Vancouver Poet Laureate George McWhirter with Todd Wong at the BC Book Prize Soiree – photo Deb Martin
Author Archives: Todd
Our new dragon puppet toy! with Stephen Mirowski – photo Todd Wong
Origami pegasus – folded by Todd out of huge paper sheet normally used for table cloths at Dix – photo Deb Martin
Joy Kogawa shares an “orange moment” with her daughter Dee Dee – photo courtesy of Todd Wong
Joy Kogawa & family… her daughter, cousins, ex-husband, friends, and me – photo Todd Wong
Vancouver Sun: Dancer's Search for Cultural Identity – features Alvin Erasga Tolentino
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Vancouver Sun: Dancer's Search for Cultural Identity – features Alvin Erasga Tolentino
I first met
Alvin Erasga Tolentino about 6 years ago at the Vancouver Public Library. Alvin was starting up his new dance company Co. Erasga Dance
and he would use the computers in the Central Branch computer lab where
I worked at the time. We hit it off, and he invited me to some of
his shows… and over the years, I have both attended and reviewed some
of his works (see
Alvin Tolentino's “She Said” – featuring vibrant contemporary Dance)
He is considered one of the top Asian-Canadian dance choreographers.
This weekend he is featured at the Telus Studio Theatre in the Chan
Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC, on both Saturday evening and
Sunday afternoon.
Kevin Griffin,
Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, April 28, 2007
FIELD: LAND IS THE BELLY OF MAN
By Co. Erasga
Telus Studio Theatre in the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC
– – –
When
Alvin Erasga Tolentino was in the process of creating Field 1, eyebrows
were raised in the Philippines. Even the Filipino choreographer who
commissioned Tolentino was concerned about an outsider, who had lived
in North America for years, creating a dance work about rice, a food
staple utterly central to the way of life in the Philippines.
Tolentino,
however, was confident, trusting his intuition. On a trip home to the
country of his birth five years ago, he realized he had to find a way
to synthesize the years he spent learning ballet and modern dance in
Canada with the memories and feelings he had from growing up for the
first 12 years of his life in the Philippines.
“I had a huge, huge need to turn to my roots,” Tolentino said in an interview.
“I
was just beginning to understand who I was. So, I literally went back
to Asia to see where I came from and what was happening there.
“It
was an eye opener for me. I really began to formulate in the structure
of my creation and my choreography about what it is like to integrate
that background, those roots, into what I know and into what I have
been transformed into in the Western world.
“Field is the result.”
Tolentino
is performing his reworked version of Field: 1, called Field: Land is
the Belly of Man, at the Telus Studio Theatre in the Chan Centre for
the Performing Arts at the University of B.C. tonight and Sunday.
Tonight's performance is pay-what-you-can in honour of International
Dance Day; Sunday's performance is a gala benefit at $50 a ticket for
the Multicultural Helping House Society.
After this weekend's
performances, Tolentino takes Field: Land to Toronto, Quebec City,
Montreal and Winnipeg. In August, Tolentino will be performing Field:
Land in the Philippines as well as in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The
multicultural and international journey of Field: Land started in
Tolentino's birthplace, Quezon City, part of sprawling metropolitan
Manila. As a youngster, he performed in traditional Filipino folk
dancing in elementary school but said one of his strongest memories of
dance was watching an aunt dance flamenco when he was five or six years
old.
The move from Asia to North America occurred because of his
mother, Zenaida, who arrived in Saskatoon to work as a seamstress. But
it took only one visit to Vancouver to convince her that West Coast
winters were preferable to the cold and snow of the Prairies.
In
Vancouver, Alvin, the eldest of three, attended Notre Dame high school.
Before graduation, he told his parents he wanted to leave the West
Coast to study dance at one of the country's centres of modern dance. On a
trip east, he visited Toronto and went to New York and Montreal, where
he immersed himself as much as possible in the world of modern dance.
Vancouver, Alvin, the eldest of three, attended Notre Dame high school.
