Dusk Dances Barrie returning, bringing family-friendly fun to Lampman Lane
Members of Barrie's dance community will be out for the return of a three-day festival that promises to light up Lampman Lane Park.
After pandemic-forced pauses, Dusk Dances Barrie is set to return this week. Led by the Simcoe County Contemporary Dancers, the family-friendly festival is returning to the park with performances by both professional and recreational dancers.
"It's a sight-specific dance festival," says Chrissy Baxter, the dance group's executive director. "So when you come, there is a theatrical host who will tour you around the park where you'll get to see a variety of different dance pieces that are performed in a lot of different styles."
This year the group got a $25,000 provincial grant which is geared towards community-based and community-building events. Baxter says that since it started in 2017, the event has always been held at Lampman Lane Park to provide additional community programming in that area of the city.
"We are very specific in our choice of where we wanted to have this event in Barrie, and we chose Lampman Lane Park, which is just such a beautiful park with all the green space and the splash pad and everything," says Baxter. "And also the neighbourhood that is around here. We really wanted to serve Barrie as a whole but also this community in particular where there's not a lot of programming in particular at this park."
Ahead of the performances, free dance workshops will feature lessons in the Caribbean-African dance style.
Baxter says the festival is meant for every age in the family.
"We hope that even more people come out and participate, and it really becomes a staple in the community," says Baxter. "It's the only festival in Barrie that is totally all about dance, so it is very exciting!"
The festival runs from July 14-July 17.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.