A special celebration of Coast dance featuring a spectacular array of choreographers, dancers and musicians performing all new work inspired by the sounds of jazz takes place this Saturday, Nov. 26, at 2 and 7 p.m. with performances at Chatelech Theatre. Choreographers include Angela Lowndes and Shantaya Purjue from the Coast, and Ashley Whitehead, Dianne Doan and Lisa Metz from Vancouver. The event also offers a silent auction with proceeds to help support annual dance student scholarships and workshops. There will also be a (de-alcoholized) champagne reception from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Chatelech foyer. Tickets are $20 ($15 for students and seniors) atGaia's Fair Trade, Laedeli, MELOmania and Pretty Natty Duds.
Craft fair
The Seaside Centre in Sechelt is the venue for the SC Arts Council giant annual Christmas fair that is a fundraiser for many arts activities. It runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days and has a modest admission fee by donation.
Piano composer
Classic piano sheet music books and CDs are available when you meet Garden Bay composer Ken Johnson on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Bluewaters Books in Madeira Park. Owners Dale and Michael Jackson have the store open every day until Christmas.
Comedy play
The comedy play by Coast Community Productions, The Man with the Plastic Sandwich, continues this Saturday with a matinée at 2 p.m. and evening performance at 8 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons. Don't miss it for a good laugh and a cast of talented actors. Tickets are available at Gaia's, Laedeli and Lucy's.
Women from Ghana
You are invited to attend an important gathering to hear four young women from Ghana speak about the challenges of girls attending school in their country. They are on the Coast with Shannen O'Brien and Create Change while on a speaking tour of schools in the Greater Vancouver area. Their stories are inspiring. The talk is on Sunday, Nov. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Common House, Roberts Creek Co-housing. Call Gail Wilen for directions and more information at 604-885-5348.
Green film series
On Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m., the next in the Green Films series will be screened. White Water, Black Gold: A Nation's Water in Peril will be introduced by director David Lavallee. Juno-award winning artist Sarah Harmer created the title music track.
The film follows David Lavallee on a three-year journey across western Canada in search of answers about the activities of the world's thirstiest oil industry: the tar sands.
The Green Film Series is a project of the Sunshine Coast Film Society (www.scfs.ca) the Gibsons Green Team and Sustainable Coast.
Colorifics
The Colorifics bring new songs along with rock'n swing to the Roberts Creek Legion this Saturday at 9 p.m. Call 604-886-9813 for more information.
Arts Council
The 2011 Sunshine Coast Arts Council's annual general meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the Arts Centre in Sechelt at 7 p.m. There will be food and drink a plenty on hand to celebrate the great events and energy of the past two years. There will be a slideshow ofYoung in the Park, TEDxSechelt and the many great things accomplished in the community.
It promises to be a celebratory evening that will be high on laughter and inspiration and low on AGM-ness, i.e. financials and board happenings.
All members are encouraged to come out, as well as prospective members and anyone wishing to contribute to the arts community and stand as a board director.
Choir concert
A Cappella Strait and Choralations Children's Choir present their annual Christmas Concert, The Angels Were Singing, on the first weekend in December this year.
Janice Brunson, a well-known educator on the Coast, directs both choirs. They will be performing some beautiful music that focuses on angels. A Cappella Strait will be singing modern compositions as well as works from the Renaissance, while the Choralations offering includes works by John Rutter, Donald Patriquin and Eleanor Daley.
The Sechelt Children's Choir will be joining the performance on Saturday, Dec. 3. This group, directed by Joy McLeod with Pamela Wood and Kathleen Wagler, has been going since 2009.
Performances are on Friday, Dec. 2, at St. Barthol-omew's Anglican Church in Gibsons at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 3, at St. Hilda's Anglican Church in Sechelt at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12, seniors and youth $10, children under 12 free, available at Gaia's Fair Trade in Gibsons and the Sechelt Visitors' Centre.
Tuesday deadline
Send notice of your arts events to [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692 by Tuesday at 5 p.m. for Friday's newspaper. Let me know who, what, where, when, why and ticket info briefly. Because of the volume of submissions, Art Beat covers events one day to one week ahead only.
