Blog Posts
 |
Cool and Crazy Dancing with dubD3000 the Hip Hop RobotWhere can you get hip hop, robots and clowns all in one place? Where else but ArtStarts on Saturdays! |
 |
One Woman Circus Rolls in with Thrills, Skills and GigglesThe March edition of ArtStarts on Saturdays featured a fun, interactive workshop with Sand Northup, the amazing One Woman Circus. Kids braved the thrilling Wheel of Death (!), spun plates and much more in this laughter-filled event. |
 |
African Drumming and Dancing with MaObong Oku, A true African Cultural ExperienceFor our February ArtStarts on Saturdays workshop series, we were pleased to present MaObong Oku. This was the second time we have had this amazing Nigerian born artist visit us for the ArtStarts on Saturdays series and she does not disappoint. |
 |
Music, Dance and Martial Arts, A True Visual Feast with Aché BrasilFor our January installment of ArtStarts on Saturdays workshop series, we were delighted to host Aché Brasil for a fun and engaging workshop where both parents and kids were clapping along and dancing to the drumming rhythms. |
 |
Imagination Play with Kathryn RickettsWe all had an entertaining morning and afternoon as artist and story teller, Kathryn Ricketts tells us a story through her imagination, physical gestures and interactive performances. Kathryn's method of storytelling is to get children and families excited about the content, in this case Dr Suess, and relate in a physical way so that everyone has a deeper experience beyond listening to a story. |
 |
Multi-talented puppeteer and ventriloquist Kellie HainesWe all enjoyed a fun and laughter filled puppet adventure on our October ArtStarts on Saturday’s workshop series. Multi-talented puppeteer and ventriloquist Kellie Haines invited us to join an amazing space expedition along with her friends Magrau the bird and Kamilla the frog. |
 |
Around the World with Boris SichonFor our Septemeber ArtStarts on Saturday’s workshop, we had the pleasure of hosting Boris Sichon for an amazing musical experience that kept us all captivated. |
 |
Gitksan teachings with the Dancers of DamelahamidThe ArtStarts gallery enjoyed a full day of song and dance when the Dancers of Damelahamid joined us at our monthly performance workshop series. Dressed in their distinctive red and black button blankets and intricately carved and painted masks, they shared stories of their ancestral origins and ancient stories with the lucky group that had gathered that day. |
 |
Drumming with a Smile and Fana SoroMay’s installment of our free workshop series was a big hit, with record numbers of kids (and kids at heart) taking part in an African drumming workshop led by master drummer, Fana Soro. Some of the kids made it down after having seen Fana perform at their school in the past. |
 |
Laughter and Silly-ness with DuffleBag TheatreOur most recent installment of the ArtStarts on Saturdays series saw the gallery filled with laughter, silly-ness, and grownups in funny costumes, as DuffleBag Theatre presented their interactive version of the classic fairy tale Cinderella. |
 |
TapCo. comes to ArtStarts on SaturdaysA record number of mums, dads and little ones came out to enjoy the rhythmic styling of TapCo.’s youth ensemble at our March installment of ArtStarts on Saturday. Eight talented, young dancers shared four exciting pieces with the audience, taking time throughout to share bits of information on the history and technique of the dances. |
 |
Haida Stories with Roberta KennedyParents and children were captivated by the words of Haida storyteller, Roberta Kennedy (Kwii-Ge-Ii-Wans), who recently joined us for ArtStarts on Saturdays. |
 |
Funny Bamboo Music was made by all!The ArtStarts gallery was recently filled with the sound of laughter, applause and “Funny Bamboo Music” when Khac Chi joined us for ArtStarts on Saturdays! |
 |
Clowning Around with Dianna DavidArtStarts recently hosted the incredibly talented and mad-cap clowning, miming and dancing antics of Dianna David in its downtown gallery as part of ArtStarts on Saturdays. |
 |
Singing and Dancing with Will StroetThis Haloween weekend, we had the pleasure of hosting a crowd of little monsters, dinosaurs, giraffes, bumble bees plus their mums and dads at our most recent ArtStarts on Saturdays workshop with Will Stroet! |
 |
Hoop Dancing with Teddy AndersonIn honour of Culture Days and the opening of our new exhibition, ArtStarts showcased two interactive workshops by traditional First Nations Hoop Dancer Teddy Anderson as part of our ArtStarts on Saturdays series. Teddy's moves, which sometimes had him spinning up to 20 hoops at one time, captivated the audience. |
 |
