The Ottawa Stilt Union is a bilingual group of artists committed to bringing the magical and the unexpected into the daily lives of people in the National Capital Region through the creation and performance of stilt-based theatre works and through the teaching of workshops in that art form.

 The Ottawa Stilt Union (OSU) was founded in early 2007, when members participated in the The Snow Show, East o’ the Sun, West o’ the Moon, co-produced by the National Arts Centre and the Caravan Farm Theatre.

 In the spring of 2007, the company created Beowulf, adapted and directed by Laura Astwood, a co-production of OSU, the Magnetic North Theatre Festival, and the University of Ottawa Theatre Department. This play was performed at the University of Ottawa during the Magnetic North Theatre Festival and also in Andrew Haydon Park later that summer as part of the City of Ottawa’s cultural programming.

 In the summer of 2008, the members of the Ottawa Stilt Union collaborated on the creation of the show This is a Very Old Story / C’est une vieille histoire, a performance exploring conflict in history. This show was created in June 2008 for the Ottawa Fringe Festival and was also presented at festivals and community events in Ottawa and Wakefield.                                                                                                                             

In January 2009, the All Saints Anglican Church in Sandy Hill very generously lent its hall for the rehearsal of the company’s most recent show. The Girl Who Was Eaten by the Dark, by Laura Astwood, translated to French by Élise Gauthier and Guy Marsan, tells the story of a girl who is afraid of the dark.  She learns to overcome her fear when she spends a long night confronted by mythical creatures that emerge from the darkness. This show has been performed in both English and French to happy audiences around the National Capital Region. Since its opening in Gatineau during the Canadian Museum of Civilization’s opening celebrations of the exhibit Mythical Beasts in May 2009, the play has been performed at the Festival Franco-Ontarien, the Ottawa Fringe Festival, the Wakefield Piggy-Back Fringe, in the Catskills in New York State, at Ottawa’s Lumière Festival and at Riverfest in Kanata.

 The OSU are currently developing their new work, Searching For Snails/A la récherche des escargots, to première in spring 2011.
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BLUE DRAGON  Anjali and Company

Masks, spectacular costumes and cymbals, are used to tell the story of the
Blue Dragon.

When the world was young, Dragons ruled from their great mountain castles,
high in the sky.

Now only a few are left, hidden in dark caves. Dragons confer good luck.
Mahakala, a Sorceress, an Expositor and their tiny mascot will perform the
rites with cymbals and dancing that summon the Blue Dragon to appear and
bless the Lumi?re festival. When he appears the audience is invited to seek
the blessing of the Blue Dragon.

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Anjali (Dr Anne-Marie Gaston) is an internationally recognized Indian
Classical Dancer, choreographer, scholar, teacher and photographer. All of
her training has been in India with some of the greatest hereditary masters.
She performs the classical styles of Bharata Natyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi,
Kathakali and Chhau. She lives and teaches dance in New Edinburgh.

Classical Indian Dance influences her original mixed media creative
choreography created in collaboration with other Ottawa visual artists,
musicians and dancers. In 2011 April 15-16 Anjali will present a new mixed
Media event: Classical and Court Dances of India and premiere Parikrama: the
Endless Journey at Arts Court Theatre 7.30 pm tickets 613 564-7240

She has been invited to perform a new mixed Media recital: A Dream of
Wilderness, in New Delhi, India in January 2011.
She has a doctorate from Oxford University in South Asian Art and Culture
(Sociology of Indian Performing Arts). She is a member of the InterCulture
Research Laboratory, University of Ottawa.
As artistic director of Cultural Horizons and in collaboration with
InterCulture, she created and produced The Dancing Shiva Project
(performance, booklet , DVD) which uses the arts to promote and encourage
cultural understanding

REVIEWS

On performance at 15-minute Fringe, New Delhi,

This is art without borders. Anjali and Tony [Gaston] are part of an
international group of artists whose artistic expression belongs to world
art. This is transnational work and resonates with diverse audiences be they
from India Canada or elsewhere. At this moment in history when trade
barriers are breaking down, these artists are speaking globally.

Kri, New Delhi, December 2005

On performance at Habitat Centre Performing Arts Series, New Delhi,

Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India considered it a privilege to host Anjali-
Dr. Anne-Marie Gaston’s concert “In Praise of Wilderness – Dancing Kyoto”
Any sensitive, thinking and concerned forum would benefit, in stature and
impact, to showcase this important work, that straddles the beauty of dance
and nature, while making a plea for caution.

