April in Barcelona at the Barcelona Internation Dance Exchange

Saturday May 5:

Stand Up Dance Toddler Dance Party at Hub 14, 9 - 9:45 am

Join us to get your weekend groove on with the 5 and unders. Coffee provided. $10 per child, parental supervision essential.

Then head to the Wychwood Farmers Market for your shopping and a dance surprise! Wychwood Art Barns, 10:20 a.m.

In other dance:

This weekend is full of dance, Compagnie Kafig and Bouchard Danse at Harbourfront Centre with World Stage and DanceWorks respectively.

Last weekend a Flash Mob I choreographed for Ontario Dances and the Living Arts Centre was at the Erin Mills Mall. There were more than 70 participants ranging in age from 11 to 84. It was amazing. Check it out: http://vimeo.com/41384108

The Atomic Weight of Happiness is heading on tour. Last year we premiered the show in Toronto and now we're heading further afield with it. We need some extra help to take this show on the road. If you'd like to learn more about it and help out, please go to: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/100249

If you aren't already subscribed the the newsletter  but would like to be, click on the link beside this post.

Enjoy the weekend!

Toddler Dance Party at Hub 14

Stand Up Dance curates Family Sunday Series at Theatre Direct

Sunday March 25

Theatre Direct is the place to be on Sunday afternoons for a dazzling array of dance, theatre, storytelling, music, film and literary events showcasing the best of Toronto arts with a family-friendly focus!

Sunday March 25, 3 – 5 pm.

All Ages just $ 5 ~ Proceeds go to Theatre Direct’s theatre and education programs.

Julia Aplin and Hope Terry perform improv dance to live music.

Julia Aplin and Hope Terry have danced together since forever. Please join them as they improvise to create a dance that may be moving, puzzling, abstract, literal, questionable, self guided, ecstatic, sad, happy, confused, historical, enlightening, progressive, frightening and meaningful for both audience and performers.

Followed by a Family Dance Party with Improv Games.

Stand Up Dance Toddler Dance Party

Saturday March 31

Let your little one help you get your groove on.

As featured in The Grid’s The 12 most awesome, relatively painless, munchkin-friendly activities happening in the city this month.

http://www.thegridto.com/life/parenting/the-best-of-march/

Next Stand Up Dance Toddler Dance Party

Saturday March 31, 9 – 9:50 a.m.

Hub 14, 14 Markham Street.

$10/child

info@standupdance.com to register

Space is limited. Please book your spot.

Also April 28, May 5 and May 19 – 21 at HarbourKIDS.

Stand Up Dance Flash Mobbery ~ See details under CLASSES

New Dance Classes for 6 – 9 year olds at Theatre Direct starting March 24 ~ See details under KIDS CLASSES

(above: KidNouveau at AGO Family Day 2012)

TODDLER DANCE PARTY

for the 4 and unders with their overs set.

SATURDAY FEB 25
9 – 9:50 a.m. at hub 14, 14 Markham Street
$10 drop-in, includes coffee and scones!

Kids love to move and to groove.
Toddler Dance Parties offer a mixture of facilitated dance activity, led dancing, and open space, all with great music.

http://www.facebook.com/events/238253719596618/

ADULT DANCE WORKSHOPS

Sunday FEB 26

Beginner HIP HOP with AKlass
1 – 2:30 pm
Beginner TAP with Dianne Montgomery
3- 4:30 pm

Hub 14, 14 Markham Street

$30 for one class or $50 for both

http://www.facebook.com/events/303402243051896/

Learning to make fire; choreographer: Meagan O'Shea; dancers: Linnea Swan & Brendan Wyatt; design: Rebecca Picherack, Anna Treusch; photo: Jeremy Mimnagh;

Learning to make fire, a duet for the incomparable Linnea Swan and Brendan Wyatt inspired by the poem Habitation by Margaret Atwood was part of Dance Ontario’s Dance Weekend last weekend at Harbourfront Centre. It was such a pleasure to put my work on a big stage and get to watch it from a distance. This was a great opportunity for me to see my work in progress and know all that needs to happen to make the piece what I envision it to be. A big thank you to Janelle and all the wonderful crew at Harbourfront Centre. Sometimes realizing one’s vision is a messy endearvour!

STAND UP DANCE S’COOL Classes

The new term begins soon and there are exciting events taking place this weekend:

TODDLER DANCE PARTY at hub 14, 9 – 9:50 Saturday January 28th

See CLASSES and choose KIDS on this site.

FREE TRIAL CLASS at Theatre Direct/Wychwood Art Barns

for 7 – 12 yr olds, 2:30 – 3:40; go to www.theatredirect.ca for more information

The regular classes end this Saturday and Tuesday and the new term starts February 4. There are spots in the classes for boys and girls of all ages. Please e-mail info@standupdance.com if you’re interested.

