“Abilities Arts Festival: A Celebration of Disability Arts and Culture brings together a dazzling array of talent and creativity. Don’t miss dynamic and powerful artistic presentations from some of the finest artists and performers, including photographer Vincenzo Pietropaolo, dances by Peggy Baker, Serge Bennathan, Peter Bingham and Robert Derosiers, the music of the late Ahmed Hassan, film-maker Lawrence Jackman, percussionist/vocalist Luis Orbegoso, Australian musical theatre sensation Tim McCallum, to name a few.

OCTOBER 1-30, 2011 at venues across Toronto

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT: I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN continues to OCTOBER 30, Each day 1pm to 11pm (FREE)
Carlton Cinema Gallery, 20 Carlton St (at Yonge); College subway; Dundas is closest accessible station), Toronto
The public is invited to internationally acclaimed documentary photographer Vincenzo Pietropaolo’s most recent series, Invisible No More. Commissioned by the Canadian Association of Community Living, Invisible No More is a series of portraits of Canadians of all ages and walks of life from every part of the country with intellectual disabilities.

IN CELEBRATION OF OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH: OCTOBER 12-13
Villa Colombo, 40 Playfair Ave, Toronto (advance registration by schools only)
Two days of performance for school aged children from in and around the GTA. Children will be inspired and engaged by Australian musical theatre sensation Tim McCallum, ASL Waves dance troupe, internationally renowned percussionist and vocalist Luis Orbegoso, vocalist Kyra Millan, and singer/songwriter Shawn Brush.

FILM SERIES: PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST…AS AN ARTIST
Carlton Cinema, 20 Carlton St (at Yonge); College subway; Dundas is closest accessible station), Toronto
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 7pm
A Not So Still Life: An award-winning glimpse into the wild and kaleidoscopic mind of internationally celebrated Seattle glass artist Ginny Ruffner.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1pm – A quadruple bill of shorts
How Does It Feel: In Larry Jackman’s directorial debut Kazumi Tsuruoka sings Smokey Robinson like no one else.
75 Watts: John Cullen’s multiple award-winning portrait of an electrifying young drummer who describes his body as a 75 watt bulb plugged into a 1000 watt outlet.
Rehearsing The Lesson: A glimpse of Montreal’s extraordinary integrated dance-theatre company Les Productions des pieds des mains as they rehearse their unique take on this classic absurdist play.
First Steps: Rising young filmmaker Jason DaSilva turns the camera on himself as he launches a very new phase in his cinematic career.
Price: $10 general / $8 discount for seniors (65+), students (<19), persons with disabilities

DANCE • FILM • MUSIC: THE NEAT STRANGE MUSIC OF AHMED HASSAN: OCTOBER 21-22, 8pm
Betty Oliphant Theatre, 400 Jarvis St, Toronto
Highlighting this year’s festival is a celebration of the singular artistic vision of this influential Canadian composer and musician curated by award-winning contemporary dancer Peggy Baker, Hassan’s wife and longtime collaborator. Neat Strange Music features excerpts from the work of some of Canada’s leading dancers and choreographers – Robert Desrosiers, Serge Bennathan, Peter Bingham and Peggy Baker herself, along with a rare reunion concert by ethno-music heroes, Mother Tongue. Beginning in 1981, Hassan made an important and thoroughly original contribution to the Canadian dance scene for two decades through compositions and live performances of music for a host of important choreographers.
Price: $25 general / $20 discount for seniors (65+), students (<19), persons with disabilities

For information or to buy tickets, visit: www.abilitiesartsfestival.org”

-submitted by Brian Eastcott, Event Producer, Abilities Arts Festival

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