5 Oct
Here are some of the stimulating events we have found so far. Please let us know of others.
Azerbaijani Dance Café. Saturday October 15. $5-$10. Spend a social evening at the OFDA Café. Enjoy International Dancing and a Potluck Supper. Bring your favourite recipe (with enough for at least 8 servings). Find out where Azerbaijan is located.
Dancing will start at 6 pm. Potluck supper at 6:30 pm. Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen Street East, east of Broadview at Saulter; elevator to 2nd floor, free parking available on side streets. Info: e-mail ontariofolkdancers@gmail.com; http://ofda.ca/wp/ofda-cafes/.
For other programs of the Ontario Folk Dance Association, see: http://ofda.ca/wp/events/
Black Culture. Piece of Mine Festival. October 11-16. $15-$25. Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston Avenue. It’s fun to discover the world through other cultures via theatre.
Schedule:
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Tuesday Oct 11 | 7:30 PM | The Negroes Are Congregating by Natasha Adiyana Morris + The Adonis Project by Leighton Alexander Williams + Opening Act
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Wednesday Oct 12 | 7:30 PM | ZIP Code 45LS by Sabrina Moella + Fresh Talent Cabaret + Short Film MERAKI
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Thursday Oct 13 | 7:30 PM | The Adonis Project by Leighton Alexander Williams + The Negroes Are Congregating by Natasha Adiyana Morris + Opening Act
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Friday Oct 14 | 7:30 PM | ZIP Code 45LS by Sabrina Moella + Fresh Talent Cabaret + Short Film Living Black Genius
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Saturday Oct 15 | 7:30 PM | The Negroes Are Congregating by Natasha Adiyana Morris + The Adonis Project by Leighton Alexander Williams + Opening Act
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Sunday Oct 16 | 3:00 PM | ZIP Code 45LS by Sabrina Moella + Fresh Talent Cabaret + Short Film MERAKI
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http://pieceofminefest.com/index.html
Buddhist, Interfaith and Japanese. Nembutsu Chanting. Sunday October 16th, 9:30-10:30am. Free. Recitation of “Namu Amida”, “Namu Jesus,” Namu Allah” and “Namu Adonai.” “ Through this practice we heighten our spiritual awareness and help ourselves and others to heal.” Tao Sangha Toronto Healing Centre, 375 Jane Street. 416-925-7575, http://taosangha-na.com/toronto.http://taosangha-na.com/chanting/interfaith-nembutsu-chanting/
Image from Tao Sangha website.
India. Hindu. Amar Pujo Toronto’s Durga Puja. October 15th and 16th. Swagat Banquet Hall, 6991 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga. Team Amar Pujo writes: “Access to the idol and stalls will be unrestricted at all times. Everyone is welcome to see our cultural program on Sunday evening at no cost.” Only the cultural show on Saturday evening featuring renown singer Durnibar Saha will be a ticketed show for $12-$20. To get passes and for more information, people can visit our website www.amarpujotoronto.org.”
We had complaints that this group didn’t have enough room at its festival last year for all the people wanting to join it. We understand that the room is bigger this year. Let us know.
Italy. Vesuvius Ensemble 2016-2017 Concert Series. Tenor Francesco Pellegrino and others. 6:30pm, Friday, October 14. Free. Istituto Italiano di Cultura, 496 Huron Street. Infoline: 416-921-3802 ext. 221. See this and other Italian related events at: http://www.iictoronto.esteri.it/iic_toronto/en/gli_eventi/calendario/2016/10/vesuvius-ensemble-concert-season-2016-17-a-preview.html
For information about the Vesuvius Ensemble – http://vesuviusensemble.com/en/musicians.
Image of Tenor Francesco Pellegrino from: http://vesuviusensemble.com/en/musicians.
Jewish. Sukkot/Sukkah. Sundown on Sunday, October 16 to October 23 at sundown. This annual harvest festival is celebrated by building a sukkot or temporary shelter in synagogues and homes. Many followers eat all meals during this time in a sukkot and might even sleep in one. It commemorates the shelters built during the 40 years of wandering in the Sinai desert, the Exodus of the Jews led by Moses from Egypt about 3500 years ago. http://toriavey.com/what-is-sukkot/.
In Toronto, you can visit the Kavanah Garden Sukkot Festival. “Celebrate the harvest festival of Sukkot in your local community garden! Activities include natural sukkah decorations, harvesting fall crops, making music and more! Wednesday, October 19, 3:30-6:30pm, Lebovic Campus Drive, west of Ilan Ramon Blvd. “Please bring your own picnic dinner to enjoy in our sukkah, and instruments to make music! Free, Donations welcome.“
Usually a Sukkot structure is in front of Old City Hall during this period with a rabbi available to answer questions. It provides a place where workers downtown can lunch together. A sukkot has been at this site for several decades annually during the Sukkot festival. www.winchevskycentre.org . info@winchevskycentre.org .
