More than 20 Tri-City dancers are in A Night of Stars, a benefit for the Backstage Youth Performers Society.
The Jan. 31 event at Massey Theatre in New Westminster includes local dancers: Ailia Van Rheenen, Katie Paterson, Matisse Maitland, Sophie Milord, Hailey Kragelj, Alexis Tucker, Cassidy Neuman, Mackenzie Moseley, Grace Allard, Anna Shubenok, Jennifer Stenner, Rebecca Gombar, Kate Gombar, Natalie Marlowe, Katie Marlowe, Arta Neghban, Kaya Tsurumi, Hana Nabirahni, Ariel Hu, Kimberley Turnbull, Carley Ishii, Ashley Patterson, Kira Cooper and Akasha Wood.
The society offers financial help to young performers in music, theatre and dance; it also recruits teachers for workshops.
For tickets at $23/$18.50, visit masseytheatre.com.
NATURE
Put a bit of nature into your art with the help of environmental artist Sharon Kallis.
The Port Moody Arts Centre hosts a workshop with Kallis on Sunday, Feb. 15 called Weaving with Invasive Species.
Participants aged 16 and up will learn how to dig for good weaving plants and understand basic weaving techniques.
No experience is necessary. Garden gloves and clippers are needed and attendees should wear old clothing and footwear for all-terrain hiking. Call 604-931-2008 or visit pomoarts.ca.
SPRING BREAK
Keep the kids' minds and hands busy during spring break at Coquitlam's Place des Arts.
On Thursday, the Maillardville arts hub is opens registration for its popular March camps for kids in kindergarten to Grade 9. The junior session (K-Grade 5) runs March 9 to 13 while students in grades 6 to 9 can sign up for half-day art intensives during the two weeks of spring break. Call 604-664-1636 or visit placedesarts.ca on or after Jan. 29.
CANADA WIDE
The drawing of a six-year-old Coquitlam student has been published in a national magazine.
Owen Qu, a Grade 1 student at Hampton Park elementary, had his work in the Your Own Pages section of the January 2015 issue of Highlights.
Qu's original art was picked from more than 35,000 submissions the magazine editors receive each year from young people around the world.
"By showcasing a representative sample of all the work, Highlights hopes to foster children's creativity," according to its release.
I HEART BOOKS
Port Moody Public Library wants you to fall in love with an unknown book in the lead up to Valentine's Day.
Library staff are again hosting their "blind dates" with a book, inviting adults to step out of their comfort zone and check out a title they don't know, from Feb. 1 to 14. And when it's over, readers can rate their "date" on a bookmark when they return it. Visit library.portmoody.ca.
ONE VOICE
Be part of a gospel choir - for one night only - that aims to build awareness about social issues.
Under the direction of Lincoln Tatem and Tony Chung, the Fusion Gospel Choir is designed to be one voice on topics such as homelessness, addictions and mental health.
Its only performance on Friday, Feb. 27 coincides with Coquitlam's annual Festival du Bois at Mackin Park. Practices are Wednesdays on Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25 at Hillside community church (1393 Austin Ave., Coquitlam).
Call Chung at 604-710-5164 or email choir@fusiongospel.com.
WEARABLE ARTS
Tickets for one of the most highly anticipated art shows in the Lower Mainland are going fast.
Next month, the Port Moody Arts Centre Society hosts its biennial Wearable Arts performances, a showcase of multi-media designs from competitors around the world.
The catwalk will be set up at Port Moody city hall on Feb. 21 and 22, with tickets costing $25 each. And guests who buy eight tickets will get one for free. To attend, call 604-931-2008.