Adult and Teen Dance Workshops are coming. Check CLASSES and choose ADULTS on this site for details. There’s hip hop, tap, bellydancing, contemporary and more.

And Finally, Hub 14 (I’m a co-director) is partnering with Rhubarb Festival at Budies in Bad Times this year to present a workshop with festival performer Keith Hennessy. It’s free but space is limited. Apply if you’re interested.

PERFORMING (QUEER) FAILURE:
A WORKSHOP WITH KEITH HENNESSY

February 18-19 | 1-5pm | Hub14

Buddies and Hub 14 are thrilled to work together to offer this very exciting, FREE workshop with internationally-acclaimed performance artist Keith Hennessy as part of The 33rd Rhubarb Festival.

Working in relationship to queer – as perspective, practice, tactic, handicap and identity – participants will spend two days investigating failure. Failure as generative. Failure as politically subversive. Failure as disappointment. Acknowledging and then exploiting the gap between ideal and real.

This a free workshop, but space is limited. To register, send a brief paragraph (maximum 1-page) introducing your work, experience and any questions or ambitions you are currently exploring to laura@buddiesinbadtimes.com – applications are due Tuesday, January 31. More info on Keith Hennessy’s work at circozero.org

Thanks for reading, keep dancing!

Meagan

It’s been a great year with so many exciting projects and opportunities.

A brief summary:

• The creation, production, and remount of two time Dora nominated The Atomic Weight of Happiness;
• The creation of several dance pieces for other interpreters: Take My Hand (tiny opus # 4), The Love Project, Learning to make fire, As yet unknown;
• Residencies at Ottawa Dance Directive and Dance Victoria;
• I performed House Concerts and taught in across Ontario and BC;
• dance like no one is watching enjoyed a successful tour of Farmers Markets across southern Ontario;
• Dance classes are up and running at hub14;
• I choreographed a bunch of Flash Mobs, including the opening for the Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Phillips Square.

2012 promises to be rich and full, with many ideas initiated in 2011 coming to fruition.

Some highlights:

• Learning to make fire, a duet for the incomparable Linnea Swan and Brendan Wyatt inspired by the poem Habitation by Margaret Atwood is part of Dance Ontario’s Dance Weekend at Harbourfront Centre. Saturday January 21, 2012 at 4:30 pm.  Minimum donation of $10 gets up in and out all day long. www.harbourfrontcentre.com
• The Atomic Weight of Happiness will be touring in the spring and summer!
• I’ll be participating in the Barcelona International Dance Exchange in April.
• I am Flash Mob crazy. There are several coming up, some that you can participate in. Please contact info@standupdance.com if you’d like to be a part of a Flash Mob.
• We also create Flash Mobs made to order. We can tailor them to suit your audience or participants. They make great participatory team-building projects or can be performed by professional dancers to make a splash at any event. If you think your organization, company, school, or event would benefit from a Flash Mob please contact info@standupdance.com
• As well as the Stand Up Dance Classes for children at hub14, we are launching a new class at Theatre Direct Canada at the Wychwood Art Barns at Christie and St. Clair. Classes start January 28th.
• Adult Classes are going to enjoy a new format. There will be a series of workshops featuring different dance styles on weekends over the winter and spring.First workshop in February.
• We’re introducing a monthly Toddler Dance Party. This is a chance for parent and child to break it down in a semi-facilitated environment with great tunes and treats. First one is January 28th. Please see www.standupdance.com/classes for more info.

Hope 2012 is full of love and laughter. See you on the dance floor!

Meagan

The Atomic Weight of Happiness

presented by Theatre Direct Canada and Stand Up Dance

created and performed by Meagan O’Shea

directed by and created with Andrea Donaldson

Nominated for 2 Dora Awards

“This one of the most energetic and creative performances I’ve ever seen.” Theatromania

Friday November 18, 8 pm

Saturday November 19, 8 pm

Sunday November 20, 2 pm*

Saturday November 26, 8 pm

Sunday November 27, 2 pm

Tickets at www.theatredirect.ca

Advance discount available

Theatre Direct Canada, Wychwood Art Barns on Christie south of St. Clair

www.theatredirect.ca

*also see Theatre Direct’s Family Series curated by Meagan O’Shea on Sunday November 20 at 3 pm, following the performance for $5; featuring choreography and performance by Jennifer Dick, Michelle Silagy, Kate Franklin and Jesse Dell

This is an exciting remount for me. I am performing 5 public shows and 5 shows for grade 7 students. The student matinees will be followed by a workshop where the audience will explore the dance, drama or eco-activism themes and forms in the show.

Hope to see you at a show!

