Tomorrow first public performance

At Sunnycrest Mall @ 1 PM

Break a leg!

Red mitten news!

Shelley Harrison Rae speaks:

Hello Dancers!!! I am happy to tell you that Connie Jordison, District of Sechelt, has confirmed that she can provide the Olympic Red mittens for each of us....

One condition though - ONLY THOSE WHO CAN ATTEND THE SECHELT TORCH RELAY EVENT ON FEBRUARY 4 WILL RECEIVE THE SOUVENIR MITTENS (because Sechelt is providing them for us, Connie cannot promise any for dancers who will only be performing in Richmond).

15 DAYS TO GO

Last week, Coast Reporter Arts writer Jan de Grasse visited rehearsal. Everyone - and some new faces showed up in force.






Gerardo has been behind the scenes, ordering up buses, making arrangements for lighting on the site.




January 31st - Dress rehearsal at 1 PM at Sunnycrest Mall in Gibsons


February 4th - Sechelt Torch Relay (we dance!)


February 7th - Seaside Center, 1 PM, last rehearsal before opening in Richmond


February 9th - Richmond City Hall, ICE GATE opens with our dance!



Shelley Harrison Rae photos.

We're back - and dancing!

Sunday was our first rehearsal after the December holiday break. Dancers worked on a new ending. Maggie reported that it went really well.


"Congratulations to all involved! It’s such a terrific community event and inclusive of all ages, skills, styles and energy levels !! I’m looking forward to the final impromptu performance." - Linda Williams


On January 31st, PERFORMANCE FOR ICE GATE will take place at Sunnycrest Mall in Gibsons - to give the public a chance to experience the dance, and the dancers an opportunity to strut their stuff in public - before the Torch Relay. Tell your friends and family!

Photos by Linda Williams.

In your words, more

The journey in being a part of this fantastic ice dance group has given me a real sense of connection to both Gordon Halloran's project and the 2010 Olympics, along with enormous pride for my beautiful province! Wendy Hansen



exciting to see how it is all coming together/chaos evolving into syncopation. wonderful to have such a cross section of the community (men women and children) joining together to dance...even those of us who have never danced before - Shelley Harrison Rae


My kiddies and I have really enjoyed being part of this whole experience, and we thank you for that. I love how this opportunity to bring friends, families and communtity together in a collaboration like this is very much what the Sunshine Coast is all about. I was just commenting to Maggie today that I can't wait to see Gordon's ice painting in person! -Rosalind Hansen


The big thing for me has been the mix of people, all enjoying dance in different ways, and the hospitable / welcoming atmosphere. The experience also means that there are now 20/30 people on the Coast who I'd otherwise never know, and who I will enjoy bumping into or just passing by and smiling. Learning to dance is not easy, but the difficulties actually help to form supportive friendships --- if we were all good dancers, there'd be no need to reach out or offer a smile! -David Kipling, Gibsons



The process so far has given me such joy! Working with such an amazing team, Gord, Caitlyn, Shelley, Brittany, Gerardo, Jean-Pierre and all of the fabulous dancers, thankyou for this truly uplifting experience. Next time we meet we will kick it up a notch! -Maggie

SEND YOUR COMMENTS and I'll publish them here. Also if you have a great photo, email me @ paintingsbelowzero@dccnet.com and I'll post your photo.


We hosted the AGM for the Ice Painting Project Society last night in Roberts Creek. Fish Tacos, chilequiles, Schmirler Toss, chocolate truffles, crab quiche, artichoke dip . . . and too much laughing! We are looking for members of the society, especially if you liked the event - join the society to help bring more of these arts-experiences to our community. Here's the group:

In your words

It's simply FUN!!!
Toni

Toni Stevens Ph.D., R.Psych.
Clinical Psychologist


In the midst of our beautiful summer after bashing the ball around on the courts Gordon's dream was presented to a few of us at the Black Fish Pub. WOW the Olympics so far away Feb 2010!? It stuck in my head and today with 60 familiar faces, we were doing it.


Bringing pride in our community and creating an event that will last in our hearts forever. What a beautiful gift and an honor to take part in.


The Sunshine Coast is a very special place to live and in a few months the world will know why.... We are a community! Individuals are celebrated and have freedom to be who and what they are and when brought together a rhythm like that of a heart, thriving strong powerful. There is no place like the Sunshine Coast.

Perhaps a little over the top but I mean every word.

Lindsay Hatloe



I look forward to the ICE GATE dance sessions every Sunday. There is a great feeling of community, creativity and spirit. I am not a dancer and only joined up (with my daughter) for the fun and excitment of it all. I LOVE every moment of it. And this is just the rehearsals, I can hardly wait for the real thing. It is experiences like this that make everlasting memories of which we will talk about for many years. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity.

Sherryl Latimer





Thanks for motivating me to put some of my experiences into words. I really am grateful to the choreographers for working with us. They have all been fantastic.

I've enjoyed every moment of our Ice Gate rehearsals. We've done warm-ups and improvs together and opened ourselves up to new experiences. We've watched each other get better and better at the dances. Most of all it makes me very happy to learn that I can trust so many people in my community to come together to create something new that would not exist without all of us, and I am a part of it - yeah!

Cheers, 


Kathleen Vance,
PhD
Communication Department

British Columbia Institute of Technology



More comments and photos to come. And if you haven't chimed in about your experiences here, please do so! Contact me at paintingsbelowzero@dccnet.com If you have a photo, send that too. I'll try to post as many as I can!

Last rehearsal for 2009

Most of the birds have flown south; all the leaves sprinkled on the soaking ground. The day was going to be short, dark at 4 pm. Another Sunday afternoon, late fall. We headed up the The Seaside Center to have a look at the final rehearsal for 2009.


The positive energy in the room was contagious – Maggie called everyone to attention; Gerardo pushed the button on the small portable sound system with his white glove. The dance unfolded in different sections of the room.



I’d seen the dance before, was familiar with the steps, heard the music, recognized the faces – but when the music began and the dance unfolded before me, I was overwhelmed.


Gord perched on the steps overlooking the room, his director-mind taking notes


Especially wonderful were the moments when each piece of choreography came crisply to focus – when everyone was in sync.



The ending was like a breath – the whole group - everyone connected and moving in unison – very powerful.


Susan Brinton stood at the window in the back, getting it all down on tape for COAST CABLE TV


And then she interviewed all the choreographers.


I'd love to hear your comments on the experience so far. If you have photos taken by family or friends, please send to me at paintingsbelowzero@dccnet.com, I'll post them here with your comments.