Pan Am Games Migrate North to Toronto in 2015 to Celebrate Infinite Possibilities
Guadalajara, Mexico (October 30, 2011)— A dazzling display of music and dance describing a journey to infinite possibilities extended an invitation to the people of the Americas to gather together in Toronto in 2015 for the next Pan American Games.
After Canadian dignitaries received the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) Flag during the Closing Ceremony of the Guadalajara 2011 Pan American Games, some 50,000 spectators in the Omnilife Stadium witnessed a fusion of athletics and art and a collision of cultures during an eight-minute presentation.
Presented in four components, the show explored how the limitless potential of youth and community contributes to the human drive that strives to achieve perfection in athletics through training, ambition and perseverance.
The theme throughout the piece was based on the experience of the monarch butterfly—famous for its annual migration between North and Central America and specifically from Mexico to Canada. The monarch butterfly symbolized an invitation for everyone to head north in 2015—to enjoy the cultural diversity of Toronto and celebrate the Pan American communities that have come to live in Toronto—and showed the challenges and determination of the flight of the butterfly.
The Canadian cast capped off the program with a range of high-energy Aboriginal, Caribbean and Latin dance performances resembling an urban street party, similar to those found on the streets of Toronto.
“Our goal was to combine storytelling, music, imagery, athletics and dance to give viewers a sense of Toronto, its multicultural neighbourhoods and surrounding regions,” said Ian Troop, TO2015 Chief Executive Officer. “The message is clear: expect the unexpected and join us on a journey of endless possibilities in Toronto in 2015!”
BaAM Productions, a Toronto-based creative development and project services company, was the executive producer of the Toronto 2015 portion of the Guadalajara 2011 Closing Ceremony.
The creative team included composer, producer, musician and Gemini Award winner Lou Pomanti, choreographer Luther Brown and project designer Alexis Laurence. The cast featured singer Florence K, who performed O Canada, and nine Canadian dancers: Lisa Auguste, Andrew Chung, Mackenzie Green, Christian Hazell, Danny Lawn, Lindsay Leuschner, Melissa Mitro, Shane Simpson and Savannah Storm.
Media Backgrounder
Toronto—Journey to Infinite Possibilities
By presenting a fusion of athletics and art, and an unexpected collision of cultures (Aboriginal, Francophone, Latin American and Caribbean), the eight-minute Toronto 2015 handover segment during the Closing Ceremony of the Guadalajara 2011 Games provided an invitation and welcome to the next Pan American Games Host City.
The presentation was in five parts.
Protocol Segment and Overture
During the raising of the Canadian Flag, an instrumental performance of the national anthem set the tone for the artistic segment.
Once the dignitaries completed the official Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) Flag Handover Ceremony, a theatrical collision of lighting, sound and projection revealed an intensely coloured collage of athletes.
As the images danced to the music, the audience was immersed in the glory, thrill, intensity and sacrifices faced by world-class athletes. Themes of training, determination, ambition and perseverance were featured.
Component One
A group of performers, reflecting the people of the Pan American countries, presented a mosaic of athleticism, ability and ethnicity representing the cultural canvas of Toronto. Incorporating a highly athletic dance style, the dancers created dynamic and unforgettable silhouettes. This dance story explored youth, sport and the human drive that strives to achieve perfection in athletics.
Through all the youthful faces seen on screen and on the stage, audiences became aware of the compelling human story behind every athlete, every coach and every dream. At this time in their journey, what lay ahead was infinite possibility. The final tableau of the dancers was a freeze-frame of shapes that mirrored a dozen sports at pinnacle moments—the picture was shattered by the opening musical strains of the next component.
Component Two
A child emotionally embraced by the group of performers created a sense of safety, guidance and care. The child moved from one dancer to the next, striking the same athletic pose and absorbing all the lessons learned before. This child represented every child, every athlete or every dancer. The child could be anything—with limitless potential.
As the dancers supported the child, we understood the village was helping the child on her journey. A beautiful monarch butterfly was released.
Component Three
A dazzling feast of projected images that illustrated the migration north of the monarch butterfly quickly transitioned to lush and cinematic pictures of land, water and sky colliding on screen.
As the story of this component was primarily told in projection, we saw and understood that it was not just the butterfly that was drawn north, it was the people of the Americas who were being inspired to be part of the celebration in 2015. Travelling swiftly across the latitudes and through time zones, the city of Toronto appeared with its people presenting an open and welcoming invitation.
