Want to improve your English skills? Love to sing? Kevin Takahide Lee has just the place for you.
Lee, who was featured in the NOW last year, is once again leading a Newcomers' Choir in Burnaby.
The choir is open to anyone over the age of 19 who would like to improve their English language skills or their singing skills - or both. It's designed to help break down generational and cultural barriers
Lee brings to the table an impressive resume in education and performance, including a bachelor's degree in opera performance from UBC and a master's in voice performance from the University of Western Ontario.
If you're interested, check out www.miusc.ca (yes, that's m-i-u-s-c, for "music with a twist") or email [email protected].
The choir is expected to start meeting on Saturday, Oct. 4 - rehearsals are expected to be from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. on Saturdays (except Thanksgiving weekend) at Edmonds Community Centre. (There's a chance they may be Fridays from 6:30 to 7:30, so contact Lee to confirm ahead.)
If you want to read more about Kevin, check out the previous profile on the NOW's website.
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A Burnaby dancer is taking her place amongst the world's best again this year.
Caroline Kiddie, a student at Douglas Ballet Academy, has been accepted into Team Canada West for the second year in a row and will represent the country in ballet and modern dance at the International Dance Organization world championships in Poland in December.
The IDO world championships, which run from Dec. 7 to 14, draw top dancers from more than 90 countries around the world and are described as the "Olympics of dance."
Caroline has been named to the junior large ballet group, small ballet group and small modern group and will also be competing in the ballet solo category.
Last year, the junior team - of which Caroline was a member - won two gold medals in ballet, placed fourth for large jazz group and sixth for large modern group.
A press release notes that Caroline and her teammates are already rehearsing intensively every weekend in preparation for the competition. On top of that Team Canada commitment, Caroline attends the half-day pre-professional training program at Douglas Ballet Academy, studying ballet, contemporary, lyrical and jazz. She's also in Grade 10 French immersion at Moscrop Secondary School.
Caroline is also fundraising for her trip to Poland - which costs $3,600, plus costumes, for each dancer. She's selling Team Canada pins, planning a dance-a-thon, applying for arts scholarships and seeking sponsorships from businesses. She'll also be part of a fundraising gala for Team Canada on Saturday, Nov. 29 at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster.
Contact [email protected] or head choreographer [email protected] if you're interested in sponsoring Caroline and other Team Canada dancers.
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Is there a novel inside you just bursting to get out onto the page?
The Burnaby Public Library is hoping to encourage teens to get writing with a new contest for fall.
A Novel Idea runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, and it's designed to encourage writing for National Novel Writing Month in November.
Participants are asked to submit the first chapter of their original novel to any branch of the Burnaby Public Library, or email them to [email protected] with the subject line "First Chapter Submission."
The contest is open to teens in grades 8 through 12, with two categories: younger teens for grades 8 and 9, and older teens for grades 10 to 12. Winners will receive a $50 Metropolis at Metrotown gift certificate and will be published on the library's website.
Each writer can submit a maximum of two entries. First chapters must be no more than 2,500 words long and must have a title.
Check out the website for all the requirements.
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Here's a fun one for local families.
The Burnaby Arts Council is hosting a public workshop this weekend - on Saturday, Sept. 27 - led by its artist in residence, Janet Wang.
The workshop, which starts at 1 p.m., is free and open to all people aged five and up.
"For centuries, artists have used "cameras" or optical devices to help draw the world around them. Today, we often rely upon digital devices to capture images of the environment around us," a workshop write-up notes.
Workshop participants will paint and decorate their own viewing frame and learn how to compose a landscape drawing using their tool.
The workshop is part of the Culture Days fun that's taking place in various locations around the city. For a full listing of other Culture Days events, check out www.culturedays.ca and search for Burnaby.
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Are you an artist looking for a place to show your work?
The Deer Lake Gallery has issued a call to artists for its 2015 exhibitions.
The Burnaby Arts Council's gallery is looking for "dynamic artists to showcase a diverse selection of all mediums," according to a call from the gallery.
Artists can apply online at www.burnabyartscouncil.org, or send an email to [email protected] for further details.
The application deadline is Oct. 31.
Incidentally, if you haven't stopped in to check out the current exhibition, Deer Lake Gallery is at 6584 Deer Lake Ave., and it's open Monday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. At the moment the gallery is showing Discerning Nature, featuring work by its artist in residence, Janet Wang. That show is on until Oct. 4.
Call 604-298-7322 for information.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ides to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
