Staging Schedules

The TD Canada Trust Festival of South Asia Stage Schedules-2008

Sat. 23 August	Programs	Sun. 24 August	Programs
2:00-3.00	Bhangra	2:00-3.00	Gidda
3:00-4.00	Bengali Dances	3:00-4.00	Bharatnatyam
4:00-5.00	Kathak	4:00-5.00	West Indian Dances
5:00-6.00	Bollywood Music	5:00-6.00	Kathakkali
6:00-7:00	Opening Ceremonies	6:00-7.00	Bollywood Dance
7:00- 8:00	Fashion Show	7:00-8:00	Bhangra
8:00-9.00	Fashion Show	8:00-9:00	Agni band
9.00-11.00	DJ Zahra	9.00-11.00	Agni band
Note: Programs subject to change

Ayktah Grover	Host
27 year old, Entertainment Reporter/Host , Ayktah Grover began her career as a Biology/Kinesiology student. Needless to say, she soon realized that being cooped up in a medical laboratory, dissecting rats and frogs wasn't going to make her jump out of bed and run to work every morning. She knew from a very young age, that television broadcasting was her one and only love, so she decided to move to Toronto to pursue her dream of being a Television Host. She has worked for three years for the Asian Television Network (ATN), a television broadcaster that provides 24 hours a day and 7 days a week of premium television programming in several South Asian languages to communities across Canada. She has covered major events in the Toronto area including, the 4th, 5th and 6th Reel World Film Festival, the Miss India Worldwide Canada, 2006 pageant, and the 4th and 5th Annual Mybindi Comedy Night. Recently, Ayktah was the host and narrator for a promotional video for Ontario parks and recreational services. You could also see Ayktah, bringing the stage to life at the Festival of South Asia, a two-day street festival in the heart of Toronto's Gerrard Street, where she entertained audiences through her musical performances. Her high energy dancing and melodious singing and not to mention her charming wit and humor were definite crowd pleasers. When she's not busy hosting an event or interviewing a local celebrity, she's fine tuning her public speaking, presentation and impromptu speaking skills at Toastmasters International, a Communication and Public Speaking forum. Ayktah also spends part of her busy week honing her creative and presentation skills by taking Improvisation classes at Second City.

Bhangra	Punjab Dance Academy
Bhangra is a lively form of folk music and dance that originates from the province of Punjab in India. People traditionally performed Bhangra when celebrating the harvest. During Bhangra, people sing Punjabi lyrics, at least one person plays the drum (DHOL), and other people may play the flute, drum, or other musical instruments. Many people believe that Bhangra originated in the 1400s, however, it may be even older. The men wear the turban, lungi (long cloth wrapped around the waist), and kurta (traditional Indian shirt).
Bengali Dances	Barnali Group
Bengali Folk Dances, contemporary and modern Bengali Dances.

Kathak	Bageshree Vaze
Bageshree Vaze has been performing for several years in Canada as a dancer and singer. Having begun her training in Bharatha Natyam in her hometown of St. John's, NL and later embarking on learning the style of Kathak from Pandit Birju Maharaj and his son Jai Kishan Maharaj, she has also studied Indian classical vocal music from one of the India's leading vocalists, Veena Sahasrabuddhe. Bageshree has developed a unique style of fusing her command over music into her dance presentations. Her innovative choreographies speak to South Asian Canadians and others alike of her unique experience of dual cultures. As a musician, Bageshree released a self-titled album in 2004 in India, which combined pop and Indian classical music, with touches of Bollywood and country music. She was named Úbbharta Sitara' (rising star) by MTV India in February 2004, and her video 'Deewana' won best music video at the film festival in Annecy, France in 2004 and Outstanding Canadian music video at the 2006 ReelWorld Film festival in Toronto. Bageshree teaches Kathak and Bharatha Natyam in Toronto and St. John's, and holds a Master's degree in Dance from York University. She is presently completing her second album Tarana: Music for Dance in which she has sung, composed and arranged music for dance choreography.

