{"id":96046,"date":"2023-05-02T16:30:44","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T20:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=96046"},"modified":"2023-05-02T16:30:44","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T20:30:44","slug":"preview-junior-childrens-festival-brings-artists-storytellers-around-world-harbourfront","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2023\/05\/02\/preview-junior-childrens-festival-brings-artists-storytellers-around-world-harbourfront\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | JUNIOR Children\u2019s Festival Brings Artists And Storytellers From Around The World To Harbourfront"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_96048\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-96048\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-96048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/JUNIOR-festival-preview.jpg\" alt=\"L-R (clockwise): ZOOOM by Patch Theatre (Photo: Matt Byrne); Bees by Polyglot Theatre (Photo: Theresa Harrison); All Nations Junior Drummers + First Fire Dance (Photo: Brian Medina)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-96048\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">L-R (clockwise): ZOOOM by Patch Theatre (Photo: Matt Byrne); Bees by Polyglot Theatre (Photo: Theresa Harrison); All Nations Junior Drummers + First Fire Dance (Photo: Brian Medina)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>JUNIOR, Harbourfront Centre&#8217;s annual international children&#8217;s festival, brings imaginative entertainment and events back to Toronto\u2019s waterfront from May 20 to 22, 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Cultivating a love and appreciation for the performing arts is one of the best ways to enrich a child&#8217;s life, and introduce them to ideas and culture from around the world. JUNIOR offers a full slate that includes performances, workshops and other inclusive events designed for the whole family.<\/p>\n<p>There are both free and ticketed events that will take place both indoors and outdoors across Harbourfront Centre&#8217;s 10-acre location on Toronto&#8217;s waterfront.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs we grow up, we explore the land on which we live, the stories that surround us, the cultures that educate and speak to us \u2014 in short, we discover who we are,\u201d says Lisa Marie DiLiberto, JUNIOR co-curator in a statement. \u201cJUNIOR offers an unparalleled opportunity for children and their families to explore how expanding our minds and perspectives is life\u2019s greatest adventure. The artistically diverse and multidisciplinary festival line-up offers a wide range of free and accessible activities where children can make their own discoveries.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/o2w0bYviUDo?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>The Festival<\/h2>\n<p>Accessibility is one of the key mandates of the festival. Specific accessibility features include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A largely free roster of programming;<\/li>\n<li>Accessible pricing on ticketed performances;<\/li>\n<li>A special quiet zone;<\/li>\n<li>Free professional daycare for families who need extra support;<\/li>\n<li>Enhanced accessibility for programming on May 21 that includes: ASL\/DSL interpretation, audio description, tactile stations and a relaxed performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Ticketed events<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Pinocchio (Denmark) | Teater Patrasket<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20\u201322, 2023 at 1 p.m., Harbourfront Centre Theatre; Ages 8+<\/p>\n<p>The classic story about the puppet who wants to be a real boy, and his sometimes dangerous adventures into the world, are interpreted via stylized puppetry. Humour and music propel a visually striking take on the timeless tale by one of Copenhagen&#8217;s most renowned touring theatre companies.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ZOOOM (Australia) | Patch Theatre<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20\u201321, 2023 at 3 p.m. \/ May 22, 2023 at 3:30 p.m., Fleck Dance Theatre; Ages 3+<\/p>\n<p>This multimedia performance and story follows a child on a spectacular imaginary adventure through the cosmos as he helps a star find its way home. The performance features original music, projections, and lasers for an immersive experience. Patch Theatre is a professional company that has been entertaining children and their families in Adelaide since 1972.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3WYXcUdXZhY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>Free Programming<\/h2>\n<h3>Participate<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Bees (Australia) | Polyglot Theatre<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20\u201322, 2023 at Various Times, Garage Bay and surrounding West Campus; All ages<\/p>\n<p>This interactive experience explores the activity of bees. Three human-sized bees will be busy creating their community, inviting children to participate.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Storybook Search (Ontario) | Bad Hats Theatre<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20\u201322, 2023 at 11:30am and 2:30 p.m., Garage Bay (home base); Ontario Square &amp; Canada Square (performance); All ages (pre-registration required)<\/p>\n<p>Storybook Search is a kind of scavenger hunt with a theatrical bent. Audiences will be led through Harbourfront Centre with a mixture of games, stories, and clues towards discovering the Secret of the Harbour.