Before graduation, he told his parents he wanted to leave the West
Coast to study dance at one of the country's centres of modern dance. On a
trip east, he visited Toronto and went to New York and Montreal, where
he immersed himself as much as possible in the world of modern dance.
Chairman George (Sapounidis) to Rock Beijing!
Chairman George (Sapounidis) to Rock Beijing!
“Chairman George” and “Toddish McWong” finally meet!
Read about “Toddish McWong meets George Sapounidis”
“Chairman George” and “Toddish McWong” finally meet!
Read about “Toddish McWong meets George Sapounidis”
George Sapounidis is a Greek-Canadian who sings in Mandarin
Chinese. He has become famous in China. In 2004, he was
featured in the CBC television performance special “Gung Haggis Fat
Choy.” In February of 2005, I met him when he came to do a Spring
Festival concert for a Chinese audience in the Vancouver suburb of
Burnaby. We hit it off immediately with our spontaneous wacky
sense of humours and living in the moment styles. George sent me
the invitation below…. obviously…. he's very excited.
Todd & George pose with Chinese dancers!INVITATION /
YAOQING:
YAOQING:
Friends ! Hope to see you in Beijing
for our performance.
for our performance.
George QiaoZhi from Canada
Call 13693364944 after April 29 .
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Ottawa, Canada April 15, 2007 CANADA'S CHAIRMAN GEORGE set to ROCK
BEIJING
RELEASE
Ottawa, Canada April 15, 2007 CANADA'S CHAIRMAN GEORGE set to ROCK
BEIJING
Performing at:
7th MEET IN
BEIJING International Cultural Festival 2007
April 30 – May 4, 2007 in
Beijing (Chaoyang Park)
7th MEET IN
BEIJING International Cultural Festival 2007
April 30 – May 4, 2007 in
Beijing (Chaoyang Park)
Apr.30 19:30–21:00
May.1
10:00–11:30
19:00–20:30
May.3 09:00–10:30
May.4 09:00—10:30
May.1
10:00–11:30
19:00–20:30
May.3 09:00–10:30
May.4 09:00—10:30
CHAIRMAN
GEORGE and the MINISTERS (photo attached) :
George
Sapounidis – vocal, guitar, bouzouki
Vince Halfhide – electric
guitar
Stuart Watkins – bass, backing vocal
Ross
Murray – drums
For performance details please call Zhu Dan at
13552287798 in Beijing (China Performing Arts Agency).
13552287798 in Beijing (China Performing Arts Agency).
George
Sapounidis and his Ottawa-based Canadian rock band Chairman George and the
Ministers have been invited
to Beijing to perform in one of China's biggest
international festivals this spring, the MEET IN BEIJING Cultural Festival
2007.
international festivals this spring, the MEET IN BEIJING Cultural Festival
2007.
Sapounidis and his band will perform
a combination of Chinese folkpop and Greek bouzouki blues. Their repertoire
also includes original songs written and performed by Sapounidis in Mandarin, as
well as Olympic-themed tunes. In addition to singing in Mandarin and
Greek, Sapounidis plays the guitar and the Greek bouzouki which resembles a
Xinjiang instrument called the Dongbula. In 2002 Sapounidis appeared solo
at the Festival for the first time.
a combination of Chinese folkpop and Greek bouzouki blues. Their repertoire
also includes original songs written and performed by Sapounidis in Mandarin, as
well as Olympic-themed tunes. In addition to singing in Mandarin and
Greek, Sapounidis plays the guitar and the Greek bouzouki which resembles a
Xinjiang instrument called the Dongbula. In 2002 Sapounidis appeared solo
at the Festival for the first time.
MEET IN BEIJING Cultural Festival 2007 is
a month-long gala featuring diversified cultural performances by artistic
troupes from around the world. Chinese performances by top-class arts groups
from different regions in China will also be included.
a month-long gala featuring diversified cultural performances by artistic
troupes from around the world. Chinese performances by top-class arts groups
from different regions in China will also be included.
