SmitTEN with SOY, 10^th Anniversary Celebration

Thursday May 8, 2008 at CiRCA,

126 John Street (at Richmond Street West)
Doors open at 7pm
Free before 10pm, PWYC cover after 10pm
(suggested donation $15, all proceeds to SOY’s new Youth Emergency Fund, Make Change)
 

SOY is turning 10 and we want you to celebrate with us!

Join us on May 8^th as we take a night out to celebrate Supporting Our Youth’s 10-year milestone. SOY has faced some challenges over the past 10 years and we’re still going strong and thriving. We invite all SOY members and supporters, past and present, to join us for smitTEN with SOY, our 10^th Anniversary Celebration.

SmitTEN with SOY will be hosted by the fabulous Ryan G. Hinds and features performances by songwriter, poet and theatre artist Evalyn Parry and MataDanZe with dancers Victoria Mata, Misset Parata, Irma Villafuerte and Gricel Severigno. We will also be screening SOY’s 10^th Anniversary Documentary for the very first time! Music will be provided by DJs Winnie, Carma, Blackcat and Nik Red. Enjoy scrumptious food catered by Rancho Relaxo and it’s taking place at the beautiful CiRCA!

Whether you want to come early and get a chance to catch up with old and new SOYsters alike, catch the performances or get your groove on to the sexy tunes of DJs Winnie, Carma, Blackcat and Nik Red, don’t miss this chance to join in our celebration!

Artist Bios

Our host Ryan G. Hinds is an award-winning performance artist, best known to audiences from his Nuit Blanche 2007 performance installation; cabaret shows at Buddies in Bad Times, The Gladstone, and Goodhandy's and plays at Theater Passe Muraille and Tarragon; and both the movie and stage versions of Hedwig and the Angry Inch (where he became the first actor of color to play the title role). One of the co-founders of the ARTWHERK! Collective , he's proud of his SOY association, and grateful for the opportunities that being a part of the early Fruit Loopz era gave him. After working with people like Liza Minnelli, Sky Gilbert, Jackie Richardson, the late Gregory Hines, and Damien Atkins, Ryan is thrilled to bring his glitter, sass, and outrageous-ness to Circa.

Award-winning songwriter, poet, theatre artist and ironic social commentator Evalyn Parry is gifted with a sharp pen, a quirky musical sensibility and a wicked sense of humour. Hailed as “equally funny and dangerous” (CBC Radio), Parry has performed at music, storytelling and political events all over North America (including The Lincoln Centre Out of Doors, Hillside Festival, Calgary International Spokenword Festival, Halifax Pop Explosion, Toronto International Storytelling Festival and more) as well as universities, conferences, folk clubs and slams.  Since 2001, she has released three CD’s of her music and spoken word, as well as a live concert DVD, and two spoken word videos.  Evalyn has been the recipient of a number of songwriting awards, and her songs and spoken-word pieces have been commissioned and broadcast on numerous national CBC Radio and TV programs.  “Engaging, clever and constantly surprising” (Herizons Magazine) Parry’s outspoken, personal and political creations hold out a powerful vision of social change, while her irreverent wit holds nothing sacred.

Evalyn is a founding member and writer/performer with Toronto’s Independent Auntie Theatre. With the Aunties she has written and performed in 5 original productions include the multi-award winning Clean Irene & Dirty Maxine, which has toured all over Canada. Since 2005, she has been director of the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre Queer Youth Arts Programme, a creation/performance and mentorship programme for queer-identified young people between ages 15 to 25. 

This summer Evalyn will be performing at music festivals across the country, promoting her newest CD, Small Theatres.

MataDanZe is an independent Toronto based interpretative dance group that uses dance and body movement to connect with our inner emotions as a means of interpreting life.  MataDanZe uses dance (or also referred to as movement) as the primary tool to share information, educate and primarily impact and hopefully transform individuals in audiences with pressing issues.  It's a tracing experience that both the dancer and the audience enter. Choreographed movements embrace with expression, unveiling stories that connect to our inner emotions.

Canadian born and Venezuelan raised, Victoria Mata is trained in African Dancing and Modern and Folkloric Dance.  Victoria's dance career was first inspired after a few workshops with Garth Fagan's Dance Company in Rochester NY, but most of her training is self taught and sporadic training whenever possible.  Her strength is in her creativity and passion for corporal movement.  Her style is a fusion of modern dance, African, folkloric and free styling.  For the past five years she has focused on choreographies that interpret history and real-life situations.  Her work has been shown in Toronto's Ffida, International Dance Festival 2003, The International Youth Conference, Venezuela 2005 and a number cultural and peace festivals in Toronto and New York.  Victoria has been a member and performer of the student-run Only Human Dance Collective at the University of Toronto since 2002 and has recently founded the MataDanZe Collective.  Victoria hopes that her passion for communication through the art of corporal movement will inspire other dancers and non-dancers to use dance as a tool to overcome life blockages and understand history.

Misset Parata was born in Venezuela where dance has been an important role in her daily life since a child.  Her training is heavily based in West African Dance, but her Latin salsa style dominate much of her moves.
Misset is a talented dancer and although she has not undergone traditional dance training, her passion for dance shows through her vibrant moves. Since dancing with MataDanZe, Misset's dancing has
matured technically and creatively.