Meagan

dance like no one is watching is a hit at Farmers Markets and the New Music Marathon at Dundas Square.

dancers: Julie Grant, Amy Hampton, Jennifer Lee, Julia Male, Julie McLachlan, Tracey Norman, Liisa Smith; photo Craig Chambers; concept & creation Meagan O’Shea

Saturday September 10th:

Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market, Toronto, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

Newmarket Farmers Market, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Orangeville Farmers Market, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday September 13th:

Trinity Bellwoods Farmers Market, Toronto, 3:45 – 5:45 pm

Saturday and Sunday September 17 & 18th:

Queen West Arts Crawl, afternoons at Trintity Bellwoods Park

Parkdale Walking Tour, Pia Bouman Studio, 6 Noble Street, Toronto, 7 – 8 pm

Read on to last post about DANCE CLASS registration.

Classes start the first week of October.

Classes for ADULTS, TEENS, KIDS, and even a boys class.

See CLASSES for more information.

Dance Classes are open for registration!

We’ve updated the website so you can register online. please go to CLASSES for more information and to register. It’s going to be a great session with classes for all ages including adults.

dance like no one is watching at local and 100-mile Farmers Markets – Thanks Ontario Arts Council!

Saturday August 20 – Withrow Park Farmers Market, Port Credit Farmers Market and BuskerFest

Saturday August 27 – Newmarket, Stouffeville and Collingwood

Saturday September 3 – Wychwood, Withrow and Brickworks Farmers Markets and New Music Marathon at Dundas Square

Saturday September 10 – Orangeville and Stratford

Saturday& Sunday September 17 & 18 – Queen West Art Crawl’s Art in the Park, Trinity Bellwoods Park

*all schedules subject to change. please e-mail info@standupdance.com for information

Stand Up Dance also offers  a dance like no one is watching Flashmob workshop to schools – please go to the SCHOOLS tab for more information.

The Atomic Weight of Happiness gets a remount

Coming to Theatre Direct this November – a remount for school matinees and public performances on the weekend. Mark your calenders, book your schools, for November 19 – 27, 2011 at Theatre Direct at the Wychwood Art Barns. www.theatredirect.ca

The Love Project is under way

Thanks again to Theatre Direct and the Ontario Arts Council, I’ll be creating a new ensemble work with emerging professional dancers for youth this fall. I’ve been incubating and workshoping this project for some time. I am very excited to get it on it’s feet.

Meagan O’Shea is Artist in Residence at Living Arts Centre

I’m thrilled to be working with dancers and community members in Mississauga this year. Look for exciting activities happening to the west.

House Concerts/Salon Soirees continue in the fall

These fabulous and intimate performance experiences delight me and the audience. I’ll be in and around Toronto as well as in Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC this fall with these. Please be in touch if you’d like to host one in your home.

I hope you’re enjoying the end of August.

Cheers,

Meagan

SATURDAY CLASSES
October 1, 2011 – January 28, 2012

10 – 12 year olds
9:30 – 10:40 a.m. $ 260

13 + years
10:45 – 12:00 $ 275

TUESDAY CLASSES
October 4, 2011 – January 31, 2012

Boys, 6 + yrs
4:15 – 5 p.m. $ 250

6 – 7 year olds
5:00 – 5:45 p.m. $ 250

8 – 9 years old
5:45 – 6:45 p.m. $ 260

All classes subject to HST
10% family discount
Child Fitness Tax Credit receipts available.

Online registration with PayPal. Phone follow up.
For more information info@standupdance.com
All classes at Hub 14 (Queen West near Bathurst)

Ask about Stand Up Dance Classes at Theatre Direct on Saturdays at Wychwood Art Barns.

ADULT CLASSES
Rotating schedule of styles:
Term 1: hip hop, rhythm & step, contemporary/modern, improvisation
Term 2: contemporary dance floor work, tap, ballroom, hip hop-ballet
Term 3: Flashmob preparation & performance, collaborative choreography, and more!

THURSDAYS, 7: 15 – 8:45 p.m.
Term 1 October 13 – December 15, 2011
Term 2 January 5 – March 8, 2012
Term 3 March 22 – May 24, 2012

$ 200 for 10 weeks
$ 180 for card of 8 classes
plus HST
10% family discount

Saturday June 11th is Bring A Friend to Dance Class Day at Stand Up Dance
Each child registered is invited to bring one friend and 2 parents or other adults to dance class on Saturday June 11th.
If you’d like to bring more people, please be in touch to ensure there is space.

Friends: Come and try a fun-filled dance class where you’ll learn a little hip hop, a little rhythm & step, some improv!
Parents: This class is free. New and returning parents, you will be able to register your child for the fall session.

See you then!

Hub 14, 14 Markham Street.
e-mail info@standupdance.com for details

The Atomic Weight of Happiness
2 Dora nods

Outstanding Set Design by Lindsay Anne Black
Outstanding Lighting Design by Michelle Ramsay