<\/p>\n<h3>Film &amp; Video<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Family Portrait (United Kingdom) | Barrowland Ballet<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20\u201322, 2023 at Various Times, Artport Gallery; All ages (max. capacity of 20 per showing)<\/p>\n<p>Across four screens, this interactive video installation follows Barrowland Ballet\u2019s Artistic Director Natasha Gilmore with her three children through the diverse landscapes and seasons of Scotland. It\u2019s an intimate depiction of family life, interpreted with striking cinematography and choreography.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Finding the Spirits Short Films Program (Ontario) | imagineNATIVE<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20\u201322, 2023, at Various Times, Studio Theatre; All ages<\/p>\n<p>You can experience this collection of new short films with in-person screenings, or online. The films revolve around the theme of young Indigenous identity, curated by imagineNATIVE, a longstanding and highly regarded film and media arts presenter.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_96049\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-96049\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-96049\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/A-Simple-Space_Photo-credit-Andy-Phillipson.jpg\" alt=\"A Simple Space by Gravity &amp; Other Myths (Photo: Andy Phillipson)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"750\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-96049\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Simple Space by Gravity &amp; Other Myths (Photo: Andy Phillipson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Dance<\/h3>\n<p><strong>No Excuses No Limits \u2013 Performance (Quebec) | Luca \u201cLazylegz\u201d Patuelli\/ILL-Abilities<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20 &amp; 21 &amp; 22, 2023 at 12:30 p.m., Stage in the Park; All ages<\/p>\n<p>Montreal\u2019s Luca \u201cLazylegz\u201d Patuelli has been a B-boy since the age of 15, and he\u2019s been featured on national TV shows such as Ellen and America\u2019s Got Talent.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Everyone Can Dance \u2013 Workshop (Quebec) | Luca \u201cLazylegz\u201d Patuelli\/ILL-Abilities<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 22, 2023 at 2 p.m., Market Tent B; All ages<\/p>\n<p>This all ages workshop is designed for dancers at any level, led by Luca \u201cLazylegz\u201d Patuelli. One of his key points of focus is the importance of adaptations, and his teaching practice includes techniques people can use in any walk of life.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bollywood Dance Demo (Ontario) | Broken Dance<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20, 2023 at 5 p.m., Stage in the Park; All ages<\/p>\n<p>Bollywood, hip hop, fusion, classical Indian dance and Bhangra are on the menu, led by Broken Dance, a company that specializes in a high energy fusion of South Asian and Western dance. The company were finalists on Canada\u2019s Got Talent.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Japanese Yosakoi Dance Demo (Ontario) | Sakuramai Toronto<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 21, 2023 at 5 p.m., Stage in the Park; All ages<\/p>\n<p>Sakuramai, an organization with roots and performance history in community events in Toronto and Montreal, leads this performance and demonstration of Japanese Yosakoi-style dance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>All Nations Juniors + First Fire Dance (Ontario) | Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 22, 2023 at 4 p.m., Stage in the Park; All ages<\/p>\n<p>This First Nations Pow Wow-style youth drum group reinforces identity and empowerment for Dakota, Ojibwe, Chippewa and Cree youth, among others across Turtle Island. They are joined in performance by First Fire Dance for a remix of contemporary, break dancing, hip hop and traditional hoop dancing.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_96050\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-96050\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-96050\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/Lemon-Bucket-Orkestra_Photo-credit-Brian-Medina.jpg\" alt=\"Lemon Bucket Orkestra (Photo: Brian Medina)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-96050\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lemon Bucket Orkestra (Photo: Brian Medina)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Music<\/h3>\n<p><strong>49 Going on 50 (Ontario) | Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20, 2023 at 11am, at Concert Stage; All ages<\/p>\n<p>The TSYO plays at the big outdoor stage at Harbourfront as a conclusion of their 49th season. The program includes Beethoven\u2019s Coriolan Overture and Brahms\u2019 Tragic Overture, followed by De Falla\u2019s love song El Amor Brujo.