Arshiya Seth, Director, Performing Arts Series, December 2002

On performance as part of the Crimson Coast Festival, Nanaimo, BC,

Clearly Anjali is an artist of international stature and we were very
fortunate to have included her offering as part of our festival. For
audiences here it was a revelation that the seamless interweaving of Indian
dance, images, music and poetry can be artistic, spiritually moving, fun and
accessible to people of a wide variety of backgrounds and ages.

Holly Bright, Artistic Director, Crimson Coast Festival, Nanaimo, September
2007

On performance at National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bangalore,

It was a multi-sensual delight that passed on the message in several dance
forms. It was a unique synthesis of art and science Deccan Herald,
Bangalore, India December 2008

CBC ARTS CRITIC ALVINA RUPRECHT

OTTAWA ARTS COURT THEATRE RECITAL

One of the pieces I found particularly interesting of this group was Nava
Rasa, based on the Kathakali traditional. Anjali showed us how the nine
different emotions are signified by the body, showing how for example a
particular twist of the foot, a particular shift of the eye, a turn of the
fingers can indicate rage or sorrow or fear and so on. In other words the
dancer becomes a kind of living hieroglyphic performing a precise language
which can be read as a story if you can read the body signs.

There were also the percussions all sorts of intricate rhythms, the
traditional instruments and the beautiful costumes

“An evening with Anjali is a special experience, she will be back in Ottawa
soon and when she comes, do try to see her, you will not only enjoy yourself
but you will learn an enormous amount about all these traditions”. Alvina
Ruprecht CBC Arts Reporter

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The Lumière Festival embraces the returning Fire Weavers- a sure delight!

(photo by Kevin Daly)
The Fire Weavers are a world-class fire dancing trio. Flowing with the energy of dancing flames, three women weave illuminated patterns in a breathtaking performance of dance and fire artistry. The graceful movement and the hypnotic effect of skillfully manipulating fire create an original form of dance that keeps the audience mesmerized.

Mini Cirque

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Fairy Light Piece

Fairy Light weaves dance, music, candlelight and the environment into a magical experience that transcends linear time and place.

Choreographer Natasha Royka and her performance group PhOOM! (Potentially Haphazard Objects of Motion), work to transport the viewer into a world of magic and alternative reality. www.blackcatbutterfly.blogspot.com

Natasha Royka, Concept & Choreography

Olivier Prud’homme, Musician & Composer

Dancers, Johanna Coutts, Madeleine Jullian, Jennifer Bezaire & Natasha Royka

Experience the joy and wonder of real fairies – the fairies will set up their fairy alter and create a sound installation hung from trees. All items for the fairy altar and sound installation are found, recycled, used, a loving reminder of the value of good environmental stewardship.

Natasha Royka, Choreographer, is a dancer, choreographer, teacher and producer whose passion for movement and creation is not confined by borders. Originally from Boston, MA, Natasha trained in Classical Ballet and Contemporary, danced and taught there before discovering herself in Western Canada, where she began creating movement pieces based on the ideals of fine art (Natasha has a combined art/art history degree.).

Light is a recurring theme in Natasha’s work, one that she has been exploring through her experimentation with candlelight and movement in theatrical, liturgical and site specific settings. From the whimsical to the sacred, from the proscenium arch to an outside doorway, Natasha truly believes dance can be found everywhere in our lives.

She is currently owner/director of the DANCE/SPACE 637, Ottawa, and producer of the bi-annual contemporary dance series, Sanctuary Series.

Lisa has worked as a card reading psychic for Crystal Light Visions and taught various astrology, western and eastern, based on the I Ching as well as palmistry, numerology and colour therapy classes throughout Ontario. She has done natal charts, compatibility charts and predictive astrology.

Card reading; both Tarot and Mah Jongg will be available. The Ya Pai Shen Po; divination by Ivory blocks; Mah Jongg tiles will be read with Mah Jongg cards; a very soft yet accurate reading.

