Flash mob our cherry trees with superstar Shiamak choreography

 Flash mob our cherry trees with superstar Shiamak choreography
VANCOUVER, BC (Feb. 07, 2012) – There are a lot of goofy ways to find yourself on
YouTube. Here's a really good one: take part in a flash mob choreographed by dance
superstar Shiamak Davar - India’s “Guru of contemporary Dance.”
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (VCBF) invites would-be celebrities to master the
Umbrella Dance: an upbeat Bollywood routine that pays tribute to the rain, without which our
beautiful cherry trees would not exist. This is Vancouver; of course an umbrella is involved!
Anyone can learn the dance; it's funky, flashy and moves to a contagious Bollywood (read:
"Brollywood") beat.
Watch Shiamak’s choreography on YouTube live now at vcbf.ca. Shiamak Instructors and
Vancouver Performance Team will teach the dance routine at many rehearsals in community
centres around the city, starting February 20th. Listen to the music and imagine 500 people, as
good as any group on YouTube, with a couple of rehearsals under their belts breaking into
cheery cherry happiness this spring with a flock of pink umbrellas aloft and dancing feet below.
"Being a part of the Umbrella Dance, choreographing it and seeing how much joy unique
festivals like this can bring, enthralls me," Shiamak says. "I always feel proud when people
from different backgrounds come together through dance, and I look forward to many more
cultural fusions, both here and around the globe."
To join in this fun (and spontaneous celeb-making event) grab some friends and sign up at
vcbf.ca. For just ten dollars, you will receive a limited-edition official VCBF umbrella,
rehearsals, a gift pack of free Bollywood jazz/yoga classes, and entrance discounts to the
Vancouver Art Gallery and VanDusen Botanical Garden. The real value of this gift pack is $65;
it's a rare thing to receive more than you give these days! Flash it forward to April 14th at 2 pm,
when hundreds of pink umbrellas will descend upon the Vancouver Art Gallery with the Cherry
Blossom Umbrella Dance to the delight of onlookers and amateur videographers alike.
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival runs from April 5 to 28 and pulls together music,
dance (that's you!), Japanese arts, festival food, the new SakuraB special spring bento
featuring demonstrations by our top Japanese chefs, haiku, cherry blossom viewing, biking
tours and painting into a month-long celebration of the cherry blossom: our city's official
welcome to spring. Forty thousand cherry trees grace our streets and parks, and the number is
growing. Each year the event grows too, and this year, the Umbrella Dance is new to the city
and to the festival. Watch the Umbrella Dance here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYntdWrJgl8&feature=player_embedded.
For photos, information and/or a private media dance lesson, please contact:
Linda Poole
Lena Ross
Executive Director
Publicist
604-767-9044
604-220-6857
linda.poole@telus.net
ms.lena.ross@gmail.com
About the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival:
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival Society is a charitable not-for-profit society whose
mission is to sustain and renew Vancouver’s Cherry Tree Heritage, while educating and
engaging community in the celebration of the cherry blossom through its unique cultural
programming. The objectives of such community building events include public education
through seasonal, cherry-themed citywide viewing programs, performing and literary arts, film
screenings, as well as fine art and design exhibitions.
www.facebook.com/VancouverCherryBlossomFestival
www.twitter.com/OfficialVCBF
About Shiamak:
Shiamak is a dance superstar, creative visionary, singer, actor, director, choreographer and
dance educator. With his unique blend of contemporary jazz fused with Indian and western
dance styles, he is credited with modernizing the dance scene in India. Shiamak Davar
International teaches dance in Canada, India, Australia, the UK and the UAE, bringing his
distinct vision to audiences worldwide. Shiamak has co-starred in the Arts Club Theatre
Company production of Evita, and his Vancouver Performance Team has performed at the 2010
Winter Olympics Celebration Ceremonies and the Opening Ceremony of the World Police and
Fire Games.
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival’s crazy for cherry blossoms and Japanese food
Vancouver, BC (Mar. 7, 2012) -- Each spring Vancouver wakes up to an explosion of cherry blossoms.
