Sunday 22 January 2023

FRONT PAGE ALVIN AILEY NEWS


 

Toronto dancer about to take to the big stage with Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre


Not only is it the first weekend for Black History Month in Toronto, it will also be two days of first for dance fans.  On February 3rd and 4th “America ‘s Cultural Ambassador to the World” the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre will kick off its 2023 North American tour with a trio of performances at the downtown Meridian Hall (formerly the Sony Centre).

The 32-member dance troop will be performing for the first time in Canada a new dance — Are You in Your Feelings  — that acclaimed  choreographer Kyle Abraham describes as a “celebration of Black culture, Black music, and the youthful spirit that perseveres in us all.”

Finally and probably most importantly dance lovers in the city are finally going to see Hannah Alissa Richardson perform live on stage with this famed Dance Theatre. This is the Toronto native’s inaugural season with the Company and the first time for her dancing here since before the Pandemic shut down.

This is a sweet homecoming,” Hannah Alissa Richardson told the Caribbean Camera today, “My first time watching Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was back in 2012, right here in the then “Sony Centre,” now “Meridian Hall". I feel honoured and blessed to make my touring debut with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater here in front of my family and friends. And what a privilege it is to kick off Black History Month in Toronto! “

“Apart from zoom performances throughout the pandemic, the last time I danced in Toronto was for several dance videos including one

Alvin Aileys Revelations

for Def Jam recording artist Teyana Taylor and another for Toronto based videographer Lee Zavitz,” the 20 something continued.  “Before moving to the US and graduating with honors from The Ailey School, I danced with a competitive dance company, Maple Academy of Dance. I was also part of the cast of Disney Channel’s “Backstage” and Family Channel’s “The Next Step,” both filmed in Toronto.”

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was founded by the late Alvin Ailey in New York city back in 1958. Since then they have performed for over 25 million people in 48 states, as well as 71 countries on six continents. Always a stop on their North American tours, if the three performances on Friday and Saturday in Toronto (matinee and evening shows) follow tradition and are sold out, over 9,000 will see Richardson.

You won’t have trouble figuring out who she is, just listen for the wave of applause when she steps on stage for the first time.  Richardson has deep ties in the city. “I attended Holy Trinity School in Richmond Hill before moving to New York for my post-secondary education at The Ailey School,” she explained “I come from a

Hannah Alissa Richardson

Trinidadian and Filipino background. My father was born in Port of Spain and my mother was born in Manilla. I am proud of my culture. It gives me the basis to appreciate a variety of dance styles and forms.”

Both the Friday and Saturday night evening performances begin at 8 pm. The curtain raises at 4pm for the Saturday matinee performance. At every performance, the inspiring finale will be Alvin Ailey’s American masterpiece Revelations acclaimed around the world for sending hearts soaring and lifting audiences to their feet. Since its debut in 1960, Revelations has been seen by more people around the world than any other modern dance work.


Saturday 14 January 2023

INNOCENCE CANADA MEDIA ALERT - RE QUEWEZANCE CASE

 MEDIA ALERT:  

 


ODELIA AND NERISSA QUEWEZANCE AFTER 30 YEARS OF INCARCERATION HAVE A BAIL HEARING SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 17 – 18, 2023 AT THE YORKTON COURT OF KING’S BENCH in YORKTON, SASKATCHEWAN.

 

Innocence Canada supports the Quewezance sisters’ application for bail before the Yorkton Court of King’s Bench, in Yorkton Saskatchewan.

 

Odelia and Nerissa Quewezance were 21 and 19 years old at the time of the offence. In 1994 they were convicted of second-degree murder in the 1993 death of 70-year-old Anthony Dolff and sentenced to life imprisonment. Their 14-year-old cousin and co-accused accepted responsibility for the killing of Mr. Dolff. 

 

Innocence Canada is currently waiting for a decision on the ministerial review application (s.696.1 application) submitted on behalf of the Quewezance sisters to the Minister of Justice on December 21, 2021. As detailed in the application, Innocence Canada believes that the Quewezance sisters are the victims of a miscarriage of justice.

 

Innocence Canada co-founder, board member and lawyer James Lockyer is representing Odelia and Nerissa along with local Saskatchewan counsel and Jerome Kennedy of Innocence Canada.

The sisters also have the support of high-profile advocates who include the late David Milgaard, Senator Kim Pate, retired Justices Harry LaForme and Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré and Kim Beaudin from the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.