Wild Things, Wild Play with Kathryn RickettsRoaring, stomping, clapping, dancing. Kids and parents had lots of fun acting like monsters at our latest ArtStarts on Saturdays workshop! Kathryn Ricketts stopped by the gallery space on June 26th to lead two interactive storytelling workshops based on Maurice Sendak's classic tale, Where the Wild Things Are. |
 |
Taiko Drumming with Bonnie SoonBonnie Soon stopped by the Artstarts gallery on Saturday to lead two lively Taiko drumming workshops. Using garbage can as drums, kids and parents learned the basic stance and movements involved in Taiko drumming, and also did some fun vocal shouts! |
 |
Instrument Fun with The KerplunksAward-winning band The Kerplunks visited ArtStarts today to deliver a fun-filled musical performance. The 4 talented members taught the audience about a variety of instruments, including bass, guitar, trumpet, trombone, banjo, drums, and even kazoo! |
 |
Sudnya Mulye at the ArtStarts GallerySudnya Mulye visited the ArtStarts Gallery on Saturday for a workshop on Indian Dance. Kids and parents learned about the classical dance style Bharata Natyam, exploring Indian culture and tradition through this expressive medium. |
 |
Drumming with Milton RandallSaturday marked another action-packed ArtStarts on Saturdays workshop. Milton Randall dropped by to teach kids & parents about the language of drumming. Participants got a workout and practiced their counting skills as they banged on their individual drums. |
 |
Sing-along with Bobs & LoloAfter a month in hiatus, the ArtStarts on Saturdays series is off to a great start in 2010. In record breaking numbers, families poured into the ArtStarts gallery for a performance by popular local artists, Bobs and Lolo. Kids sang and danced to a number of songs, using movement and imagination to celebrate the natural world. |
 |
More photos of African Dance!Here are some more photos from our exciting African Dance workshop with Maobong Oku. Many thanks to Lia Margueratt for documenting the event. |
 |
African Dance with MaobongThe ArtStarts Gallery was packed on Saturday for two invigorating African Dance workshops with Maobong Oku. Kids and parents got a workout as Maobong led them through a series of different dances that celebrate Nigerian culture. |
 |
Halloween with Max-i-MimeHalloween was an opportunity to get creative and act out some fun and spooky characters at the ArtStarts Gallery this weekend. Max-i-mime started off our free Saturday workshop with a hilarious performance, demonstrating how to tell an expressive story without using any words. |
 |
Michael Mitchell gets kids dancing to songs about Canadian history!Seasoned children's performer Michael Mitchell visited the ArtStarts gallery on Saturday to perform some songs about Canadian history! He got kids stomping around like prehistoric dinosaurs, paddling an imaginary canoe through the Land of the Silver Birch, and waltzing like Log-Drivers on the Ottawa river. |
 |
SWARM takes ArtStarts by storm!What an exhilarating performance by Vancouver's very own hyper- kinetic percussion troupe SWARM! The group offered a unique hands on experience filled with fun, music and movement. Kids learned action drumming using funky recycled instruments such as rubber tubing, garbage can drums and even rubber duckies and chickens. Parents and kids leaving the event told us it was a blast, so awesome, and that they i loved it all! |
 |
Traffic Saftey for everybody!Once again, kids, parents and grandparents joined us for another successful Saturday event featuring the dynamic and playful, Major Conrad Flapps. His“Traffic Safety Show” parodies hip-hop and rap as Flapps demonstrates the right and wrong ways to cross the street. |
 |
They sang, they danced, they played!Children and parents were captivated by popular children's entertainer Art Napolean at the ArtStarts in Schools Saturday series on June 27th. Art's performance was fun and interactive, which kept the audience interested as he playfully taught kids Cree chants, drumming and traditional stories ending in a friendship dance. |
 |
Joe Ink moves it!Both children and parents shook it up and stretched it out at the May 30th Move it Show. The Joe Ink workshop was stimulating and interactive for kids and allowed their parents to bring out their inner child as they joined in the live dance performance. Energetic lead dancers Jacci and Barb encouraged everyone to be a "super dancer" as they coached participants to follow the magic hand, do the robot or paint the bubble. |
 |
Free performing arts workshops for familiesStarting January 31st, ArtStarts is presenting a free performance series for families in Vancouver's downtown area. "ArtStarts on Saturdays" will kick off with a workshop by circus artist Sand Northrup AKA One Woman Circus, who will introduce youngsters to circus skills including feather balancing, juggling, rola bola and plate-spinning. |
