Sept 18: Workshops & Dance Map

Saturday September 18
4-6pm Workshops for all levels 
6pm Live Performance
Location: Ivey Park, 331 Thames St.
FREE but donations are gratefully accepted.

This year registration is required (scroll down to register now!). Masks must be worn to enter the event site, but may be taken off once you are safely two meters from others in a designated audience or participant space.

4-5pm Partner Dance with Clara Gharibo

This workshop is for anyone looking to give partner dancing a try through a relaxed and informal style of social dance. This beginner friendly workshop is all about enjoying partnered movement together rather than meeting the criteria of a specific type of ballroom dance. You and your partner will be taught a dance step by step with room for your own interpretation that feels best for you. The main goal for this workshop is to have fun and try something new with your partner. This workshop is also a great introduction for those looking for something unique for their wedding first dance.

Clara is a dance educator and a certified Kids Yoga Instructor. She started CYouMove as a way to share her passion for dance, yoga and creative movement with people of all ages. Clara has trained at the competitive level in various dance styles (Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, and Hip Hop) from a young age. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with honours in Dance and a Bachelor of Education. Clara has many years of performance and choreography experience. Clara continues her training at ONE Dance Centre and enjoys performing with their sister company- La Compagnie De Danse. Clara is a committee member for the Pulse Ontario Dance Conference which is held bi-annually and aims to support dance education in Ontario schools. Clara is a firm believer in movement and dance being accessible to people of all ages and has over 10 years of teaching experience.

Learn more about CYouMove at https://www.cyoumove.com/

5-6pm Bellydance Basics with Luna of Rising Moon Bellydance
Live music by Light of the East Ensemble

Bellydance Workshop with Luna by Mark Spowart

Learn the foundational steps and movements of the ancient art of Bellydance. Luna will take you through a series of slow, fast and traveling steps from hip circles, figure eights, arms and hands patterns to pops, locks and shimmies! 

Luna grew up in Colombia, South America, and moved to London, Ontario in 2003 where she started taking bellydancing classes with various master instructors. Through the years, she developed a passion for this art and it is what she loves to do. She enjoys performing, developing choreographies, and exploring the various bellydance styles and fusions. Since 2012, she has been teaching in London. She is the founder of Rising Moon Bellydance and has performed as a soloist and with her troupe in various festivals and events in Ontario and the US.

Learn more about Luna at www.risingmoonbellydance.com

Interactive Dance Map

All day Saturday! See our first-ever Dance Map be created by local artists Carrie A. Black and Angela Van Velzer and then groove your way around the park following the map’s movement suggestions. Then finish with a selfie by the LDF sign and tag us @ldndancefest!

Angela Van Velzer

Art gives me freedom.   This freedom comes from being able to let my mind, soul and body be creative.  My art is a reflection of how I continue to grow in life both as a person and artist.  I have always been creative.  I attended York University majoring in Visual Arts and minoring in Set Design.  Work included being a merchandiser, an usher at Pantages Theatre and a set designer for a private performing arts school in Toronto.  Deciding to go back to school for Interior Design opened many more opportunities.  After completing my education, my career began as a commercial designer then as a custom cabinet designer at Continental Cabinets in London.  

My life is now filled with the laughter of our three children, and my supportive husband.  The growth of our family has brought me back to my childhood – back to a life much simpler.  Our favourite pastimes involved messy hands, paint, glue and lots of paper.  

A new path was explored involving art studios and classrooms teaching anyone and everyone how to play with art. I have had the privilege to work with other artists and art educators through many organizations and companies in London including Spectrum, FTLA, the London Arts Council, Museum London, the London Children’s Museum and Participation House.  My teachings allowed me to see how all ages from 18 months to 88 year olds and all abilities thrive on creating with our hands and showing what is in our hearts.  

I am always open to the multitude of possibilities as an artist.  Chalk art is a new found love as of this summer allowing me to be out in nature and become one with nature as I look for little hints around me of how I can bring more life into a single drawing with chalk.  We all seek out connections with people and the world around us as we are inspired and challenged by our environments.  Art is my connection.