and drum-sticking techniques. Along with rhythmic drills, verbal notation, choreography, and group song playing, students develop listening and communication skills and learn about the respect and cooperation of taiko drumming. Workshops are tailored for elementary, middle, and secondary school settings.
Workshop Info: One-day duration.
Up to 7 Sessions per day (30-45 minutes each)
Maximum students per session:
56 Intermediate / 44 Primary
The Storyteller
The Trollsons are a magical and comedic family of Trolls from a fantastical forest. It's Grandpa Trollson's 200th birthday party, but he refuses to come out of his tree stump to celebrate! But with the help of the audience, Grandpa cannot resist the power of storytelling. Come deep into the forests of Scandinavia as four masked characters and a musician bring to life the folklore of trolls.
The Trollsons have been performing in theatres and entertaining at festivals and special events throughout Canada since 1995, as well as touring to Singapore, China, Japan, and South Korea.