Sorry, I missed the very interesting Sukkahville this year. This is an annual design contest. It finished on September 25. http://www.sukkahville.com/
Sukkot in front of Old Toronto City Hall. Image Copyright ©2016 Ruth Lor Malloy
Latin. Wheel Dance. Fall Session: Sundays, October 16 – November 20. 12-1pm. $70 or $10 per class. Financial assistance available. Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, 750 Spadina Avenue.“Learn Latin Dance in a comfortable and accessible environment. Classes will cover the basic elements of partner dancing, with an emphasis on basic patterns, turns and timing, moving across the dance floor, and having fun. A mixed abilities class – everyone welcome. Bring a partner or come on your own.“Winter session January 8-February 12 also available. Contact liviyam@mnjcc.
Image from M.N. Jewish Community Centre website.
Multicultural. Rutas. October 5-16. It’s not too late to see innovative performances like Hamlet de los Andes and SolOthello. “There are still deals available on tickets. (Some tickets $15-$25, or 4 for $70 – call 416-531-1402). For Artist Bursaries for our Master Classes (email sue@alunatheatre.ca).” Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street East.
“Showcasing Canadian, Indigenous, and Latin American artists, the Festival features performances, master classes, cabarets, concerts, film, art exhibits and a multi-day conference on issues arising from the artistic programming.”
Artists from Colombia, Bolivia, New York, New Zealand, Haiti, Venezuela, Argentina, and Switzerland. Download schedule here: rutas.ca
Multi-faith Action Against Poverty marks the United Nations declaration of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Monday, October 17, 7pm. $15 (to cover cost of your food). Auditorium, Noor Cultural Centre, 123 Wynford Drive. “Faith-based groups will come together for a multi-faith action against poverty… The program will include a vegetarian dinner, expert presentations on the problem of poverty in Toronto from economic, policy, legal, and service perspectives, and action items. Panel presenters TBA.
“Please join us if you would like to know more about how you can contribute to the efforts to end poverty in our city. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/multifaith-action-against-poverty-tickets-27666477178
Purchase Deadline: October 14, 2016
Muslim. Ashura (10 Muharram). October 11-12. Ashura has been a day of fasting for Sunni Muslims. It commemorates two historical events: the day Nuh (Noah) left the Ark, and the day that Musa (Moses) was saved from the Egyptians by Allah. Shi’a Muslims use the day to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet, in 680 CE. It is a day of mourning.
The only Ashura procession we have heard about so far in Toronto is Wednesday, October 12. Toronto Ashora Possession(دسته سینه زنی عاشورا تورنتو) 2016. “This is a religious procession on the day of Ashura and is open to all Muslims and non Muslims. Start: Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street. North on Yonge St. Unit Center St. Behind Iranian plaza. Arrival 9:30am. Start of procession 10:00am. The ending will give everyone enough time to reach their Centres for Ashura program InshaAllah.” https://en-ca.pricett.com/a/toronto-ashora-possession-2016/865199.
In 2015, Ashura processions were on University Avenue as well. If we get information about this one after press time, we will give details at the bottom of this blog. A video of one of these processions is on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdxzfzNNSiM.
Another commemoration is at http://jaffari.org/jcc/ shia – Jaffari community centre: http://jaffari.org/occasion-27/.
Syria. A Living History. Opening October 15 and continuing to February 26, 2017. Exhibition, symposium, lectures, performances. General admission to museum $8-$20. More for separate programs. Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Drive. https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/exhibitions/syria-living-history.
Make a note also of the Syrian Film Festival, Nov. 4 at Isabel Bader Theatre, and November 5-6 at Jackman Hall Theatre, Art Gallery of Ontario. Syff.ca.
Image of ancient Aleppo from Aga Khan Museum
Tell us about your adventures in Multicultural Toronto. Write to Ruth at: ruthlormalloy@gmail.com.
Featured image from Tao Sangha North America website.
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India. I just learned about the Indian Diwali RAZZMATAZZ 2016. Mississauga Celebration Square: Oct 14, 15 & 16. http://www.diwalirazzmatazz.com/. Ruth.
Thanks to friend Mahmoud, information about the Ashura event is on: http://en.cijnews.com/?p=49535 at Mel Lastman Square on October 12 at 9am.. Another procession is Sunday, October 9 at Queen’s Park at 11am.. Pictured in the news article is a bloody procession from Iraq, not Toronto. This is a very serious religious event, one I saw myself years ago in India.