Making a song and dance about Awesome Arts en folie

Originally published in the Lowertown Echo

We’ve got plenty to sing and dance about this month, as MASC’s popular Awesome Arts en folie program returns to the Lowertown community. Last year the program celebrated 10 years of community-based arts programming for all ages, and brought together participants from the Lowertown and Sandy Hill neighbourhoods. This year MASC continues this collaboration between the two communities, which will culminate in a bilingual festival presentation featuring local residents and professional artists on Friday March 31st in the auditorium at Viscount Alexander Public School.

In preparation for the showcase, Lowertown youth who attend l’École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Anne are spending the next few weeks with Mr. Fresh from Bboyizm Dance Company learning a hip hop dance routine. Meanwhile, visual artists Claudia Salguero and Emily Rose Michaud are collaborating on an environmental mural with students at York Street Public School.

As part of the SHINE Youth Led Arts grant from Crime Prevention Ottawa in partnership with the Lowertown Community Resource Centre, a third group of youth are working with JustJamaal ThePoet and videographer Craig Conoley to create a music video for an original song they are writing together. Curious about what this video might look like? Check out MASC’s YouTube channel to see a dozens of amazing music videos and cinepoems we’ve created in years past.

MASC always puts on an amazing show, so come support your Lowertown neighbours as they take the stage next month! Book your free tickets for Festival Awesome Arts en folie at www.masconline.ca