Author: Bizz Varty

Feb 26
Choreographer & dancer: Carley Stastny (Toronto/London)

Inspired by the events of 26/02/17. Simple solo incorporating multimedia elements and text based soundscape. Themes of self and singularity/humans as individual entities to be explored.

Beginning her training in London, Ontario, Carley studied at the Jo Read’s school of Dance. Carley has recently graduated from Ryerson University’s Performance Dance program and has since been pursuing her performance career in a variety of ways. She has had the privilege of working with many artists and choreographers including MADboots, James Kudelka, Hanna Kiel, Robert Desrosiers and Kate Hilliard. Currently, Carley is onstage at the 2017 Stratford Festival as well as continuing to develop her own work and explore different performance opportunities. Her vested interest in and passion for both performance and creation keep her ambitiously exploring her role in and method of creative process.

Padmavathi Pravesa Daruvu
Choreographer: Padmasri Dr. Sobha Naidu
Dancer: Yamini Kalluri

Young princess Padmavathi is with friends in her garden. She is yet to fall in love and describes her dream lover who is supposed to be Lord Vishnu. She talks about how her youth is increasing her desire to join her potential lover. She fantasizes to be beside lord Vishnu enjoying the luxury of riding on Garuda Vahana (Eagle).

Yamini Kalluri is a young upcoming Kuchipudi dancer based in Hyderabad, India. She has been practicing this dance form for more than ten years now. She has been under the tutelage of the legendary guru, Padmasri Dr. Sobha Naidu. Yamini is known for her grace, agility and uncompromising perfection. She has evolved into a fine dancer and created a fresh style of technique for herself. She has been teaching Kuchipudi for over 7 years now. Although young in age, her ambition and passion towards this dance form is immense. She aims to bring a new face to Kuchipudi. Her guru strongly believes that Yamini will be continuing her legacy and bring further glory to Kuchipudi. With all her support and blessings. Yamini has performed in various prestigious festivals and venues across India and internationally. Performances: Konark Dance Festival, Konark. Khajuraho Dance Festival, Khajuraho. Cuttack International Dance Festival, Cuttack. Margazhi Season, Chennai. Natyanjali Festival, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Chennai. Indradhanush Dilli Festival, Delhi. Nrittaradhana Dance festival, Kochi. Naadaneerajanam, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam. Tanisha Yuva Natyotsav, Kuchipudi Village.Siliconandhra International Kuchipudi Dance Convention, Hyderabad etc. Footprint Dance Festival, University of Roehampton, London. Birmingham Balaji Temple, Birmingham, May 2016. Drive East Dance Festival, New York City, August 2016. ISKON TEMPLE, Raleigh, North Carolina, September, 2016. Balaji Temple, San Antonio, Texas, September 2016. St Petersburg, Russia, May 2017.

Young
Choreographer: Ashlyn Carwana (London)
Dancers: Sydney Ross, Aly McKone, Mackenzie Adams, Adrienne Pepper, Ashlyn Carwana

A piece about wanting to run, jump, laugh,cry, drop everything and return to whats familiar. Maybe we don’t want anything to change, maybe we don’t want anything to be different. Maybe we don’t want to leave but staying feels even worse. It’s these decisions that seem to follow us our whole lives. Watch us figure out how to grow up, watch us make decisions nobody told us we had to make. Created as adults, danced as children. We are excited, we are terrified, we are YOUNG.

Ashlyn Carwana is a local emerging artist excited to share her first piece with the public. Ashlyn has been dancing at Sound in Motion studio for 6 years, and is trained in Jazz, Acro, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical and Modern dance styles.

Eternally Young
Choreographers: Julie Mytka & Melisa Boose
Dancers: Clare Bennett, Nayli Deleon Kantule, Amber Graham, Hannah Granite, Madason Hale, Maya Hall-Hinds, Mikayla Hardie, Eva Howe, Julia Howe, Maryn Kelly, Eva Langlois, Emily McManus, Reegan Ruddock.

This piece looks at the elements of life and aging by how we feel and what we experience. It explores themes of loss, that can happen at any age, but also the idea that youth and vitality are an ageless mindset.

