New Waves Festival
Luminato
Under the leadership and inspiration of the Young Centre’s 12 Resident Artists, hundreds of Toronto’s established, emerging and youth artists come together under one roof for a multidisciplinary explosion of original works and creative happenings. Artistic disciplines, cultures, and generations blur as Toronto audiences and artists share their creative spark.
Ranging from choreographed pieces inspired by simple, everyday tasks, to vocalists disguised as architectural wonders, to bedtime stories and site-specific theatre, New Waves offers something for all ages and interests.
An Artistic Treasure Hunt – FREE and FOR ALL AGES
Friday June 12, 7:00 – 10:00pm
Saturday June 13, 2:00 – 10:00pm
Sunday June 14, 2:00 – 7:00pm
See what's happening at New Waves
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Festival Sneak Peek with Young Centre Resident Artists
Young Centre Resident Artists Patricia O'Callaghan, David Buchbinder, and Suba Sankaran [pictured above] give an exclusive sneak peek into what you might discover at the New Waves Festival.
Q: Tell us a bit about what you're doing for New Waves?
Suba: The Young Centre will be transformed into a creative discovery "museum" of sorts, as audience members are treated to an artistic treasure hunt that promises to be a feast for the senses. I will be performing with an a cappella 80s vocal band called Retrocity in Live Juke and Jive and we'll be collaborating with dancers as well as the audience; I will be performing, improvising, conducting impromptu choirs, and leading the Collaboratory Jam...I don't want to give away too much, but this festival will bring creativity to life, and life to creativity.
David: There's a couple of things I'm working on. First is a project with The Flying Bulgars called Into Light performing excerpts that explore bringing a visual element into the suite of songs through a music video created by Bruce McDonald. I'm also leading the Fractured Band where all of the festival's musical artists will be working off a small body of material performed a million different ways at several points during the festival.
Patricia: One of the projects I'm involved in is called Bedtime Stories, in which audience members will be able to come in, lie down on a bed, and listen to a performer or performers give their version of a bedtime story. These stories will vary wildly, from actual bedtime stories to lullabies, to dances. Another project is called Sous le Soleil. It involves a great band led by Andrew Downing, playing live original music to an old silent French film called "The Impossible Voyage".
Q: What are you most excited to see that others are doing?
Patricia: So many highlights, but if I had to pick one more, I'd say Virtuosic Toronto. I don't want to give away what it is, but one's general notion of virtuosity is of, say, a violinist, or ballet dancer, whereas Virtuosic Toronto will be highlighting Torontonians that one doesn't necessarily think of as virtuosic, yet they most definitely are!
David: I'm really excited about Bedtime Stories and to experience Virtuosic Toronto. Really all of it is incredibly interesting to me - especially the choreographed elements.
Suba: I'm most excited about collaborating with new artists in multiple disciplines. I'm also curious as to what new ideas evolve - there is nothing more exciting than recharging the artistic battery via listening, performing, collaborating, and sharing. When you put the best and brightest under one roof, there's no telling what magic is in store.
Q. What makes this the "can't miss" event of Luminato?
David: It's one of the most unusual creative arts festivals to come along in a long time, the combination of the diversity, the calibre of the artists involved, and the nature of the event - plus, its free so its very accessible. It's exciting to see the level of ingenuity put into this inventive and interactive program and I love the way we're beginning to fully use the Young Centre building to its full potential.
Suba: This festival is a new and groundbreaking concept for Toronto and will feature over 100 emerging, established and youth artists. The audience will become part of the art creation. The event is free and for all ages.
Patricia: Well, firstly, it's free! Secondly, all the shows are no longer than fifteen minutes, so if you have kids, or want to see a bunch of stuff in Luminato, or have limited time, or a short attention span then the New Waves festival fits your bill.
Q. Any advice for patrons to better enjoy the festival?
Suba: Come with open minds, ears, hearts and voices. Be prepared to be an active participant. It's like one of the those old books I used to love - Choose Your Own Adventure - in this case, it's an Art-venture, and therefore, you are advised to let your senses be your discovery guide!
David: I'll echo Suba! Come with an open mind. Enter into the detective game part of the experience, which is trying to figure out what's going on.
Patricia: I agree, just surrendering to it is the way to go. Patrons will have to participate more actively in that they will have to seek out various performing spaces all over the building, they will be given clues and help, but where they want to go is up to them. And they can even participate in various performances if they feel so inclined!
Q. Can you summarize the New Waves in three words?
Patricia: Anything Is Possible!
Suba: Multidisciplinary Sensory Eruption!
David: Mysterious. Inventive. Exhilirating.
Photos by Bruce Zinger.
