“Can’t stop, won’t stop! Can’t stop won’t stop! CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP!”  That’s the chant you’d here coming out behind the curtains Friday night, October 14th 2011 at the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby. The lights were dim, and the music began; the competition had begun. DREAM dance studio once again held another spectacular show dedicated to showcasing the works of talented choreographers. Challenge, Progress, Refresh was back, this time showcasing a new line- up of choreographers up against defending champions of CPR 1, Jazmine Galang and Caroline Dao. The concept of the show...


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Don’t follow your dreams. Lead them.- Zuhaeb Hassan, 17, Frank Hurt Secondary School Five years ago, I was 15 years old and probably more overweight than I am now. At that age, I worried about nothing more than my friends, school, extracurriculars, and who was booting for me on the weekend.  Not once did it cross my mind that there was a life beyond my bubble, and that everyone outside of that bubble experienced different things…well what do you expect, I grew up in North Burnaby, (no offence to all you Burnaby heads)! There’s a reason why I’m pointing out my not-so-adorable youthful...


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…I almost got into like 6 car accidents and ended up at UBC because I missed a turn, but what else is new? Thank goodness I got there with half an hour to spare, although I spent that entire time up until the show started being overly excited about my amazing reserved seating with a sign that had my name on it. I’m kind of a big deal. Just kidding…but no really. Anyway, back to the show! Fighting Chance Productions (remember that amazing theatre company that brought you BARE: A Pop Opera this summer?) presented to a full and enthusiastic audience A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum:...


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Have you ever had this amazing thought or idea during the process of waking up in the morning- just as you’re getting used to the subtle burn of morning light in your eyes- and you suddenly get this feeling that you just HAVE to write down, causing you to skip the next couple of steps in the “waking up” process so you can bolt for your laptop and just type it out? Yah. That’s what happened to me the morning that I thought after viewing Choose the Right Thing?, it was very obvious that I had ‘chosen the right thing’ to watch at the Vancouver International Film Festival this year. I’m...


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Skateboarding is something that I’ve tried a few times. Unfortunately, I have yet to successfully accomplish staying on the board for more than a couple of seconds. It is something I find to be extremely difficult, and thought “how could anyone have the patience for this?” Josh “Skreech” Sandoval sure as hell does, and anyone who watches Tristan Patterson’s Dragonslayer at the Vancouver International Film Festival this year will know exactly what I mean. Patterson’s dark, yet enlightening documentary illustrates the complexities of the homeless skateboarder who, despite all of the shit...


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There are many things in life that piss me off: driving, people reading and not replying to my BBM’s, and working are among the extensive list. But the number one thing on my ongoing and ever-growing list is the way in which the Catholic community suppresses very real issues about sexuality and being in high school, which then leads to ignorant children and teenagers who will forever go on in life hating or being uncomfortable around certain types of people...like the homosexual community, for instance. I went to a catholic school all of my life, so I’d like to deem myself entitled to make...


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CPR is a show that aims for young aspiring choreographers to create from within and bring something truly original and genuine to the stage. In this generation of dance it is easy to fall into only using YouTube and television shows as their source of inspiration. The goal of CPR is to "Challenge, Progress, and Refresh" through themselves and to encourage choreographers to be dependent on their own talent and creativity. Held Friday August 5th, 2011 at the Michael J. Fox Theatre, this show featured 10 choreographers going head to head, competing for a $1200.00 prize and an opportunity to go Los Angeles...


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Homecoming King is a short musical that follows the story of a conflicted man who is living two lives – keeping both of his families in the dark. The journey of in between his two lives, the experience of hanging in the middle and finding a balance is the forefront throughout the show. Throughout Homecoming King, the main character Daniel recognizes the choices he is making and the fine balance that must be maintained. But what he does not account for is the unexpected loss of this carefully maintained charade and the fall-out he will receive when his life comes crashing down around...


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 The Neanderthal Arts Festival at The Cultch on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, was a 12 day festival taking place from July 21- July 31, 2011 featuring six summer productions. The theatre performances were experimental works that were meant to jolt audiences with it savvy pop-culture references. Before the show, I had the opportunity to chat with one of the co-producers of the festival, who casually mentioned that The Gas Heart was like "having a fist shoved up your ass". I was completely puzzled and baffled by what he meant by this. I thought to myself: did he just describe the production...


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"I want you to meet my…sibling!" - Johanna Nutter, My Pregnant Brother A few years ago, Oprah introduced to the world a very pregnant Thomas Beattie, a transgendered woman, who decided to carry his and his wife's children due to her infertility. The reason I know that is because this pregnancy was huge news! Like, it was next to impossible to flip through the television's channels and NOT see "The Pregnant Man". While Beattie's pregnancy was exploited and sugar coated by the media in the sense that he and his wife were so excited to bring home a baby, I (as the little Communications student...


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Imagine a world where everyone was equal, where hierarchy and institutions of power didn't exist. Seriously, picture it. In that same place, imagine yourself not having to answer to anybody but yourself, and only had to worry about lounging next to your closest friends outside. Pretty awesome, huh? I saw this very world during the hilarious production of Chairs: A Parable by ITZAZOOProductions at the Cultch, as part of the Neanderthal Arts Festival. Chairs took its audience on a journey, accurately detailing what happens when three men attempt to build themselves a civilized existence...


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When you hear the term "folk music", what do you think of? I think of banjos and old people. . .two things that aren't necessarily my cup of tea. So, when a ticket for the Vancouver Folk Festival 2011was handed to me, I was a little reluctant. Since I had no idea what to expect from a "folk" event, I assumed it would essentially bore me to pieces. But, after attending the Friday evening portion of the 2011 Vancouver Folk Festival, I realized that I had spoken to soon. I found myself in a relaxing, enjoyable atmosphere surrounded by crowds of people ranging all the way from infants to the elderly....


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