MEET OUR ARTISTS
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Puja Amin
Puja Amin has toured the world as a dancer and choreographer, and has worked on a number of Bollywood films, theatre and TV productions. And since 2003, as a teacher and founder of Sanskriti Arts Ensemble, she has taught thousands of students from coast to coast, the United States and India, sharing her passion for Indian dance, music and culture. Dance XXXX
Carol Ashton
Carol Ashton is a storyteller, Early Childhood Educator, and musician and collaborator, she has delighted young children in schools and child care centres with her tunes and crafts, original and traditional rhymes and stories. Storytelling: Just For Primaries
Njacko Backo
Njacko Backo is a percussionist, singer, storyteller, choreographer, songwriter/composer who has been performing for children and adults since his childhood in Cameroon. He has a lifetime of practice in capturing the subtlety of dance and storytelling with his music – an essential part of the African performing arts. His programs for children and youth draw on parallels and differences between Canadian and African family life. Music and Dance: World Music, Dance
Mariella Bertelli * NEW ARTIST
Mariella Bertelli is a storyteller and children’s librarian. She has been telling stories to people of all ages from babies to 99. Her rich repertoire includes folk and fairy tales, literary, personal and original stories. She tells in both English and Italian, sometimes blending the two in an intriguing narrative blend. Her love of the arts inspires her to create storytelling shows that include visuals, like kamishibai paper theatre or bankelsang (stories with banners). Storytelling: Canadian Folklore, Just For Primaries, World Myths & Legends
Gurpreet Chana
Gurpreet Chana began to learn Indian Classical Tabla in the Punjab Gharana style from his Ustad Ji professor Parshotam Singh but has since added a unique diverse flavour influenced by growing up in Canada and listening to a variety of musical genres. His passion for percussion instruments has led him to experiment with other world beats playing the djembe, congas, dhol, zarb, doumbek, daf, or anything he can get his hands on! Music: World Music
Sarina Condello and Bailey Davis
Sarina Condello B.FA, B.Ed. M.Ed. By combining dance and theatrical elements from around the world, Sarina has invented a teaching methodology that inspires and galvanizes children to explore dance and creative movement by connecting to cultural and ecological stories. Bailey has been teaching dance, choreography, creative movement, and musical theatre classes throughout Ontario since 2012 appearing on Bravo! Canada’s hit docu-drama Way Off Broadway, and as a featured speaker at a TEDx event on the importance of arts experience for impoverished and vulnerable children. She hopes to use her love of dance and creative movement to inspire and empower people everywhere. Dance
Rita Cox
Trinidad born author and storyteller Rita Cox has received the Order of Canada for her active role in promoting storytelling, multicultural education and literacy. Rita opens the magic world of books to her listeners by weaving together the oral and written word, providing the tools for lifelong love of reading and telling. Storytelling: World Myths & Legends
Cuban Ensemble/Latin Street (Mireya Escalante, Mario del Monte Jr and emerging artist, Glenda del Monte)
Latin Street travels the musical spectrum from Cuban Son, Cha Cha, Mambo, Bolero and Salsa to Latin Jazz, Blues, R&B, Soul and Jazz standards among others. Led by the internationally and critically acclaimed Mireya Escalante and Mario del Monte Jr, they are joined by their very talented daughter Glenda, together they bringing their passion for afro-cuban traditional music and movement to Ontario schools. Music: World Music
Bailey Davis * EMERGING ARTIST
Dance
Deborah Dunleavy
Deborah Dunleavy is a professional performing artist whose career as an award winning record producer, singer, musician, author, storyteller and arts educator, has spanned 30 years. For the last decade she has focused on the art of storytelling with performances in Ireland, Scotland and across Canada, as well as establishing the 1000 Islands Yarnspinners. She is also the artistic director for the FOS Festival of Storytelling, and the current editor for the Storytelling Toronto’s Pippen Magazine. Storytelling: Canadian Folklore, Just For Primaries, World Myths & Legends
Andrea Haddad
Andrea Haddad finds that the excitement of French folk music and dance can be transformed easily into enthusiastic language learning. She has lived in Quebec, Switzerland and France where she performed and researched traditional francophone music and learned to play vielle à roué, the French hurdy gurdy. She continues to perform in Toronto and has recently retired as an award winning French teacher with TDSB. Music and French: Early Canadian & Traditional Music, and French
Sally Jaeger
Sally Jaeger is an avid advocate of developing early literacy skills, creating the first of 3 parent child programs in the early 80’s in Toronto including Lullabies and Lap Rhymes and Mr. Bear Says Hello for infants to pre-schoolers that she continues today with her daughter Erika Webster. Sally also provides a variety of storytelling programs for young school children, as well as highly participatory workshops for educators fostering the love of language for all participants. Storytelling: Just For Primaries