Sound in Motion is the collaborative passion of directors Julie Mytka and Avery Brown. After both had worked in performing and teaching contracts all over Canada and internationally, they recognized the benefits of bringing music and dance training under one roof. Joining this duo is a dynamic group of professional instructors to deliver engaging classes for students of all experience levels. More than music and dance, Sound in Motion is a community studio, helping to raise tomorrow’s leaders by giving them all of the benefits that performing arts studies provide.

LDF 2017 – Throwback to July 1 Canada Day Celebration. Great & supportive audience at the Flash Mob performance. The dance community joyfully dancing under the rain. #LDF2017FlashMob #everybodyhavingfunonarainyday #ldnont

Aftershock
Choreographer: Abbey Richens (London)
Dancers: Abbey Richens, Gwen Logan, Jenna Hills and Dharby Harrison

It’s the moment when you are in between before and now, nothing will ever be the same, but in this moment you are still and silent. Experiencing a traumatic event leaves you wounded physically but much more emotionally. It is not a process, but rather a journey, to slowly stand up and find a soft spot on the ground. Aftershock explores a way to heal through unity and time. Though we can find ourselves in terrible situations instantly, it take months, even years to recover from it. Aftershock is a journey not only with those whom you love deeply, but also deeper and deeper within yourself. It’s the moment when all is lost and in chaos but you still remain standing.

Abbey Richens, an aspiring artist creating vision through movement. Abbey currently trains at Sound in Motion dance studio and studies as an enriched dance student at H.B Beal Secondary. From a young age Abbey was constantly moving and had a passion for imagination. Abbey wants to keep imagination alive, specifically through movement, and tell a story.

The public explored the rise and fall of the breath inspiring natural movement. A fun and revitalizing experience!

At London Salsa Dance Company (LSDC), we strive to develop four fundamental attributes – creativity, passion, confidence, and the building of community. We use Latin dance and music to develop our students’ full potential as great, confident dancers and individuals. We are more than a dance studio. We are an open community that encourages, communicates, and supports one another through the vibrant sounds and movements of Latin music. We become a family; a family that has a love for dance, meeting new people, and leaving our hearts on the dance floor.
Festival videos will be available soon!

June 30, 2017: Community Day. The dance community enjoyed learning this fascinating Indian classical dance workshop. #TBLDF2017#LoveDance

Choreographer: Kristen Carcone and dancers
Dancers: Adrianna & Isabella Di Liello

This piece is a conversation between two sisters and a celebration of their artistic commitment to each other as duet partners. The choreographer worked collaboratively with the dancers to commemorate their last duet together within the context of pre-professional work.

Adrianna DiLiello has been performing for audiences since she was five years old. She has and continues to train as an actress, dancer, and vocalist. Adrianna made her foray into the industry at age nine when she auditioned for and secured a lead role in cult favorite “Stage Fright” opposite Minnie Driver, Meat Loaf, and others. This was quickly followed by her leading role and Emmy Nominated performance on Amazon’s “Annedroids”. She’s also guest starred in projects such as animated series “SuperWhy”, “Lunch Box Loser”, “Saving Hope”, and was recently seen performing in the Hallmark film “Nutcracker Christmas”. In addition,to “Annedroids”, Adrianna can be seen as Jenna, a young ballerina on Disney’s “Backstage”, for which she just finished filming the second season.

Isabella Di Liello began her dance education at an early age, training extensively in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, improvisational technique and composition. In addition to her formal training she has assisted renowned choreographers at Intrigue Dance Intensive across the United States. Other credits include performing in W. Darling’s (Universal Music Canada) music video for “Skeletons”, a lead role in her music video for “I’ll Keep Waving” and dance performance in Family Channel’s (Disney worldwide) original family drama, “Backstage”.
Most recently she completed training in New York City with the New Jersey Dance Theatre’s Pre-Movement Invention Project with esteemed faculty and founder Alexandra Wells (The Juilliard School), David Norsworthy (The Juilliard School/ TOES FOR DANCE), Andra Corvino (The Juilliard School) and Jenni Berthelot (Peter Chu).
During her gap year she will be training in Vancouver, British Columbia with Modus Operandi, a program under the direction of David Raymond & Tiffany Tregarthen (Kidd Pivot) and will be attending Gaga Movement intensives in both Los Angeles, California and Turin, Italy.