The Festival is sponsored by the Ministry of
Culture of the People’s Republic of China, the Beijing Municipal Government and
the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and is organized by
the China Performing Arts Agency. The Festival has been held every May since
2000 and has attracted more than a hundred arts groups and exhibitions from all
over the world.
Culture of the People’s Republic of China, the Beijing Municipal Government and
the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and is organized by
the China Performing Arts Agency. The Festival has been held every May since
2000 and has attracted more than a hundred arts groups and exhibitions from all
over the world.
This will be the band's second visit to
China. In October 2006 they performed in Beijing's award-winning rock music
venue Yugong Yishan, at the Nanning International Folk Song Arts
Festival in Guangxi Province, and in Shenzhen.
China. In October 2006 they performed in Beijing's award-winning rock music
venue Yugong Yishan, at the Nanning International Folk Song Arts
Festival in Guangxi Province, and in Shenzhen.
Sapounidis also attended the 5th Shanghai Baoshan
International Folk Arts Festival as a solo performer. He was invited by Beijing Television to take part in the annual
performance competition for foreigners and participated in the CCTV4
program Tong Le Wu Zhou. He has submitted original songs for the song
competition for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He regularly lectures and
performs in schools and universities in Beijing. Sapounidis and his
band are based in Ottawa, Canada.
International Folk Arts Festival as a solo performer. He was invited by Beijing Television to take part in the annual
performance competition for foreigners and participated in the CCTV4
program Tong Le Wu Zhou. He has submitted original songs for the song
competition for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He regularly lectures and
performs in schools and universities in Beijing. Sapounidis and his
band are based in Ottawa, Canada.
For information contact :
1) George Sapounidis aka
“Chairman George”
Ottawa : 613 951
6439
Beijing : mobile
13693364944
Email : george_sapounidis@hotmail.com
“Chairman George”
Ottawa : 613 951
6439
Beijing : mobile
13693364944
Email : george_sapounidis@hotmail.com
www.chairmangeorge.com
www.cdbaby.com/sapounidis (purchase CD)
www.myspace.com/chairmangeorge (listen to interview, songs)
www.cdbaby.com/sapounidis (purchase CD)
2) Han Yi (Assistant to George Sapounidis)
Email : han_yi_1980@hotmail.com
3) Beijing : Winston Wang Xiuqin (Deputy
Director, China Performing Arts Agency)
Email
: wxq001@vip.sina.com
Director, China Performing Arts Agency)
: wxq001@vip.sina.com
Mobile :
13701206798
13701206798
————————————————-
About Chairman George and the
Ministers (Ottawa,
Canada)
Ministers (Ottawa,
Canada)
Lead singer and musician George Sapounidis
(Chairman George) is a Chinese folk-singing sensation of Greek descent
who has appeared at international festivals across China, on stage at Beijing's
Forbidden City Concert Hall, the Great Hall of the People and for China Central
Television. He is a polyglot who sings in more than six languages. In 2005 he
was the subject of the award-winning CTV / BBC international television
documentary Chairman George. He was Olympic Torch-Bearer and National
Olympic Committee Assistant with the Chinese Delegation at the Athens 2004
Olympic Games. His CD release George from Athens to Beijing,
consisting of Chinese and Greek repertoire, was nominated for Best World Music
at the 2005 Canadian Folk Music Awards. He holds a Ph.D. in mathematical
statistics from the University of Toronto.
(Chairman George) is a Chinese folk-singing sensation of Greek descent
who has appeared at international festivals across China, on stage at Beijing's
Forbidden City Concert Hall, the Great Hall of the People and for China Central
Television. He is a polyglot who sings in more than six languages. In 2005 he
was the subject of the award-winning CTV / BBC international television
documentary Chairman George. He was Olympic Torch-Bearer and National
Olympic Committee Assistant with the Chinese Delegation at the Athens 2004
Olympic Games. His CD release George from Athens to Beijing,
consisting of Chinese and Greek repertoire, was nominated for Best World Music
at the 2005 Canadian Folk Music Awards. He holds a Ph.D. in mathematical
statistics from the University of Toronto.