Our 40,000 ornamental cherry trees inspire the sixth annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
(VCBF) to celebrate through dance, music, poetry, photography, and Japanese cuisine this year. To
bring in the new season Master chef Hidekazu Tojo with five top local chefs from: Shuraku, Zest, Miku,
Zen, and Toshi Sushi will create a very special lunch for you ~ the SakuraB Bento.
"Food is such an important part of cherry blossom festivals in Japan," says Tojo. "When the cherries
begin to bloom everyone is spellbound and people like to sit under the fragile springtime cherry
blossoms and admire their beauty while eating."
By pre-ordering your SakuraB today at vcbf.ca, for just $20 you can do the same right here in
Vancouver. The SakuraB bento box lunch is no ordinary bento; it's Ichiban! (#1), a limited-edition
culinary treat that's only available for pick-up at the Festival launch event, Cherry Jam Downtown
inside the Burrard SkyTrain Station on Thursday April 5th from 11a.m. to 2p.m.
Shinobu Homma of Chibi Taiko will bring us all together to launch the 2012 celebration for an earlier
start this year. At 11 a.m. four top Japanese chefs: Hidekazu Tojo of Tojo’s, Nobu Ochi of Zen,
Masahiro Omori of Shuraku Bistro & Sake Bar, and Yoshiaki Maniwa of Zest will present onsite
demonstrations between 11 a.m. and noon at Cherry Jam Downtown, followed by the annual concert
until 1:30 p.m.; featuring Shiamak Davar Vancouver Performance Team with the Umbrella Dance,
Chibi Taiko in collaboration with Yuaikai Ryukyu Taiko and Jou Tou adds their global twist to this free
concert.
Another way to celebrate the ephemeral nature and beauty of the blossoms is through writing haiku.
Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd sponsors the Haiku Invitational and “is a very proud partner of
the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival’s Haiku Invitational and are thrilled to have the opportunity to
help share the joy of cherry blossoms with people from around the world through involvement with this
wonderful cause.”
The Haiku Invitational opens today to accept your fresh haiku submissions until June 4th, 2012. The
Festival welcomes two unpublished haiku from poets from all corners of the world and encourages both
budding and seasoned poets to honour Vancouver's awe-inspiring cherry trees through this highly
respected, international literary contest.
Watch for our winning 2011 haiku displayed on-board our long-standing sponsor TransLink’s buses and
SkyTrains. These haiku, chosen by VCBF judge an’ya, were also published by Ricepaper magazine,
Haiku Canada, and Haiku Society of America’s Ripples. They will also receive celebrity readings this
spring.
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Beverley George, Australian editor of several poetry journals, includng Windfall: Australian Haiku, will
judge this year’s haiku crop, selecting the top haiku in five categories: British Columbia, Canada, United
States, International, and Youth, as well as giving additional recognition to many Honourable Mentions
and Sakura Awards.
Plan your spring celebration now for Thursday, April 5th and support Vancouver’s signature spring
event. Pre-order your SakuraB Bento Box online at vcbf.ca and take time out from your busy schedules
to celebrate life which is as fleeting as cherry blossoms.
To see what's blooming now, check out our interactive Google map with 800 locations to enjoy cherry
blossom viewing: vcbf.ca/cherryviewing/maps.
For photos and information please contact:
Linda Poole
Executive Director
604-767-9044
linda.poole@telus.net
media@vcbf.ca
About the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival:
The mission of the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is to sustain and renew Vancouver's cherry tree
heritage while educating and engaging community in celebration of the fragile beauty of the cherry
blossom. The Festival inspires education in the arts and the horticulture of the ornamental cherry tree,
raising the aesthetic taste and appreciation of the general public through city-wide celebratory
programming of cherry themed performances, film screenings, design installations, literary, exhibitions,
culinary and creative cultural arts.
www.facebook.com/VancouverCherryBlossomFestival
www.twitter.com/OfficialVCBF
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2011 Haiku Invitational Winners
British Columbia
we speak
of cherry blossoms—
a safe topic
Beth Skala
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Canada
hanami picnic—
more blossoms
than sky
Pamela Cooper
Montréal, Québec
United States
cherry tree blossoms
even underfoot
their spell lingers . . .