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lemon Bucket Orkestra (Ontario)<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20\u201321, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. (performance) and 4:30 p.m. (parade) \/ May 22, 2023 at 12 p.m. (parade) and 2 p.m. (performance), Concert Stage (performance); roaming campus (parade); All ages<\/p>\n<p>This unique ensemble takes Slavic folk, Klezmer, Gypsy and Party Punk, and turns them into a high voltage show that will be performing live, as well as in a daily parade through Harbourfront grounds. The Lemon Buckets have toured worldwide to rave reviews.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Naghmeh Percussion Ensemble (Iran; Ontario)<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 22, 2023 at 11am, Stage in the Park; All ages<\/p>\n<p>The Tonbak (Iranian goblet drum) and Daf (Iranian frame drum) are in the spotlight, along with the Tar (Iranian long-necked lute) for a concert of Iranian classical and folk music. Naghmeh Farahmand is a well known Persian percussionist with an international profile, who has been performing and teaching across Canada since 2010.<\/p>\n<h3>Circus<\/h3>\n<p><strong>A Simple Space (Australia) | Gravity &amp; Other Myths<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20\u201322 at 3 p.m., South Lawn; All ages<\/p>\n<p>Seven acrobats push the limits in a show that is stripped-back, up close and personal. Live percussion supports this unique performance.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_96052\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-96052\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-96052\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/Fay-and-Fluffy-Photo-credit-Brian-Medina.jpg\" alt=\"Fay Slift and Fluffy Souffl\u00e9 (Photo: Brian Medina)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-96052\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fay Slift and Fluffy Souffl\u00e9 (Photo: Brian Medina)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Storytelling<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Fay &amp; Fluffy\u2019s Storytime (Ontario) | Fay and Fluffy<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20\u201321, 2023 at 2 p.m. \/ May 22, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., Tent C; All ages<\/p>\n<p>Drag stars Fay Slift and Fluffy Souffl\u00e9 keep the focus on the fun, and books and stories that are culturally diverse, along with songs and humour.<\/p>\n<h3>Cooking<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Noir Experience Food Workshops (Ontario)<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 20\u201321, 2023 at 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. \/ May 22, 2023 at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., Lakeside Terrace; All ages (pre-registration required)<\/p>\n<p>This Black chef collective will be spotlighting the cuisine of the Black diaspora, including dishes from the Caribbean as well as the African continent. Noir Experience partners with musicians and artists for a unique culinary experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>May 20: Chef Latonya Bentley (Jamaica) \u2013 Quiche Florentine with Plantain and Different Garnishes<\/li>\n<li>May 21: Chef Adisa Glasgow (Trinidad &amp; Tobago) \u2013 Trinidadian Doubles<\/li>\n<li>May 22: Chef Yohannes Asres (Ethiopia) \u2013 Lentil Sambusa<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cWe are thrilled to welcome back children and families to our annual JUNIOR Festival at Harbourfront Centre this May long weekend,\u201d sayss Nathalie Bonjour, JUNIOR co-curator and Harbourfront Centre\u2019s Director, Performing Arts. \u201cOur central mission is to make JUNIOR a welcoming space for young audiences to ask big questions about life and the world around them through the arts, while leaving lots of room for joy and fun! We are committed to our continued efforts to make the festival more accessible and we look forward to inviting both new and returning families to explore this transformative festival experience together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tickets and registration available <strong>[<a href=\"https:\/\/harbourfrontcentre.com\/series\/junior\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a>]<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig van Daily \u2014 classical music and opera in five minutes or less <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/ludwig-van.us9.list-manage.com\/subscribe?u=4f785cb3f9058f2393ccad035&amp;id=57cdb68eac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>HERE<\/em><\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JUNIOR, Harbourfront Centre&#8217;s annual international children&#8217;s festival, brings imaginative entertainment and events to Toronto&#8217;s waterfront May 20 to 22.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":96048,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[40430,76,19,20,4967,4780,4557,62,63,72],"tags":[40610,40612,40611,3361],"yst_prominent_words":[11283,10287],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/05\/JUNIOR-festival-preview.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-oZ8","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96046"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96046"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":96053,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96046\/revisions\/96053"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96048"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96046"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=96046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}