Stuart Watkins (electric bass)
has performed at the Athens and Torino Olympics, in Hong Kong at the
international premiere of the film the DaVinci Code, and appears regularly with
the East Village Opera Company out of New York City. This was the house band for
the Miss USA 2006 pageant on NBC television and is currently set to perform in
Peru, South America. www.stuartwatkins.com
has performed at the Athens and Torino Olympics, in Hong Kong at the
international premiere of the film the DaVinci Code, and appears regularly with
the East Village Opera Company out of New York City. This was the house band for
the Miss USA 2006 pageant on NBC television and is currently set to perform in
Peru, South America. www.stuartwatkins.com
Vince Halfhide (electric guitar) is
originally from Trinidad and is of African, British and Japanese descent. He has
appeared on television and radio and has toured nationally and internationally
across Canada, the U.S. and in Europe as guitarist for many Canadian and
American artists.
originally from Trinidad and is of African, British and Japanese descent. He has
appeared on television and radio and has toured nationally and internationally
across Canada, the U.S. and in Europe as guitarist for many Canadian and
American artists.
Ross Murray (drummer) has been a professional
percussionist and drummer for more than 25 years. He has collaborated with
bands, composers, choreographers, and film makers across Canada and
internationally. He is also a well-known producer and recording engineer
in Canada.
CBC Radio Studio One Book Club: featuring Jen Sookfong Lee
CBC Radio Studio One Book Club: featuring Jen Sookfong Lee
The following is from CBC Radio's Sheila Peacock and the CBC Radio Studio One Bookclub website:
|
Jen Sookfong Wednesday May
The CBC Radio Studio One Book Club |
|
In celebration of ExplorASIAN 2007, the CBC Radio Studio One Book Club
is pleased to present Jen
Sookfong Lee on Wednesday, May 2, 6:30 to 8
pm, at the CBC Broadcast Centre.
is pleased to present Jen
Sookfong Lee on Wednesday, May 2, 6:30 to 8
pm, at the CBC Broadcast Centre.
Her debut novel The End of East
has been garnering great reviews from across the country. It's an
evocative portrait of three generations living in Vancouver's
Chinatown, spanning most of the last century.
Sammy Chan was sure she’d escaped her family obligations
when she fled Vancouver six years ago, but with her sister’s
upcoming marriage, her turn has come to care for their
aging mother. Abandoned by all four of her older sisters,
jobless and stuck in a city she resents, Sammy finds
herself cobbling together a makeshift family history
and delving into stories that began in 1913, when her
grandfather, Seid Quan, then eighteen years old, first
stepped on Canadian soil.
Here's your
opportunity to discuss the art of writing, and the struggles of young
writers, with one of Canada's newest literary stars!
The only way to get in, is to win!
For all the details and to enter online, go to www.cbc.ca/bc/bookclub .
check out these Links and reviews.
- Jen
Sookfong Lee’s website
- The
End of East is published by Knopf Canada - ExplorASIAN
2007 - New
Faces of Fiction - SpiN
Writing Group
March 23, 2007
“The End of East is just her start”
Jen Sookfong Lee profiled in 7 section of The Globe and Mail
March 22, 2007
“End of East chronicles immigrants' gamble”
The End of East reviewed in The Georgia Straight
March 22, 2007
“Vivid Vancouver”
The End of East reviewed in NOW Magazine
March 17, 2007
“Uprooted from Vancouver”
The End of East reviewed in The Globe and Mail
March 10, 2007
Listen
to the archived conversation of SPiN talking with Sheryl
MacKay on North by Northwest at CBC Radio One's archive, www.cbc.ca/nxnw
Battery Opera April 27-29: FUSE, What the Hell, & Bob's Lounge
Battery Opera April 27-29:
FUSE, What the Hell, & Bob's Lounge
battery opera is an eclectic and creative duo surrounded by lots of
creative and elcectic friends. David McIntosh is of Scottish
descent, Lee Su-Feh is of Chinese descent… They are very neat people
that like to challenge the audience, as well as ensure that everybody
has a good time. Last year, Lee Su-Feh was listed in the
Vancouver Sun list of influential Chinese-Canadians. The Bob's Lounge
duor of David and Max performed at the 2005 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie
Burns Chinese New Year dinner event.