ladylisa@astrologywheels.ca

PHOTOGRAPHER
Denis Savoie, Photographer 2009
LANTERN INSTALLATIONS/ VISUAL ARTISTS
Ruth Richardson
Timothy Hunt
Dan Hughes
Tic Tock Tom
Michelle Petersen
Julie Cruikshank
Cosmo Guffa
Johannah Van Dyk
Ross Nicholson
POSTER DESIGN
Eric Chan
WEBMASTER
JWalker Design.ca
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Manon Doran
MUSIC*
Samba Ottawa
Acacia Lyra
Debbie Danbrook
Jesse Stewart
The Steve Groves Trio
Andy Daub
DANCE
Aguila o Sol
PhOOM!
Sakwiti: Sri-Lankan Dance
Xin Hua Dance
Anjali-Indian Classical Dance
Divine Image Dance
Canada China Art Association
ACROBATICS
The Ottawa Stilt Union
Dr. Kaboom’s Mini Mobile Circus
Fire Weavers
Mini Cirque
Jean-Guy
Alain Bard
MAGIC
SCDABE
PSYCHIC
Lady Lisa
STORYTELLER
Little Witch Press
Theatre
Lazzi Lazzi
PRESENTATION
Camellia Teas of Ottawa

Cosmo Guffa, host of Star Ring Attractions (http://sites.google.com/site/starringattractions/), loves to bring light to dark spaces. As the The Playful Geometer, he crafts lanterns of geomeric proportions using knowledge of sacred geometry to illuminate the minds of those who behold his “Spacecrafts”. In the role of Cubeball the Magical Jester he fills spaces with laughter, wonder, and care as he freely roams places of celebration sharing his love of circus, clowning, and dance.

Past art works
Umi Cafe – March 2009 – present
Lumiere Festival 2008
Ritual Nights – monthly, November 2008-present
Lumiere Festival 2007
Ottawa Pagan Pride Day – September 23rd 2007

Performance history
Various childrens birthday parties and busking performances, April 2008 – present
ArtsPark, May 11, 2008
Art in the Park, June 8-10, 2008
Om Reunion Festival 2008 & 2009
Space Gathering Festival 2008 & 2009
…and lifetimes of experience as a jester beyond this incarnation

Web address: http://sites.google.com/site/starringattractions/

The World’s Smallest Musical Riders! with self contained musical accompaniment. We also gladly Change the Guard for you or escort special guests or welcome dignitaries. We cater to all ages or language groups. The act is entirely mobile, so we are able to provide interactive entertainment for audiences that are stationary or on the move. A short video, dvd or vhs is available upon request.

At Ease!!!
Book the Renfrews now for your next event – ideal for corporate functions, client entertainment , birthdays – or as a complimentary or warm up act for a band or other events(…such as your very own backyard cabaret, circus or vaudeville show, retirement party, wedding party or stag…) We’ll come to your frontdoor!!! Comedy you can afford not to miss…

The Renfrews!
(Blake Walters, Leo and Luc-Anne)
Ottawa, Canada.
Phone: 613-749-2391
therenfrews@therenfrews.com

Glass Artist & Head Mugwump
Jara Glassworks
www.jaraglassworks.ca

Traditionally Crafted with a Cutting Edge!

SARA JARVIS Artist of Light

Thaddeus Thomas is a Video Artist and Software Architect. Thaddeus has been creating intriguing video art for projection for a number of years, starting in Nova Scotia in 1999 where he produced a number of dance pieces with dancers as the projection surface.

He incorporates music, spoken word (sometimes) and natural sounds. Nearly every piece is generated through creative camera work and layers of analog editing of natural images. His subject matter consists of images of ground (driving along cliffs, or running over rocky surfaces), water (speed boating down Georgian bay, or sun sparkles on the ocean), fire (from the bonfire of human effigies, to the sparks from sparklers and fireworks). All of these images are slowed down, to see ‘the image between the frames’ and used as sources of projection upon the dancers. Through a digital/analog system he create a spiral life form, a mandala, representing life energy. The dancer interacts with this life form to keep it ‘alive’.

Recently Thaddeus and his daughter (10y), Kelli Hanrahan and Savanah Belcher produced Ocean Wave for the PEI Fringe Festival. Thaddeus has formed a video research laboratory, VLab, and invented a new Media format, coded named VT. He has designed and built; a system for real-time data streaming (using a distributed multi-threaded multicast engine) that is ideally suited to the distribution of large data sets from hundreds of cameras to literally millions of users. The system is ideally suited for streaming live video events, such as theatre, concerts and sporting events. This system is unique in that it allows the end user to be the director, to ‘drive’ the cameras, allowing the users to decide where they want to go.

Thaddeus loves making Vart (video art) and performs weekly at the Mercury lounge with an all electronica band. He lives out, out, out, way out in the country were unfortunately it seems no one can find him.

Thaddeus Thomas
VLab Inc, Founder
email: thaddeus@vlab.ca
lab: 819 457 9183
web: www.VLab.ca