The Nutcracker at the Four Seasons Centre

I went to see the National Ballet of Canada's Nutcracker recently, and it remains one of my favourite seasonal productions. I've seen several of the National Ballet's incarnations of the Nutcracker over the years and have been lucky to see Karen Kain, Xiao Nan Yu, Heather Ogden, Sonia Rodriguez and many of the company's great Prinicpal Dancers as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

James Kudelka's libretto is wondrous and his choreography gives the company a chance to showcase the company's depth. Santo Loquasto's set and costume design are a visual feast. And of course Tchaikovsky's music transcends time and transports me whenever I hear it.

The experience of seeing it at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts makes the evening a world-class ticket. Designed by architect Jack Diamond, the Four Seasons Centre is a grand home for the ballet and the Canadian Opera Company.

Here's a short video of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts:

The Bay's Christmas Display Windows: Welcome Santa

I have been posting videos based on the Christmas display windows at the Hudson's Bay Company in downtown Toronto. There are five videos in the series, and each video is short with a duration of thirty seconds. They were all shot, edited and shared on my iPhone. The first four videos are: Santa's Workshop, Wintry Street, Reindeer Sleigh, and 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.

I hope you enjoy this fifth and final video which is called Welcome Santa:

The Bay's Christmas Display Windows: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas

Here's the fourth in a series of videos I created based on the Christmas display windows at the Hudson's Bay Company in downtown Toronto. The previous videos are: Santa's Workshop, Wintry Street and Reindeer Sleigh. This one is 'Twas The Night Before Christmas:

The Bay's Christmas Display Windows: Reindeer Sleigh

Every December, the Hudson's Bay Company in Toronto presents seasonal window display. To capture the artistry, I shot a series of five videos -- each video focusing on a window. The first video is called Santa's Workshop, and the second is Wintry Street.

Here's the third in the series. It's called Reindeer Sleigh:

The Bay's Christmas Display Windows: Wintry Street

The Hudson's Bay Company in Toronto presents seasonal window displays every December. If you follow my blog, you'll know that I recently shot a series of five short thirty second videos on my iPhone. The first video was about Santa's Workshop.

Here's the second in the series, Wintry Street:

The Bay's Christmas Display Windows: Santa's Workshop

In the tradition of New York City department stores like Macy's and Bloomingdales, the Hudson's Bay Company in Toronto presents seasonal window displays every December. I recently spent time admiring the displays and shot a series of five short thirty second videos. Each videos was shot, edited and shared on my iPhone.

Here's the first in the series, Santa's Workshop:

World AIDS Day 2011

On the eve of World AIDS Day, the Stephen Lewis Foundation presented an evening of art and performance to launch the organization's new Art Fund in support of grassroots HIV and AIDS initiatives in Africa.

Supported by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust in South Africa has many arts-initiatives like the Little Travellers HIV/AIDS Project. I created the short film Umhambi to share the story of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust's Little Traveller dolls.



Located outside Durban, the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust has been the home for many grassroots arts projects for many years. The Little Travellers HIV/AIDS Project has been a way for those living with HIV and AIDS to share their story. They have also been a way or beadworkers to express their creativity, earn an income and gain self-esteem.

Since first creating Umhambi several years ago during my first visit to South Africa, it has screened in film festivals, art galleries and design shows around the world. It was an official selection at the Chicago International Film Festival last year.