Erika Jaeger * EMERGING ARTIST
The daughter of storyteller, Sally Jaeger and composer and radio producer, David Jaeger, Erkia Jaeger was wrapped in rhymes, songs and stories from birth. Now over 30 years later, Erika is an avid storyteller and has been telling professionally for the last 10 years. She looks forward to working along side Sally as they pass on their favourite stories and rhymes to pre-schoolers and primary students and their teachers. Storytelling: Just For Primaries
Sheniz Janmohamed
A seasoned spoken word artist and author of two poetry collections, Sheniz has performed nationally and internationally for over 10 years and has visited dozens of schools, community centres, libraries and organizations to teach and perform. She assists students in finding their voices and channeling their creativity through collaborative expression while taking best practices, learning styles and multiple intelligences into consideration. Sheniz is currently completing her Arts Education certification at The Royal Conservatory in Toronto. Spoken Word
Anne Lederman
Anne Lederman is a virtuoso fiddler, singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and tireless crusader for Canadian music. Her fiddling is strongly rooted in the mixed traditions of the prairies including Métis, French, Old-Time, and Ukrainian styles, however she is also an inspiring exponent of Irish, Scottish, Quebecois, as well as Klezmer and jazz styles. In addition to lending her fiddle in bringing traditional North American French dance tunes to life with caller Bill Russell, Anne is a mentoring artist with the Métis Elder/Youth Fiddle Project as part of MITS Artist Renewal program that provides participating Métis youth fiddlers with learning opportunities in select Ontario First Nations communities. Music and Dance: Early Canadian & Traditional Music, and Dance
Joy Lapps Lewis * NEW ARTIST
Joy Lapps Lewis began playing the steel pan in 1997 at Malvern’s Church of the Nativity under the direction of Vince Cato and she soon after earned the title of “Princess of Pan”. In addition to her very successful public performances she shares her presentations through out the GTA and beyond. Music: World Music
Markus (Mark De Domenico)
Frequently featured in Tree House TV, this multi-award winning arts educator, singer, songwriter combines upbeat melodies with quirky lyrics in his toe-tappin’, knee-slappin’ music. He composes most of the songs he performs and, through his songwriting workshops students are given the input and guidance necessary to compose their own original song. Markus also provides music workshops for classroom teachers, parents and childcare workers helping to integrate music and singing as a daily classroom routine. Music: Songwriting
Métis Fiddler Quartet
Born with proud Métis roots in Winnipeg, this bilingual family ensemble is currently based in Toronto. Siblings Alyssa, Conlin, Nicholas and Danton Delbraere-Sawchuk bring their talent and enthusiasm in passing on Métis fiddle traditions to future generations. Music: Early Canadian & Traditional Music
Muhtadi
A native of Trinidad, Muhtadi is one of Canada’s leading percussionist and founder/artistic director of Muhtadi’s International Drumming Festival. He plays the djembe, bongos, congas, timbales, steel pan and wide variety of other percussion instrument when he performs both nationally and internationally. However, he devotes much of his time to teaching the art of drumming to young and old in both community-based arts projects, and school programs, and has recently received the 2011 Harry Jerome Award for his work with Toronto’s at risk-youth. Music: World Music
Hannah Naiman
Hannah Naiman has been dancing for more than 20 years and teaching and leading folk dances for over 6 years. She looks forward to introducing first time dancers to the joy and delight that comes from dancing together to traditional dance tunes. Music: Just For Primaries and Dance
Esther Osche
Esther Osche is a master storyteller and teacher of local history in Birch Island (Manitoulin). She visits schools and libraries sharing stories of the Ojibwa people that were passed down to her from her grandparents. Storytelling: First Nations
Marylyn Peringer
Marylyn Peringer tells remarkable stories in English and French across Ontario and throughout Canada. Her wide repertoire includes Canadian and world folklore of the stars and constellations, fables and riddle tales, as well as classic epics. Storytelling and French: Canadian Folklore, World Myths & Legends, and French
Puppetmongers (Ann Powell and David Powell)
Award winning sister and brother team started playing with puppets as children. Since establishing Puppetmongers in 1974, they have been creating remarkable plays with intriguing plots, and with great delicacy, wit and imagination. Theatre: Puppetry
Chris Rawlings