Irma Villafuerte is Salvadorian and at the moment resides in Toronto, Canada. From an early age, Irma formed part of the world of the Art and Dance, practicing ballet, gymnastics, and theater. At age 13 years she discovered her passion for Salsa and from then she joined Strickly Salsa Dance Company, in Toronto. Irma has had the opportunity to appear in many events internationally and nationally such as the Salsa Congresses, Latin Night for the Blue Jays, and the Social Vista Club among others. In Puerto Rico, Irma performed in the Congress of where she performed and networked with dancers from other countries. Irma's favorite pastimes include many, among them Yoga, which has become part of its daily routine.   In addition, Irma spends much of her time drawing and painting. Irma's activist works involves participating in a project where through the arts and theater young women were enabled the prevention violence in El Salvador. Irma is convinced that her laughter, art and dance are successful methods for communication and change. In addition, Irma is a true believer that dance can be a vehicle discover inner Peace. Irma is a new member of MataDanze and is invested in continuing to discover new forms expression to empower womyn.

Gricel Severigno Is a Latin American writer, video-artist, director of theater, and a drag King performer from Venezuela. Her short films have been exhibited in Toronto's Inside out Film Festival, in X-Space, also Allucinates and in other festivals in Canada.   As an actress, Gricel's work has been exhibited in: Nothing Sacred Anymore, Lab theatre, Biter and Sweet woman, Anonym and Trip. In Venezuela her work has been shown in the Galician Rajatabla Theater, Kaspar Theater and Rómulo Room.   As a drag performer, she has made several works of solidarity in pride of Toronto 2007, 2004.2002, in Mayworks and the second international festival of Drag king in Ohio. Since joining MataDanZe, Gricel is currently exploring the fusion of movement and theater in her storytelling and social criticism.

Toronto DJ Winnie - behind the decks for nearly 5 years, she has played every type of event: parties, clubs, festivals, launches, exhibits, art shows, fashion shows, sex shows, erotic fairs, private house parties, large corporate gigs, you name it! She is one of the most flexible DJs in town, making you move, wherever, whenever!  Her sounds include electro, techno, dance, hip hop and retro beats.  

Winnie whishes SOY a fabulous 10th Anniversary and is ecstatic to DJ and celebrate with the SOY community. You can also catch Winnie Djing the annual Pride Prom at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre on June 24th.

Hailing from Barbados, DJ Carma brings the sunny energy of the latest reggae and soca tunes, as well as Hip-hop and R&B. A favourite in Toronto's Queer Scene, known for her sexy spicy vibe. She's the resident DJ on Thursday nights at Goodhandy's, with a DJ resume including Slack's, Indigo Vibes, Pride 2007 (Blockorama), V.E.R.S.E Poetry Nights, Pride 2006 (Blockorama 2006), Pride Toronto 2005 (Central Stage, Blockorama 2005),'Here Kitty Kitty' at Ciao Edie's, and Club SAW(Ottawa).

Her DJ name stems from her belief of what DJing is all about; Give good vibes and receive good vibes. "A DJ's responsibility is to play what the crowd really wants, but open and educate the ears of the masses to new music.

dj  Nik Red, is am activist, dj, promoter, Plays connect the dots in musical interludes, in the course of a night you might hear Nik drop some sweet house, a soulful old school joint, a electro mashup, and downtempo track. He gets great joy from seeing people respond and participate however they may choose. NIk Reflects the diversity of the community in the music he spins, pushing the boundaries of race, sexuality and gender. Currently one of the resident DJ at Goodhandys in Toronto , spinning at Battling Boys, STROKE, Decadance and Homohop parties there.   You can also catch him on Afrotransit on CKLN 88.1FM Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm.  In addition to being a DJ,  Nik has been  part of the blacknessyes committee for the past 8 years helping to create the Blockorama stage at Pride. He has also volunteer in the community as part of the Inside Out programming committee, Bill 7 Awards,  the Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth line, the Lesbian Gay Community Appeal, the Gay Bi Trans Men working group,  and with the BQY Initiative and Trans Fusion crew of Supporting Our Youth.

DJ Blackcat, the “funky dred” DJ, officially began spinning in 1992, specializing in House music and now spins a variety of sounds including R&B, reggae, hip-hop, calypso. Almost immediately upon entering the club scene, the unknown DJ not only made a name for himself but also gained a cult following. Within months the name and face was splashed on numerous bills across the city, playing for the top clubs & working with the top promoters. DJ Blackcat has been on the cover & featured in magazines, such as Xtra!, NOW, fab, Vibe Honey, The Toronto Star and Eye spotlighting his refreshing talents.

Not only a DJ but a promoter aswel, DJ Blackcat was also instrumental in bringing Toronto Splash (Aug 1st-3rd 2008) to Toronto & is looking forward to another successful year in 2008 with the project.

Now 16yrs under his belt, Blackcat is still at the top of his game & is now apart of the House of Monroe.

Blackcat has taken his show on the road. Spinning as a resident DJ for 3yrs at Unity in Montreal & also playing in cities like Chicago, Portland, Pennsylvania, NYC, Dallas TX & Atlanta.

This year hopefully adding Philly & Washington to the list of Spots I will be spinning @ for the summer.

“My next venture is to try my hand at production & to get back into my acting. I have always be a little afraid of production but I think it is time for me to give it a shot. "I don't get much sleep," laughs Blackcat.

Sarah Sharkey Pearce was born in 1976 in Toronto, Ontario. Sarah is a documentary filmmaker and community art educator. Her previous work includes; This Is My House, is a community doc. made in collaboration with Sketch Working Arts. Her next project is a feature length documentary about teenagers and public space in the suburbs of Toronto. She is planning to begin an MFA in Documentary Media Studies at Ryerson University in the Fall of 2008. She graduated with honors from York University with a BFA in film and video in 2001.