New Westminster's poet laureate is being featured at the next Spoken Ink night in Burnaby.
Candice James is the guest author for the Burnaby Writers' Society's reading series night, set for Tuesday, March 18 at La Fontana Caffe in North Burnaby.
James will read from Ekphrasticism - Painted Words, a book that combines her poetry with the art of Don Portelance.
James is a poet, writer, musician, singer-songwriter and visual artist, who has several poetry books to her credit - recent volumes includes Bridges And Clouds in 2011, Midnight Embers - a Book of Sonnets in 2012, and Shorelines in 2013.
She's also in her second three-year term as the city's poet laureate and has made herself known around the city and beyond through her work with the Royal City Literary Arts Society, the League of Canadian Poets, the Federation of B.C. Writers, Slam Central and more.
If you're interested in attending Spoken Ink, then drop in to La Fontana at 101-3701 Hastings St. for the 8 p.m. event. There will also be an open mike session - sign up at 7:30 p.m. if you'd like to take part.
Spoken Ink is presented by the Burnaby Writers' Society on the third Tuesday of each month (except summer). For more information, see www.burnabywritersnews.blogspot.com or contact [email protected].
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The Burnaby Art Gallery is giving Mandarin-speaking art lovers a chance to connect with its new exhibition.
Dong Yue Su will be on hand at the gallery on Saturday, March 22 to lead a Mandarin language gallery tour from noon to 1 p.m.
The tour will take in the current exhibition, Recent Acquisitions of First Nations and Inuit Prints, which is on at the gallery until April 6.
No registration is required, and the tour is open to all ages.
The Burnaby Art Gallery is at 6344 Deer Lake Ave. and is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Check out www.burnabyartgallery.ca for all the details, or call 604-297-4422 for more information.
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Whether you're an experienced dancer or believe you have two left feet, there will be something for you to enjoy at the first Lyrids Folk Dance Festival coming to Burnaby next month.
Burnaby International Folk Dancers just announced the festival, which will run April 25 to 27 at the Gizeh Centre at 3550 Wayburne Way.
A press release notes that participants will have a chance to learn new dances from Serbia and Turkey, with guest teachers Ahmet Luleci and Bata Marcetic. Balkan singing and drumming workshops and cultural sessions are also on offer throughout the weekend.
At a Saturday night dance party, Kafana Republik from Seattle will play the music of Eastern Europe.
You can take part in the whole weekend for $175, or sign up for individual sessions.
An on-site marketplace will sell music, costumes and more, and catered meals will be available featuring dishes from Serbia and Turkey.
Scholarships are available to youth, seniors and dancers in need.
"This festival welcomes new dancers and experienced dancers - there is something for everyone," the release says.
Call Dale at 604-496-4236 or see www.lyridsfolkdancefestival.org.
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