The following announcement is courtesy of battery opera
battery opera announcements: the revised version
A double-dose of Lee Su-Feh at FUSE!
Friday, April 27
6 to 11pm
$15 admission
Vancouver Art Gallery
1. Su-Feh is a Leaky Heaven Circus collaborator in this upcoming edition of FUSE.
With
Leaky Heaven Artistic Director Steven Hill at the helm, collaborators
Jamie Long, Tanya Podlozniuk, Lee Su-Feh and Billy Marchenski will be
set adrift in the House of Oracles. Designers Catherine Hahn and
Stephan Bircher will weave a landscape of sea and wreckage in which
gallery patrons can watch, play and chew the fat on this 3-hour tour.
You're sure to eat this show up!
Leaky Heaven Artistic Director Steven Hill at the helm, collaborators
Jamie Long, Tanya Podlozniuk, Lee Su-Feh and Billy Marchenski will be
set adrift in the House of Oracles. Designers Catherine Hahn and
Stephan Bircher will weave a landscape of sea and wreckage in which
gallery patrons can watch, play and chew the fat on this 3-hour tour.
You're sure to eat this show up!
2. Su-Feh has also created a piece called “Welcome to all the Pleasures” featuring performers
Ali Robson, Amanda Sheather, Alana Gerecke, Stacey Murchison, Amber
Funk Barton, Billy Marchenski, Joseph Jurd, Chris Wright & Chengxin
Wei. If you've seen any of the exquisite candle dances at various Bob's
Lounge gigs, you won't want to miss this!
Ali Robson, Amanda Sheather, Alana Gerecke, Stacey Murchison, Amber
Funk Barton, Billy Marchenski, Joseph Jurd, Chris Wright & Chengxin
Wei. If you've seen any of the exquisite candle dances at various Bob's
Lounge gigs, you won't want to miss this!
For the full listing of FUSE events, please visit
What the hell?
Saturday to Sunday, April 28 to 29
1 – 3 pm
Free
In association with The Dance Centre
A series of dance interventions an happenings instigated by battery opera in celebration of International Dance Day.
Dance
is injected into the midst of life with encounters small and large –
puzzles, amusements and celebrations that sneak up and sprout up on
street corners around downtown.
is injected into the midst of life with encounters small and large –
puzzles, amusements and celebrations that sneak up and sprout up on
street corners around downtown.
Performers
are Amanda Sheather, Alana Gerecke, Stacey Murchison, Amber Funk
Barton, Billy Marchenski, Joseph Jurd & Chris Wright. Choreography
by Lee Su-Feh.
are Amanda Sheather, Alana Gerecke, Stacey Murchison, Amber Funk
Barton, Billy Marchenski, Joseph Jurd & Chris Wright. Choreography
by Lee Su-Feh.
Locations to be announced at www.batteryopera.com
For the full listing of International Dance Day events, please visit
Bob's Lounge
Saturday, April 28
8 until late
No cover, no regrets
Café Montmartre (Main St @ 28th Ave)
Featuring David McIntosh (vocals), Max Murphy (baritone saxiphone), Finn Manniche (cello) & Ben Brown (percussion).
With special guest artists Amber Funk Barton, Sarah Brown, Adrienne Wong & MACHiNeNOiSeY.
Described
as “a louche supergroup”, Bob’s Lounge is at once a highly portable
creative practice, an experimental production format, and a platform
for inclusion and collaboration. Bob's Lounge has appeared in cafés,
clubs, living rooms, roof tops, art galleries and theatres. Guest
artists have included dancers, actors, schuplattlers, sopranos, and
Veda Hille.
as “a louche supergroup”, Bob’s Lounge is at once a highly portable
creative practice, an experimental production format, and a platform
for inclusion and collaboration. Bob's Lounge has appeared in cafés,
clubs, living rooms, roof tops, art galleries and theatres. Guest
artists have included dancers, actors, schuplattlers, sopranos, and
Veda Hille.
