Aiding Dramatic Change in Development Workshop

Aiding Dramatic Change in Development is a non-profit organization working to empower
communities in Canada and abroad through participatory arts processes reflecting the culture, desires, and life experiences of the people in the community.

They draw heavily on Theatre of the Oppressed and Jacques LeCoq physical theatre approaches. Their approach evolved while creating the Zisize Drama Group in rural South Africa - both during rehearsals, and within a program of community-led interventions around the schools of Ingwavuma (an area with a 30+% HIV/AIDS prevalence).

Workshop description:

Day I – Playing with our perceptions of space. Learn how three elemental spaces of
performance (inner psycho-physical; concrete “real”; and outer “ethereal”) can aid community
actors explore personal and social realities. See how these principles can be used in other
contexts to create supportive environments that promote dialogue, debate and change.

Day 2 – Transforming meaning using spacial awareness and image theatre. How can
we encode emotional content contained within our minds and bodies into spacial relationships?
What new possibilities result from using space to represent cultural meaning, and how can conflict be explored more objectively using space rather than violent poses?

Workshop is relevant for:

• People interested in developing their interpersonal skills

• Those interested in experiencing a shared sense of play

• Workshop facilitators and educators

• Those developing community based research, or community development projects

• People with theatre skills wanting to work in community, social and political contexts


At the end of the workshop there will be an opportunity to reflect and unpack the exercises.
Facilitators will be available for private follow up discussions with participants after the workshop regarding their individual needs.

More Information: contact Stephen Sillett at: Stephen@adcid.org (or tel: 416 823 4957)

Performed Ethnography Disseminates Knowledge About HIV/AIDS

Performed Ethnography, HIV/AIDS & Aboriginal Youth

The University of Toronto, Sidney Smith, Room 1078 – 100 St. George Street:

Sept 23rd, 1:30-3:00

with:

June Larkin, New College, University of Toronto

Tiffany Nelson, Native Child and Family Services of Toronto

Christine Smillie, Ontario Institute for Studies In Education

The Youth Warriors, Native and Family Services of Toronto

In this presentation we present an innovative knowledge dissemination strategy for research on HIV/AIDS and Aboriginal youth. In partnership with Native Child and Family Services a group of Aboriginal youth, “The Youth Warriors”, worked with Aboriginal actor, Herbie Barnes, to turn data collected in a study on HIV/AIDS and Aboriginal youth into scripts and discussion questions for HIV/AIDS education. The youth also produced photographs and collages to complement their performance pieces. We will discuss the process of developing the arts-based education strategy and the value of this approach for HIV prevention. The presentation will include samples of the youth performances and artistic productions.

June Larkin is Senior Lecturer and Vice Principal of New College and coordinator of the Gendering Adolescent AIDS Prevention (GAAP) Project, Women and Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto (UofT). For more information on GAAP, see: www.utgaap.info

Tiffany Nelson is a Youth Mental Health Outreach Worker at Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. She was also a panel member at the Young Leaders' Forum for the Canadian Centre for Diversity, UofT.

Christine Smillie-Adjarkwa is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Adult Education and Counselling Psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies In Education, UofT.

Christine is the Research Coordinator for the Performed Ethnography, HIV/AIDS & Aboriginal Youth Project.

Free, all are welcome, please RSVP to adrian.guta@utoronto.ca

Please see our website for upcoming seminar summaries and other events: www.cuhi.utoronto.ca

Performed Ethnography in HIV Education, Presentation University of Toronto

The Centre for Urban Health Initiatives Youth Sexual Health RIG is pleased to announce our next seminar entitled:

Performed Ethnography,
HIV/AIDS & Aboriginal Youth
with Dr. June Larkin, Tiffany Nelson, and

Christine Smillie

University of Toronto, University College, 15 King's College Circle RM 244
March 4th 1:30-3:00

"In this presentation we present an innovative knowledge dissemination strategy for research on HIV/AIDS and Aboriginal youth. Through a partnership with Native Child and Family Services and the Gendering Adolescent AIDS Prevention (GAAP) project, The Universityof Toronto and a group of Aboriginal youth worked with Aboriginal actor, *Herbie Barnes, to turn data collected in a study on HIV/AIDS and Aboriginal youth into scripts and discussion questions for HIV/AIDS education. We will discuss the process of developing the scripts and the value of this approach for HIV prevention. The presentation will include samples of the youth performances."

(*As an actor Herbie has worked on many stages across Canada, in such plays as: Toronto At Dreamers Rock, The Gap, and The Hobbit as well as acting in such films as: Hidden in America, Dance Me Outside, and the series, Due South and The Rez.)

Free, all are welcome, please RSVP to adrian.guta@utoronto.ca

World AIDS Day Commemoration, University of Toronto

Arts, original performances featured on evening's programme
University of Toronto World AIDS Day Commemoration

The Centre for International Health, Faculty of Medicine

Friday November 30, 2007, 7:00 p.m.

Toronto, Ontario

the Great Hall of Hart House

7 Hart House Circle



Speakers:

Introduction: Pavan Gill (HIV/AIDS Student Committee Chair, UTIHP)
David Zakus (Director, Centre for International Health, Faculty of Medicine)
Aaron Yarmoshuk (Director, HIV/AIDS Initiative-Africa, Centre for International Health)
David McKnight (Associate Dean, Equity and Professionalism, Faculty of Medicine)
Brodie Ramin (Student, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

Music, Dance, Performances, Opera

Among the performances for the evening:

Henri-Paul Sicsic, pianist; Kwasi Dunyo, percussionist

Contemporary Dance created for World AIDS Day 2007

by Faculty of Medicine students

An African Bell Song, conducted by Greg Samek

Ladom Ensemble, piano, cello, accordian and percussion

and "We Shall Overcome", an original operatic work

This is a free event! Information and RSVP to j.kopelow@sympatico.ca or (416) 946-7962.
For more WAD events programmes visit http://intlhealth.med.utoronto.ca/.


More info at: http://intlhealth.med.utoronto.ca/