Award winning bilingual musician and songwriter was born in Montreal and now makes his home in Toronto. Either on his own or, with MITS friends Marylyn Peringer and Bill Russell and/or, with Peter Jellard, Chris’ school programs feature engaging traditional and original songs and music about his native Montreal, French Canadian celebrations and the environment. Music and French: Early Canadian & Traditional Music, Songs for Social and Environmental Change, and French
Kathy Reid Naiman
Kathy Reid Naiman is an award-winning musician, recording artist and arts educator for children. She is dedicated to bringing quality musical experiences to young children as well as their caregivers, parents and teachers. Playing guitar, fiddle Appalachian dulcimer, banjo, bowed psaltery and autoharp, Kathy is also an active folk-musician as a member of Ragged but Right and as the fiddler for The Toronto Women’s Sword Team. As a mentoring artists with MITS Artists Renewal Project, Kathy is very proud to provide her talented daughter Hannah, with opportunities to develop her own school programs. Music: Just For Primaries
Bill Russell
Bill Russell is known for his ability to get his audience involved and participating. Bill’s recordings, workshops and concerts draw upon the Cajun and Creole traditions of his native Louisiana. His audiences easily make the connection among the many French traditions of North America. He currently makes his home in Quebec City, however he visits Ontario school communities twice annually either on his, or with MITS friends Marylyn Peringer and Chris Rawlings, as well as calling French traditional dances with Anne Lederman for school community events. Music and French: Early Canadian & Traditional Music, and French
Itah Sadu
Award winning author, storyteller and owner of Toronto bookstore, A Different Booklist, Itah Sadu shares the rich oral traditions of the Caribbean, Africa and North America with students and teachers. Her stories, workshops and keynotes often address issues of racism and equity as well as demonstrating the wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom gained from oral traditional cultures of the African Diaspora. Storytelling: African Dispora Tales
Michael St. George
With deep roots in the African oral tradition of the griots, Michael St. George is a multi-media performance dub poet. A native of Jamaica and inspired by his working-class upbringing, Michael focuses his work on the themes of justice and social equity. Although he has been performing live and recording his music as well publishing his poetry since 1985, he devotes much of his time to working with at-risk youth in both schools and community programs in Toronto, London (UK) and with the Turn Around Project in Hamilton and Jamaica providing inspirational and catalytic workshops addressing issues relevant to their lives today. Spoken Word: Dub Poetry
Damarise Ste. Marie * EMERGING ARTIST
Salut!
Marylyn Perringer teams up with Chris Rawlings and Bill Russell presenting traditional French Canadian folktales and songs. Music and Storytelling French: Early Canadian & Traditional Music, and French
Jowi Taylor
Jowi Taylor is a multiple award winning writer and broadcaster best known for his long-running CBC Radio program Global Village, the Peabody Award winning radio series The Wire: The Impact of Electricity on Music and its celebrated companion series: The Nerve: Music and the Human Experience. His independent Six String Nation multi-media project centered around a guitar built entirely from pieces of Canadian heritage, combines Jowi’s various fascinations including music, media, community-building and the intersection of Canada’s history and multicultural identity. Multi-Media
Ken Whiteley
Ken Whiteley is one of Canada’s pre-eminent performing roots music artists. He has been called the godfather of children’s music and a playing encyclopedia for his vast repertoire, command of a wide variety of styles including blues, gospel, swing, folk and his own compositions, and his prodigious ability on over a dozen instruments. Half dozen artists have covered his songs and his walls are adorned with a dozen gold and multiple platinum records, but it is the immense joy that communicates from all his musical endeavors that make his work so unique. Music: Folk & Blues, Songs of Social & Environmental Change, Just For Primaries
Sandra Whiting
Sandra Whiting has been at the epicenter of activity and change in Toronto’s African Canadian community for over twenty years. She has worked with the Ontario Black History Society, Jamaican Canadian Association, the Caribbean Cultural Committee and was awarded the Harry Jerome Award for Community Leadership in 2002. As a keynote speaker and storyteller, Sandra uses the arts as a vehicle for positive social change. Storytelling: African Dispora Tales
Dan Yashinsky
Award winning author and storyteller, Dan Yashinsky has been a storyteller for more than thirty years. Drawing on his own crossroads heritage (Jewish, Turkish, Romanian, American, French) and the unforgettable stories collected on his travels, he has performed at schools and festivals around the world. He is the founder of Toronto’s 1,001 Friday Nights of Storytelling, the longest-running storytelling series in North America and is the creator of the Telling Bee Curriculum Project, a school-based family oral literacy. Storytelling: World Myths & Legends