International Children’s Festival of the Arts: The world entertains the next generation

After 36 years, the International Children’s Festival of the Arts still attracts thousands of people every year. It also brings in great talent from all over the globe. Kids—and adults reliving their childhoods—are entertained with puppet shows, movies, plays, musicals, dances and circus acts. But the festival also gets kids interacting with a myriad of activities; this year had things such as papermaking, constructing birch bark canoes, learning about Viking rune legends and helping solve a “magical” trap. Here are a few visual memories of the performances that made us laugh, cry, dance and think about the world around us.

 

Trixie the Clown, (played by Morgan Nadeau from Fool Spectrum Theatre), trying her hand at being a CTV reporter covering the Children’s Festival

 

 

 

 

 

Joe Goslin and his Parasaurolophus friend, (from the Joe Show), took a stroll about the Festival and chatted to passers-by

 

 

The Great Balanzo (Aytahn Ross)

He’s the last member of the Royal Balanzo Circus family and one of Canada’s top circus performers. He’s dazzled guests worldwide for 25 years with hold-your-breath feats and effortless comedy.

 

The Great Balanzo demonstrates his ability to balance objects starting with a tricky bouquet of flowers then a wobbly chair. Lastly, he confidently juggles three small swords to the gasps and applause of the audience

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAM Percussion

For 15 years, this trio from Quebec have entertained one and all with their beat. They also have their own language called BAM Speech, which is gibberish, but from the Middle East to New Zealand, everyone who listens to they’re act knows exactly what their saying.

 

 

This high-energy percussion group called BAM worked up a sweat making the guests laugh, shout and groove along with the beat. They received an applause just as energetic as their performance

 

 

 Niniimi’iwe

Winnipeg’s Aboriginal School of Dance performed Niniimi’iwe, a performance showing Native American culture through a dream-like dance. Buffy Handel, owner of the School of Dance, tries to incorporate a variety of cultures into her choreography because Canada isn’t just made up of one culture.

 

 

 

 

Buffy Handel demonstrates the traditional hoop dance for the audience. Her skills in dancing with hoops encircling her limbs awed the kids and parents. 

 

 

 

June is also Parks and Recreation Month in St. Albert. The city wants to reward people for getting outside and enjoying its many parks: all you have to do is take a photo of you and/or your family at any St. Albert park, share it on Twitter or email it to the city and you can win a Fitbit or iPad. See if you recognize any of these St. Albert parks, and hopefully you’ll be inspired to visit one near you. For full contest rules click here.

 

Photo 1: This lake is the perfect place to enjoy a moment or an hour of calm despite it being surrounded by busy roads.

 

 

 

 

Photo 2: This park is home to white spruce trees that are over 100 years old. Last year, 5,000 seedlings were planted and another 3,000 more seedlings were planted this year.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo 3: And this park is perfect for a peaceful stroll or for an outdoor wedding. It’s next to provincially-managed Riverlot 56 and the Botanic Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers: Photo 1 is Grandin Pond EcoPark; Photo 2 is Grey Nuns White Spruce Park; Photo 3 is Red Willow Kingswood Park.