Creative Minds – Summer Series
Creative Minds is a program series offered in partnership with North York Arts and Workman Arts. Each season, North York artists facilitate programming with a unique focus that prioritizes wellness through thematic explorations, the the presence of an active listener, and accessibility accommodations available upon request within capacity.
Creative Minds – Therapeutic Dance Movement
Through the means of Cultural Dance Movement and Therapy, (Indian and Latin styles), dance therapy will be explored for the purpose and joy of pursuing a hobby as opposed to merely replicating choreography.
Join Ishaa during this 6 week program divided into 3 parts to explore various dance styles and increase in difficulty to challenge your growth.
Session 1 & 2: Explore Latin Dance rhythms in a ‘Zumba’ style to explore beats. Dance styles will include: Salsa, Bachata, Flamenco.
Session 3 & 4: Explore Folk Dances of India such as the North Indian Bhangra (From the state of Punjab), Ghoomar (Rajasthan), and Gujarati folk music. We will be utilizing a combination of Bollywood and Pop Music for the classes.
Session 5 & 6: Experience a short introduction of the Indian Classical dance form of Kathak focusing primarily on swift pivots or ‘Chakkars’, footwork or ‘Taatkaar’, and various ways of using numbers and division in aspects such as “Ginti” or ‘counting’.
Dates: Tuesdays July 2 to August 6
Time: 5:30PM-7:00PM
Where: Meridian Arts Centre, 5040 Yonge Street, North York. The lobbies of Meridian Arts Centre are barrier free for patrons using wheelchairs or similar assistive devices, with the upper lobby accessible via elevators on the main floor. Accessible washrooms are located on all levels.
Price: Free
Program Lead: Ishaa Vinod Chopra
Ishaa holds a degree in Performing Arts in the North Indian Classical Dance form of Kathak. She is also a trained Latin dancer and has previously taken part in National level dance competitions and done several performances in India as well as in Germany, Spain. After moving to Toronto, her focus as an artist shifted from that to a Dancer to an Early Childhood Educator/Mental Health Advocate and Author (Memoir titled #FindingOrderinDisorder).
She finds that utilizing her dance form served as a catharsis in form of Dance Movement and Therapy. It took her into a peaceful state of mind and this is exactly what she desires to share with the community.
“Dance is like meditation where the dancer is free of all worldly thoughts and transcends into another world. The world of a dancer doesn’t have abnormalities or normalities in it… It is this world that I want to live in- devoid of any judgments or labels. The chaos of our thoughts can be silenced in order to soak in the beauty of world’s creation , achieving stillness.”- a quote from Ishaa’s memoir #FindingOrderinDisorder
Creative Minds – Creative Photography Storytelling
Registrations are now closed for Creative Photography Storytelling
Photography is an art form that captures the beauty and meaning of the world around us. But to master this art, we need to learn its language and grammar. Without knowing the basic elements and principles of photography, we cannot create compelling images. That’s why this workshop with
Hamed will teach you how to use your camera and your creativity to produce stunning photographs. You will learn how to see the world differently and how to adjust your camera settings to suit different situations by learning how to use different lenses, filters, and flash modes to enhance your images.
You will also learn how to analyze and interpret the visual elements in a photograph, such as shapes, colors, lines, textures, and patterns. These skills will help you to compose your shots with balance, harmony, contrast, and emphasis. You will be able to capture the essence and emotion of any scene or subject and discover how to use your camera as a tool for expressing your vision and creativity.
- Session 1: Introducing basics of photography, cameras, and cellphone photography. Different techniques in different photography lighting conditions such as natural light, artificial light, low light, and backlight. Making familiar the importance and value of photography in our era by reviewing photography’s why, what, when, and how.
- Session 2: Learning about exposure setting and exposure triangle, Shutter speed, Aperture and ISO. Analyzing their impact on photos including motion blur and noise.
- Session 3: Analyze shapes, forms, and textures (visual elements) in various compositions that support a story behind photographs.
- Session 4: Reviewing, troubleshooting, criticizing some popular photographs technically and aesthetically based on course contents.
Dates: Tuesdays June 11 to July 2
Time: 5:30PM-7:30PM
Where: Online via Zoom
Price: Free
Due to overwhelming demand, registrations are now closed. Thank you to all who have registered. Stay tuned for the next Creative Minds Workshop!
Program Lead: Hamed Tabein
Hamed Tabein has been involved in the learning and teaching of photography for the past fifteen years. He graduated in architecture, and has been involved in numerous arts and photography projects, including workshops, and group as well as individual exhibitions, participating as artist, instructor and executive manager of photo festivals. These include over 35 exhibitions in three continents and collaboration with photography associations as a photography instructor.
In 2011, Tabein’s photos of the Island of Hormoz located within the Persian Gulf received recognition from the Heidelberg Library in Germany and were subsequently displayed in a group exhibition in Germany. To date, three of his photos have been published on the official website of the National Geographic. These include one photo from the Afghanistan photography project. In 2016, Tabein, was invited by the Montreal House of Photography to take part in the “Residency project”, a project involving social portraits, the exhibition for which will be held in Montreal in February 2017, followed by other exhibitions in other major cities throughout Canada.
About Us
North York Arts (NYA) collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities
Contact us
North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