Watch a video (or two) at
BC Book Prizes annual soirée: I love it… lots of literary connections and prizes!
BC Book Prizes annual soirée: I love it…
– lots of literary connections and prizes!
On Saturday, April 21, 2007, I attended the annual BC Book Prize Soirée at Vancouver
Lookout,
Harbour Centre. It is one of my favorite literary events of the
year. Now I can hardly wait for the actual BC Book Prizes Awards
Gala later this year…. check PHOTOS taken by Deb Martin and myself that are featured on the BC Book Prize Soiré website.
I love meeting up with my good friends in the BC literary community… and making new friends!
BC Book
Prize board member George McWhirter, recently named Vancouver's inaugural
poet laureate, was crowned with a laurel wreath and read a poem for
an appreciative crowd. (photo: Deb Martin)
I
introduced myself to George McWhirter who last year became Vancouver's
inaugural poet laureate. I also invited George to be a special
guest for next year's Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner – he was
thrilled. George told me that while he is “technically” born in
Ireland – his family has a generations long history crossing back and
forth between Ireland and Scotland. He even shared with me that
his daughter-in-law is Chinese from Singapore…. I think. I will
have to reconfer with George on that. When I joked about creating
a “McWong” tartan, George suggested that I could even use the term “Ma
Wong” which in Gaelic means “son of Wong” – but he also knew that “Ma”
was a chinese name meaning “horse.” “That's my mother's maiden
name!” I exclaimed… I think it will be a great 2008 Gung Haggis Fat
Choy dinner with Vancouver's first poet laureate.
Literary men about town, Todd Wong and Ian Chunn posed with BC Book
Prizes board member Ann-Marie Metten. (photo: Deb Martin)
Ann-Marie
Metten is a favorite liteary friend of mine. She is an editor for many
publishing houses and magazines in BC… and she is also the Secretary
for BC Book Prizes. And most important of all… we are two of
the coordinators for the Joy Kogawa House committee, working hard
throughout 2005 and 2006 to find ways to raise the profile of the Save
Kogawa House campaign and fundraise with The Land Conservancy of BC,
who were so impressed with the campaign, that they ultimately stepped
in to lead fundraising and eventually purchase Joy Kogawa House.
The silent
auction featured great stuff, including a gorgeous dragon puppet donated
by the BC Library Association, books, weekend getaways and much more. (photo: T. Wong)
Silent Auction prizes are always great at the BC Book Prizes Soiree. This beautiful red dragon donated by the BC Library Association was later picked up by Todd Wong to become a new member of the
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team… Red is definitely one of our
team colours.
BC Book
Prizes Executive Director Bryan Pike and Melanie Reid, successful
bidder of a signed Vancouver Canucks jersey. (photo: Deb Martin)
When
I put my $140 bid on the Canucks jersey, Melanie Reid warned me that
she would outbid me. It was a thrill to reconnect with my former
English Drama instructor from Capilano College. Last year, I met
up with Stan Perskey, my former Political Science instructor from
Capilano College who was also a Book Prize nominee.
|At the
end of the evening, Todd Wong showed off his successful bid sheets
with Executive Director Liesl Jauk and BC Book Prizes board president,
Michael Hayward. (photo: Deb Martin)
Other events for BC Book Prizes:
Monday, April 23, 2007
Vancouver reading event at Chapters on
Robson | 7 pm
April 23-27, 2007
BC Book Prizes On Tour: Southern
Leg PHOTOS
Kamloops | Salmon Arm | Vernon | Kelowna | Princeton
| Osoyoos | Oliver | Victoria
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Vancouver reading event at Wonder of Words
| 7 pm
Saturday, April 28, 2007
End of
BC Book and Magazine Week