In performances, or in collaborative hands on classroom visits and interdisciplinary residencies, our award-winning artists truly enjoy engaging children and educators in dynamic, interactive learning opportunities that explore world oral cultural traditions. Many of our veteran artists are also mentors to our emerging artists including their own offspring, contributing to a lasting legacy of traditions that continue to be passed on from generation to generation.
Scroll down to read our artists’ stories.
Puja Amin has toured the world as a dancer and choreographer, and has worked on a number of Bollywood films, theatre and TV productions… read more
Njacko Backo is a percussionist, singer, storyteller, choreographer, songwriter/composer who has been performing for children and adults since his childhood in Cameroon… read more
Mariella Bertelli has been telling stories for a long time and also worked as a children’s librarian for 22 years. Her love for children and their right to literacy has brought her to the island of Lampedusa… read more
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… read more
Sarina Condello has invented a teaching methodology that inspires and galvanizes children to explore dance and creative movement by connecting to cultural, ecological and STEM topic narratives. Bailey Davis has been teaching dance, choreography, creative movement… read more
Trinidad born author and storyteller Rita Cox has received the Order of Canada for her active role in promoting storytelling, multicultural education and literacy… read more
Originally from Cape Town, Jim Gelcer is an internationally acclaimed musician, composer, and producer who has recorded and performed around the word… read more
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 … read more
Ed Hanley is a multi-dimensional artist – creator, performer, producer, cinematographer, recording engineer, video editor, photographer, blogger, and tabla (north Indian classical percussion) player… read more
A seasoned spoken word artist and author of two poetry collections, Sheniz Janmohamed has performed nationally and internationally for over ten years… read more
Anne Lederman is a virtuoso fiddler, singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and tireless crusader for Canadian music… read more
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”… read more
Born with proud Métis roots in Winnipeg, Métis Fiddler Quartet is a bilingual family ensemble currently based in Toronto… read more
A native of Trinidad, Muhtadi Thomas is one of Canada’s leading percussionist and founder/artistic director of Muhtadi’s International Drumming Festival… read more
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… read more
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… read more
Marylyn Peringer tells remarkable stories in English and French across Ontario and throughout Canada. Her wide repertoire includes Canadian and world folklore… read more
Award winning sister and brother team Ann Powell and David Powell started playing with puppets as children. Since establishing Puppetmongers in 1974… read more
Award winning bilingual musician and songwriter Chris Rawlings was born in Montreal and now makes his home in Toronto. Either on his own or, with MITS friends… read more
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…. read more
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… read more
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… read more
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… read more
Salut! – Marylyn Perringer teams up with Chris Rawlings and Bill Russell presenting traditional French Canadian folktales, music and songs celebrating French North American special days and cultural traditions… read more
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… read more
Ken Whiteley is a multi-award winning artist and is known as one of Canada’s pre-eminent performing roots music artists. He is regarded as a playing encyclopedia for his vast repertoire and his command of a wide variety of styles… read more
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… read more
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… read more