Donation will help fund research into dancing and Parkinson's disease

York neuroscience Professor Joseph DeSouza of the Faculty of Health received a $20,000 donation last week to support his research looking into brain activity in dance and its therapeutic applications for people suffering with Parkinson’s disease. Peter Cipriano, president and representative of the Irpinia Club, was at York to present the cheque Thursday. Cipriano has donated […]

Book showcases stage 'designs that mattered'

Performance design professionals, historians and arts audiences alike have reason to celebrate the publication of World Scenography 1975-1990. This thoughtfully curated, lavishly illustrated anthology documents the most influential theatrical designs of the period. World Scenography 1975-1990 documents lighting, set and costume design The book covers set, lighting and costume design for all forms of performance, […]

York artists offer fresh take on Dido and Aeneas

Established and emerging artists in York University’s Faculty of Fine Arts bring their collective talents to a riveting new production of a baroque classic: Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas. This epic story of love and betrayal plays out at the Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan Theatre on York’s Keele campus for two performances only, March […]

Grooving seniors reap the health benefits of dance

York University’s Department of Dance is spearheading an innovative health initiative that sends students into the community to lead weekly dance activity classes for older adults at partner institutions in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The program, supported by the Government of Ontario’s Healthy Communities Fund, focuses on the positive and preventative effects that dance […]

York fringe theatre festival out to take risks

playGround, the annual juried fringe festival of York University’s Department of Theatre, celebrates its 20th season with two dynamic programs running Feb. 14 to 17 in the Joseph G. Green Studio Theatre, 139 Centre for Film & Theatre atYork’s Keele campus. Well-known for its uncurbed spirit and risk-taking mindset, playGround is a student-produced seedbed for the […]

Faculty of Fine Arts shines spotlight on research

From investigating how typography could reduce medication errors to using math as a tool to teach jazz, Faculty of Fine Arts scholars and practitioners have a fascinating array of research projects to share during the Fine Arts Research Celebration Monday, Feb. 6. Robert Haché, vice-president research & innovation, and Barbara Sellers-Young, dean of the Faculty of […]

Playwright discusses his recent work onstage in January

Toronto-based playwright and director of theatre and opera, Alistair Newton will digitally screen some of his work and engage in a discussion and Q&A with film Professor Marie Rickard, the master of York’s Winters College, in January. The event, Queering Theatre in Toronto, will take place Thursday, Jan 5, 2012, from 2 to 4pm in […]

Professor Michael Greyeyes' dance production kicks off Harbourfront series

York theatre Professor Michael Greyeyes has choreographed and directed from thine eyes, a powerful new dance theatre work that examines mortality, memory and forgiveness, opening Sept. 22 at Harbourfront’s Enwave Theatre. This world premiere is the season opener for Toronto’s DanceWorks and kicks off Harbourfront Centre’s dance series NextSteps 11/12. The show is co-produced by […]

Professor Mary Jane Warner helps preserve Toronto's dance heritage

In Toronto’s thriving dance scene, audiences can catch a world premiere performance virtually every week of the year. Less frequent is the opportunity to see a remarkable work for the second time. Professor Mary Jane Warner (left) in the Faculty of Fine Arts is a noted historian of modern dance and has worked extensively to […]

York dance and theatre professors begin work on 'Bugzzz'

Creative partners William Mackwood and Gwen Dobie are collaborating on a new project called Bugzzz, a post-apocalyptic, post-mammalian tale told by the surviving insects in a mix of drama, dance and opera.  The York fine arts professors co-founded Out of The Box Productions to present drama, dance and opera in novel, multidisciplinary projects performed in one-of-a-kind […]