Dancing in the street, singing wonder women and Westfest this weekend
Sandra Abma's weekly list of things do on the weekend
With Doors Open Ottawa taking place throughout the city, it's a great weekend to wander around to enjoy local festivals and dance in the street.
Every body dance now!
"You're going to see a lot of heart, lots of shapes, dancers spinning in wheelchairs doing tilts, lots of mirroring of each other and lots of connection between dancers and the audience." said Shara Weaver, who shares artistic director duties with Renata Soutter.
The moving sculpture will end its journey at Somerset Square, where there's a party going on, as everyone is invited to take part in free recreational dance classes led by the teachers and choreographers of Propeller Dance.
WHERE: It all gets started outside the GCTC (Great Canadian Theatre Company), 1233 Wellington St. W. at Holland Avenue.
WHEN: The event begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
COST: Free.
Local boys make good
Boyhood friends from Barrhaven, Lemon Cash is headlining Sunday night at this year's edition of Westfest, after being discovered by the festival's artistic director performing at a Christmas party in Fitzroy Harbour.
"I'd say it was sheer luck," laughed Lemon Cash guitarist Jeff Armstrong. "It's probably the biggest opportunity we've had so far."
The lead singer and drummer of Lemon Cash, are brothers Cory and JJ Papineau. In case you're wondering where the name for the band originated it's what the two boys called the profits from their childhood lemonade stand, and it's a good description of the sunny, feel-good music they play.
Westfest is a three-day free festival that serves up a smorgasbord of entertainment, everything from DJs to drag queens to gospel choirs and folk. Local Juno-Awards-winning blues band MonkeyJunk headline Saturday night at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Westfest is located in Laroche Park, 52 Bayview Rd. in Mechanicsville.
WHEN: Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 11 p.m.
Cost: Free.
Wonder women
Last year a group of accomplished local female singers banded together to make empowering music, calling themselves Aella (for the Amazonian warrior). Their mission was to showcase women's voices, music written by and about women, and do it all for themselves. The choir has no conductor, but operates as a creative collective- where the singers stand in a horse shoe formation so they can see each other's faces while they sing.
On Sunday Allea presents Her Voice, a concert of poetry, percussion, movement and choral arrangements, featuring local poets Jennifer Baker and Natalie Hanna.
WHERE: First Baptist Church, 140 Laurier Ave. W.
WHEN: Sunday at 7 p.m.
COST: Free donation.
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