Jazz Fest is back for yet another year featuring an incredible array of performers. And for those of you who don't fancy jazzy tunes, there's much more than your typical sexy sax solos in this year's line-up.
The TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival will be held from June 14 to 23 all around downtown. The festival will not only feature local artist, but has also brought in national and international singing sensations such as Janelle Monáe, Ramsey Lewis and The Hold Steady.
Join the festivities on opening weekend for four straight days of free entertainment at Old Market Square. From June 14 to 17, listen in on some rhythm and blues, jazz, indie rock, fund and more.
Nearly 100 performers will be featured at this year's event, and tickets are selling quick. If you're interested in attending any of the upcoming concerts, you can purchase tickets at jazzwinnipeg.com, or call the Jazz Winnipeg office at (204)989-4656.
For a complete list of performers, visit this link.
Winnipeggers will get the chance to let their true colours show at this year's 25th annual Pride Winnipeg festival.
From May 25 to June 3, everyone is invited to participate in Pride Week, from the rainbow flag-raising ceremony to the rockin' dance party. The annual Pride Parade attracts thousands of people every year, marching through the streets of downtown to celebrate Winnipeg's colourful diversity. The Pride festival at The Fork included the talents of Anjulie, The Cliks, Jeffery Straker, Jerry Sereda, Womyn of Pride and DJ Hollywood Hype.
Come join the fun on June 3 for Pride's official dance party.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Whisky Dix Night Club
Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door
Featuring DJ Tec-G, DJ Electric Kitten, DJ Danthrax, DJ Patelli and DJ Alucard
Pride Winnipeg began on August 2, 1987, when about 250 people bravely marched on behalf of the LGBTTQ community. Many of the marchers wore paper bags over their heads in fear of being recognized, and the struggle for societal acceptance continues on until present day. The LGBTTQ has moved leaps and bounds since, and Pride Winnipeg is a true testament to the love our city has for this community.
To learn more about Pride Winnipeg, visit their website here.
Yesterday, I won tickets to see the 2011 German documentary Pina at Cinematheque in the Exchange.
Upon receiving the tickets, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. From the surface, I knew the film focused on a group of contemporary dancers called Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch. Pina was their artistic director, who unexpectedly died during the making of the film. Instead of axing the project, the dance group convinced director Win Wenders to pursue its creation as a tribute to her work.
The documentary features scenes from Pina's best known pieces, Le scare du printemps, Café Müller, Kontakthof and Vollmond. The members of the dance company also reenact solo pieces in the most peculiar yet beautiful landscapes, like on a train and by a canyon.
The choreography and cinematography is absolutely stunning. Some scenes are almost chilling, as though Pina is present - in spirit. The interviews from the members of the dance company are candid, but they end up saying so much more through their actions than their words.
Pina is playing at Cinematheque from Friday, May 4, to Thursday, May 10. For anyone who's passionate about dance, film or simply emotion, I would highly recommend this tribute to the late Pina Bausch.