Anne LB Davidson
Saco, Maine
International
birdbath
a blossom falls into
a fluffy cloud
Quendryth Young
Alstonville, Australia
Youth
no need for flower girl
the wind fulfills her role—
cherry blossoms
Sherry Zhou, age 13
Vancouver, British Columbia
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BACKGROUND: HAIKU INVITATIONAL inspired by the cherry tree
What is a haiku?
A haiku is a poem that captures a scene or experience in just a few words, suggesting the
depth and intensity of the moment. Haiku use concrete images to capture this moment of
intuition. Above all, haiku try to imply the emotion of the poet’s experience without stating it.
What are some of the basics of writing haiku?
Haiku are plain-speaking poems where every word counts. Try to avoid using abstract or
conceptual words. Use sensory images to convey experience about sights, sounds, smells, or
tastes.
Does a haiku have to have 17 syllables?
In Japan, the haiku is traditionally written in a single vertical line with sound symbols arranged
in a 5-7-5 rhythm, but Japanese words tend to be longer than their English counterparts, so
literal translations end up as English poems with fewer than 17 syllables. While some haiku
poets writing in English do follow the 5-7-5 pattern with wonderful results, most view the haiku
as a poem in three lines of 17 or fewer syllables.
What else should I know about the form of a haiku?
Most haiku contain a kigo, or a word or short phrase that places their poem in a season of the
year. For example, if you use the word “daffodil,” the reader will know you are describing a
scene in spring. The kigo links a haiku to the deeper rhythms of nature. In addition, many haiku
have two parts, separated by a word or punctuation mark to create tension and resolution, or
an unstated relationship between two images.
Submission deadline:
The deadline for receiving haiku submissions is June 4, 2012. For information on submitting
your haiku, visit www.vcbf.ca.
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SHIAMAK DAVAR
Shiamak Davar embarked upon a journey almost 25 years ago with a vision to change people’s
perception of dance. He created benchmarks and set new standards for performing arts.
The face of Modern India, Shiamak Davar is a man with a mission -- a mission to educate the
world of the joys of dance, a mission to entertain audiences with this creative brilliance, a mission
to empower people with his belief that if you have the will, you’ll always triumph.
Education
Shiamak Davar has led the world in embracing a dance movement that is beyond the ordinary,
enthralling people in what can aptly be called the Shiamak Movement.
Shiamak took upon himself the onus of spearheading and spreading dance education to the
masses. He formalized Shiamak Davar’s Institute for the Performing Arts (SDIPA) in 1992 with the
motto: “Have Feet. Will Dance.™,” and his dance form became a new language -- one that was not
only a great physical experience, but also an uplifting spiritual one. Shiamak has nurtured SDIPA
in becoming one of the largest dance schools in the world, reaching out to over 50,000 dance
enthusiasts annually across India, Canada, Australia and UAE.
He has undertaken the herculean task of making dance education readily available and easily
acceptable. Shiamak has strived hard to change negative perceptions of dance as being frivolous,
a financially unviable career, and a disrespectful choice for both men and women. Today, the
dance industry is flourishing, and a large part of the success can be attributed to the pioneering
efforts of this man in bringing modern dance into public eye. Not only has he changed people’s
perceptions, he has also made dance a sought-after profession, generating employment for many
dance enthusiasts.
Entertainment
Shiamak’s work inspires a kind of adulation that very few can imagine. Shiamak’s creative intellect
brings together various elements that stimulate the body, mind and spirit. Shiamak’s art of powerful
storytelling through the medium of song and dance has enabled him to create masterpieces that
would be etched forever in the history of Indian performing arts. Shiamak’s expertise encompasses
not just choreography; he lends to each event a unique compelling emotion which makes it stand
out and leaves an indelible mark on the audiences.
Be it the Opening and Closing Ceremony of the Asian Games in India (1989), the Opening
Ceremony of the Festival of France in India (1989), Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Third
National Games (1994), the famous Ganesh Festival (1994 & 1996), Cairo Music Festival (2004 &
2005), The Italy Show (2006), World Economic Forum (Davos, 2006), the Closing Ceremony of the
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Commonwealth Games (Melbourne, 2006), Opening Ceremony of the Indo-Japan Friendship Year
(2006), The Unforgettable Tour (2008), The IIFA Awards, Shiamak has been modern India’s
cultural ambassador to the world. Shiamak’s global endevours have finally made the world wake
up to and, love and appreciate dance forms from India.