Bollywood Music	Aakash Group
The band "Aakash " was formed in year 2006 by two local fellows "Faisal" and "Suleman" They both had a vision of a different style music, which sounds different than other bands and that style, has leaded them to their success. Aakash has performed all over North America and has performed several concerts locally as well. Aakash performs Bollywood music with a unique style, which you will hear it in this festival.

Bollywood Music	The Innovators
The group's name is "THE INNOVATORS" and it comprises of 7 dancers. The name of the members are Ankit Patel, Irshan Birjani, Naeel Mohammad, Basit Ali, Yash Desai, Arpit Bhagat and Reet Roy. Reet is the choreographer and the lead dancer of the group, and has been dancing on various stage performances since age 4, in North India and earned a few titles in Dance Competitions. The Bollywood numbers used in the performance are mostly from new Hindi movies like Love Story 2050, Johnny, Gaddar etc.

Bollywood Music	Bollywood and Beyond
The group was founded in 2008. Organized and choreographed by Sara Hassan, the group celebrates a fusion of Bollywood culture and musical styles with a western flair. Their dancers have performed with the top Bollywood Superstars at the Air Canada Center and Bollywood Awards Show, hold degrees in dance and performance art, and have appeared in various film and television shows, including dancing for the movie "The Love Guru" and TV series "Little Mosque on The Prairie". Please visit them at www.bollywoodandbeyond.NEXO.com

Fashion Show	Gerrard India Bazaar
Fashion show is one of the main attractions of this festival. The members of Gerrard India Bazaar and Sama Models and talent agency organize this 2-hour show. It showcases the rich and colourful silk sarees, wedding dresses, casual wear and trendy costumes of the Indian subcontinent. The show is coordinated and choreographed by Sama Model and Talent Agency. Sama is North America's first and largest South Asian model and talent agency. www.samamodels.com

DJ Zahra	Zahra Dhanani
Zahra (B. Soc. Sc. LL. B. LL. M. [C]) is a fierce, flamboyant, stylish, spiritual, spin-sister on a mission to bring joy and justice to everything she does. She is a lawyer, a dj, a performer, a public speaker, a feminist, a glam queen, a lover of life. She has hosted radio shows, worked in tv, organized demonstrations, mediated debates, facilitated healing circles, lobbied parliamentarians…. She believes: its not what you do but how you do it! Her passions include everything from social justice and pluralism to finding the right shade of red lipstick. She has been producing culturally, emotionally, spiritually and politically exciting events for over seventeen years, including the wildly successful Funk Asia Nights! She is known for her trailblazing role in bringing South Asian Music and issues to the mainstream. Working in equity issues for over 17 years, she is known to be a passionate advocate, a spunky entertainer and a brilliant speaker. Info: www.zahradhanani.com


Gidda	Punjab Dance Academy
During Lohri occasion, the Punjabi women reveling joy, give vent to their suppressed feelings in a male dominated society through the Gidda. Slogans known as bolis are sung while dancing which exhibit the deep human feeling. These bolis cover varied themes from nature to excesses committed by the husband and his relatives, some talk about love affairs to the loneliness of a bride separated from her groom. The dance is derived from the ancient ring dance. One of the girls plays on the drum or 'dholki' while others form a circle. Some times even the dholki is dispensed with. While moving in a circle, the girls raise their hands to the level of their shoulders and clap their hands in unison. Then they strike their palms against those of their neighbours. Clapping of hands generally provides rhythm. Gidda is a very vigorous folk dance and like other such dances it is very much an affair of the legs. So quick is the movement of the feet in its faster parts that it is difficult for the spectator even to wink till the tempo falls again. The embroidered 'dupattas' and heavy jewelry of the participants whose number is unrestricted further exaggerate the movements.

