Tours

Junkyard Symphony is an eco-entertainment company (eco standing for ecological and economical), that reuses junk to service all kinds of events for all ages. What do they do with all this junk? They do many things with junk but are best known for their amazing junk/percussion/comedy/circus shows and workshops.

L’habitant Voyageur Louis Mercier is an ambassador of traditional French Canadian music, having offered over 3000 performances across Canada since 1984. Louis comes from Maniwaki, Qc. a town 100 miles north of Ottawa. Louis’ family passed their traditions down to him throughout his childhood, providing his foundation of square dance, traditional percussion and music, toe dancing, playing the bones, wash boards, spoons and the comb. His passion for his culture led to more study of these life-long folkloric traditions, as well as becoming a teacher of High school mathematics. What motivates Louis is to tell us about our past, how it is alive in the present and how it will mark our future.

Makhena Rankin Guerin is a Two-Spirit hoop dancer with Anishinaabe/Algonquin roots on her mother’s side and French Canadian roots on her father’s side. As a member of the Abitibiwinni First Nation, Makhena is dedicated to preserving and continuing her Indigenous culture for future generations. She has been practicing traditional hoop dance for over 7 years; a medicinal dance that tells a story. Traditionally, this dance was performed with willow branch hoops to the rhythm of traditional drums. Nowadays, dancers often use modern materials and frequently perform to contemporary music.

MOOV Ottawa is a professional street dance company founded by Alea de Castro and Arnaldo Betancourt Silva. Specializing in Hip Hop, House, Waacking, Breaking (Breakdance) and other urban dance styles, Moov shares its expertise locally and internationally through dynamic classes, workshops, school programs and energetic performances. The company performs at corporate events, community festivals and prestigious dance competitions.

Open to all levels of students and dance enthusiasts, Moov offers a creative outlet and a unique entry into the world of street dance and culture. With a deep commitment to artistic growth, Moov fosters an inclusive environment where dancers can find mentorship, coaching and inspiration.

While Moov’s impact is global, its roots remain firmly planted in Ottawa.

Founded in 2018 by Ottawa natives Alea and Arnaldo, who relocated from Montreal in 2017/2018, the company was born out of a shared desire to expand opportunities for street dance in the Ottawa scene. Initially focused on local community development, Moov quickly gained recognition and became a major force in the international street dance world. Alea and Arnaldo are actively involved in performing and teaching, representing the company across Canada, North America and beyond.

Joey Albert has been a professional circus artist since 17, starting in the juggling club at É.S.C. Thériault in Timmins. After graduating from the National Circus School in Montreal in 2007, specializing in juggling and clowning, he focused on Street Arts. Joey led the Circus Arts section of the Franco-Ontarian Games (2006-2010) and conducted workshops across Ontario. He joined the Stunt Double Circus in 2010, touring internationally and earning several awards. Joey has created multiple solo and duo shows, touring globally and continuing to perform for international audiences.

Leslie McCurdy
Recipient of the 2026 Harriet Tubman Woman of the Year Award, the 2025 King Charles III Coronation Medal, Platinum Jubilee Pin in Honour of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2014 Elizabeth Havelock Grant from the Windsor Endowment of the Arts, and the 2014 and 2000 Mayor’s Awards for “Artist of the Year” and “Outstanding Performing Artist” of Windsor Ontario respectively, Leslie McCurdy, has performed internationally as an Actor, Dancer/(Choreographer), and Singer for over 30 years. Also a teacher, with an Honors B.F.A. in dance with teaching certification from the University of Michigan, Leslie served as choreographic and teaching assistant to Judith Jamison of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre during several of her Detroit Residencies, and was slated to go to New York to apprentice with the Ailey Company when she literally tripped, fractured her hip, and fell into acting. She has numerous stage, film and TV credits but is most “famous” for the one-woman plays that she wrote and has performed for over 20 years. The Spirit of Harriet Tubman, her first play, was a finalist for a Canadian Chalmers Award for Best New Play for Young Audiences. Her second play, Things My Fore-Sisters Saw, was filmed for TV and was premiered on the Bravo Network in Canada in February 2006. She is lauded for the “brilliance” of her works and the message of social consciousness that is instilled through them. Her latest creation “The Darktown Strutters Ball” recently premiered in Orangeville Ontario to rave reviews. Leslie also volunteers time mentoring young performers with a theatre company in her home town every chance she gets.

Chris McKhool, one of Canada’s most beloved musicians for children and families, continues a three-decade mission of creating joyful, inclusive music that gets kids moving while sparking genuine curiosity about the natural world.

Chris’ credentials speak to a career built on both artistry and impact. A Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient, two-time JUNO nominee, and multiple Canadian Folk Music Award winner, he has performed for more than a million children across North America and has appeared on Mr. Dressup, YTV’s Treehouse, and CBC. Little Leaf, his most recent full length album, earned him a 2026 JUNO nomination for Children’s Album of the Year, following an earlier nomination for FiddleFire!, and the momentum from that recognition helped fuel a 50-show Canadian tour.

Known to many as Canada’s greatest eco-troubadour for young people, Chris has spent three decades using world instruments and heartfelt songwriting to bring cultures and generations together on stage, dancing, learning, and discovering just how alive the natural world can feel through music. He is joined on stage by his spectacular friends from Sultans of String, including Kevin Laliberté on guitar and Saskia Tomkins on the ancient nyckelharpa.

Masabo is a vibrant ensemble of master artists who bring the stories of West Africa to life through dance, music, and storytelling. Rooted in the rhythms of instruments like the balafon and djembe, their performances weave together soaring melodies, powerful drumming, and expressive movement, with stories drawn from West African folklore and history.

Each performance is a living story, where music and dance become the language of community, tradition, and imagination. From energetic percussive dances that celebrate unity and resilience to lyrical movements that embody the struggles and hopes of everyday life, Masabo creates an immersive experience that connects audiences of all ages to the heart of West African culture.

Whether sharing the inspiring tale of Masa-Senekela, a farmer-king who uses dance and song to guide his people toward a brighter future, or filling the stage with the joyful rhythms of Celebrate Africa!, Masabo invites audiences to journey into a world where storytelling and art are inseparable. Their work is a celebration of heritage and a reminder of the enduring power of music and dance to convey ancestral wisdom from one generation to the next.