Shiamak is credited with revolutionizing the way Bollywood danced. Having won the prestigious
National Award for choreography, for his first feature film (Dil Toh Pagal Hai), Shiamak raised the
bar and created yet another benchmark. What followed then were world-class pieces of
choreography in blockbusters including Taal, Kisna, I See You, Yuvraaj, Dhoom 2, Taare Zameen
Par and very recent Rab Ne Bana De Jodi.
The common thread that binds every project that Shiamak undertakes is his brand of entertainment
design one that is synonymous with innovation, excellence, positivity and professionalism.
Empowerment
Through dance, Shiamak’s award-winning Victory Arts Foundation (VAF) empowers children who
are underprivileged, vulnerable to HIV/AIDS or with special needs. VAF programs run successfully
in 45 centers across 9 Indian cities, as well as in Canada. Reaching out to over 5,000 such
children, VAF enriches their lives and instills in them a strong sense of self-belief and confidence.
Shiamak is the first to offer a professional platform for his students to showcase their talent through
his shows - the Summer FunkTM and Winter FunkTM. Shiamak ensures that his dancers from The
Shiamak Davar Dance Company, The Junior Dance Company and also his students from Victory
Arts Foundation perform with him at all his events giving them an opportunity to gain a larger
perspective and widen their horizons, thus empowering them through the performing arts.
Shiamak is a true icon for global cultural exchange. Not only has he brought a flavor of
International culture into India, he has made sure that an essence of Modern India is also spread
across the world.
Shiamak – Educating, Entertaining, Empowering!
A testimony of Shiamak’s Work
“The World must see you” – Bill Clinton
“Its an artist’s dream to be associated with Shiamak” – Amitabh Bachchan
“Extremely Talented” – Sting
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SURAGINI RAVINDRAN: Assistant Choreographer and Manager - Special Events
Suragini has been performing and teaching with Shiamak Davar’s Institute for the Performing Arts
(India) for over 13 years. She has been a lead performer with Shiamak Davar and his Dance
Company, and has performed at various International Events including U.K, China, Egypt, U.S.A,
Tokyo, Malaysia, Mauritius, Canada, South Africa, Zurich and Italy. She has also featured in
Bollywood films as a principal dancer with Shiamak Davar’s Dance Company in films like Dhoom-2,
Taal, Bunty Aur Babli and I See You. Suragini has personally trained leading Bollywood stars like
Madhuri Dixit, Priyanka Chopra, Rani Mukherjee and Kareena Kapoor. She has also assisted
Shiamak Davar for TV commercials, one of them being the ADIDAS TV commercial with Sachin
Tendulkar (India’s ace cricketer).
Currently residing in Vancouver, B.C, she continues her journey with the Shiamak Group as
Manager of Class Programs and Special Events, and Master Instructor, teaching Shiamak’s
Bollywood Dance and Workout programs across North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby and
Surrey through Shiamak Davar International (Canada) Inc.
Shiamak’s Instructors and Performance team in Vancouver:
All of Shiamak’s Instructors in Vancouver have been trained by him at his institute in Mumbai
(India), and teach Shiamak’s Bollywood Jazz, Workout and Yoga classes across the lower
mainland for kids, pre teens, adults and seniors. Through Shiamak’s Dance Education programs,
the instructors educate and work with Montessori and Elementary school students, promoting
wellness and a healthy lifestyle through the joy of dance.
They also volunteer their time towards Shiamak’s Victory Arts Foundation -- a not-for-profit
organization that offers dance classes to people with special needs at least twice a week in North
Vancouver, Vancouver and Surrey. The Vancouver dance team has performed at various
prestigious events like the Opening Ceremony of the World Police and Fire Games at GM Place
and The Celebration Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics. They have also performed with
Bollywood’s hottest stars at the recent IIFA Awards event in Toronto, and are involved in various
community and multicultural events throughout the year. For more information, email
vancouver@shiamak.com or visit www.shiamak.com.
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