Bharthanatyam	Nupura School of Music & Dance
It is the most widely practised of Indian classical dances in south India.It is the most ancient of all the classical dances in India, which are, based on natya shastra "the bible of the Indian classical dances". In this programme students of Nupura school of music and dance presents some of the items such as thodayam padam, thillana along with few contemporary dance forms.

West Indian Dances	West Indian dance Academy
West Indian Fusion Dance Academy is owned and operated by 18 years old Selena Naraine. Selena is a very versatile dancers who have been dancing for over 11 years. She was trained in the Bharatnatyam style of dance but much prefers the filmy and Bollywood style dances. Selena started her dance school at the age of 16 as she wanted to share her unique style of dance and talent with others. This dance school operates out of Pickering and have male & female dancers ranging from 5-19 years old. This group has performed at numerous functions in Durham and the GTA. They specialize in Bollywood, classical, bhangra, semi-classical and filmy style dances. In this festival they will be performing some classical chutney style dances, a style of dance which originated in the Caribbean.

Kathakali	Anupama Varma
Anupama Varma , born in Trupunithura, the cradle of temple arts, Anupama received training under the tutelage of Sri Padmanabhan. She is an active member of Tripunithura Kathakali Kendram , the only Kathakali organization in India where female artists perform kathakali , an artform traditionally dominated by male artists. Kathakali is the classical Dance drama of Kerala, a state in South India. Katha means Story, Kali means a play. Kathakali has a unique combination of music, literature, painting, acting and dance. Kathakali is a theatrical art form and uses traditional curtain to introduce characters and scenes in the story. Item 1 : Purappad Purappad is one of the preliminary item in kathakali which introduces the main character of the play. The main character is Krishna .It Comprises of very graceful postures, foot work patterns and facial expression. Item 2: - A Scene from Mahabharath Characters : Krishna (Green Make up) , Draupadi Portrays a scene in which Draupadi seeks krishnas help to destroy the kaurava clan to avenge her utter humiliation at the hands of kauravas during the game of Dice. Krishna consoles her by telling her not to worry as all sinners will be eventually punished .He decides to go to Kaurava's court to make one last appeal to grant the pandavas their share of the kingdom and avoid the war.

Bollywood Dance	Shweta Subramanian
Sangam Kala Group amongst of competition of 200 titled Shweta Subramanian, also known as the Indo-Canadian Sensation, as Best Singer in North America. Following that Shweta has had the opportunity to perform with many celebrities in India including Atif Aslam, Sukhbir, Ruby Bhatia, Shaan, Baba Sehgal, Sunidhi Chauhan and many others. Shweta was featured on an episode of Amul Star Plus Voice of India following which she represented an all-girl band, the Sunsilk Gang of Girls as a singer and performer. Sunsilk Gang of Girls was on air India-wide on Zoom TV for 13 weeks, following which Shweta has toured around India performing at various star-studded shows. Shweta has recently returned to Canada and is here to rock the crowd. Background dancers Roohi and Sonal are passionate about dancing and have brought in some creating choreography to accompany Shweta's songs. Piyush is an upcoming dancing sensation to watch out for. This performance will rock! Check out www.shweta.ca.

Agni Band	Sylvia Francis
Agni, as its name suggests, started off as a spark on April 23, 2001 at the Vedic Center hall in Markham Ontario. Its debut show attracted a record audience of over 800 people. Some young musical geniuses that were excelling in their own instruments were put together by Sylvia Francis to form the AGNI group. Her Spark is now spreading all over North America like a wild fire. Within four years AGNI group has been invited to perform at many stages in Canada and USA. The band has already performed in 5 Canadian Television Networks. Agni, a young group that is very versatile with Tamil, English, Hindi, Telugu, Western, Jazz, Hindustani and Carnatic music. A dream of every South Asian in North America. A perfect blend with North American reality without losing their own rich identity. Their casual style, and their bright personalities have made them extremely successful within the past 4 years. Just a young and classy group of guys and gals that anyone can catch on to.