With aerial views of Toronto’s attractions and landmarks, we began to discover the infinite possibilities offered by the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
Component Four
As the final image of the projected sequence rested, the stage exploded again with an exciting urban performance of dance and celebration that characterized a street party of no bounds.
A sense of informality and acceptance permeated the choreography, with each performer allowed to shine alone at various moments. The audience was treated to a vast tapestry of artistic dance styles and rhythms. The cast and crowd encouraged the soloing artists to push each other to take it up notch after notch—not unlike one athlete pushing another to strive faster, stronger and higher.
As dancers performed, the projection shifted to showcase the people of Toronto, extending invitations in all the Pan American languages, to come to Toronto in 2015. The screens, stage and lighting exploded in a symphony of red and white—the colours of the Canadian flag.
The Creative Team
Lou Pomanti—Composer and Music Director
Composer, producer, musician, Gemini Award winner and five-time nominee, Lou Pomanti is highly respected across Canada as one of the country’s finest musical talents. With more than 25 years of credits in scoring, songwriting and performing, his expertise has awarded him hundreds of musical projects for film, television and album work. He composed, arranged and recorded the eight-minute original soundtrack for Toronto—Journey to Infinite Possibilities.
Luther Brown—Choreographer
Luther Brown grew up in a household where music and the arts were part of daily living. With an ear for music, he assisted his father on the Toronto-based radio show, The Caribbean Crucible, on CHRY 105.5. As a songwriter and choreographer, he has worked with world-renowned artists such as Diddy, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Brandy, Shawn Desman and Jully Black. He has been a resident judge and choreographer on the So You Think You Can Dance Canada TV series.
Turbine Creation—Image Designer, Alexis Laurence
With experience in large-scale projection, Turbine Creation has been involved in numerous award shows and celebratory productions since 2002, including Cirque du Soleil, the Juno Awards and Canada Day shows on Parliament Hill.
Performers
Florence K—O Canada performer
As a platinum recording artist, Florence K composes and sings in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese—four of the seven languages this young star has mastered. Her young but impressive career began as a family affair: she took the K in her stage name from her musician father, Hany Khoriaty, and she began to perform by singing backing vocals for her mother, Canadian opera singer, Nathalie Choquette. Trained as a classical singer since childhood, she later studied classical piano. Florence K has always showcased her love of multiculturalism and shows that all genres of music can successfully mix in a uniquely beautiful style.
Dancers:
Lisa Auguste
Based in Toronto, Lisa Auguste (pronounced O-geest) is a multi-faceted performer. She has trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, modern, salsa, hip hop, breakdance and acting. She is an avid teacher, choreographer and student of her craft. Auguste appeared in the feature film Shall We Dance and music videos for Our Lady Peace, Lauryn Taylor and Love Inc, Jully Black and Shawn Desman.
Andrew Chung
A dancer since the age of 12, Andrew “Pyro” Chung is a specialist in hip hop, street dancing and the art of popping and b-boying. He was named 2011 Dancer of the Year at the Toronto Gadfly Awards which celebrate the urban dance industry. Pyro uses dance as his way to better himself as a person in the community. He dances for charities and takes care of special needs students in his school.
Mackenzie Green
Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Mackenzie Green has always had a love and passion for dance. After graduating high school, Green moved to Vancouver, BC, where he was hired as a company member of “MOVE: The Company,” one of Canada’s top contemporary/modern companies. Green is best known for his participation in the third season of the TV show So You Think You Can Dance Canada where he was a top-three male competitor.
Christian Hazell
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Christian Hazell is an award-winning cultural and First Nations dancer. Proud of his Métis heritage, his contemporary take on the traditional hoop dance has twice earned him the title of World Teen Hoop Dance Champion. He was recently named valedictorian at his high school, Foothills Academy. The Calgary Herald has been following Hazell for some time, naming him a Calgary Herald Class Act in June 2011.
Danny Lawn
Danny Lawn began dancer training at the age of 12 at a small studio in Brockville, Ontario. After graduating from high school, Lawn worked as a contract dancer with Royal Caribbean Cruises. In 2009, he made it to the top 14 on season two of So You Think You Can Dance Canada. He continues to take on video and film work and has been a guest performer at various industrial galas, competitions and fashion events.
Lindsay Leuschner
Beginning her dance career at the early age of two, Lindsay Leuschner trained in ballet for eight years at the C.B. Dance Academy in Richmond Hill, Ontario. She then moved on to Elite Dancerworx in Toronto, where she continued to train in Vaganova Russian ballet. Though trained primarily in contemporary and ballet, Leuschner is also practiced in pointe, hip hop, lyrical, partnering, jazz, musical theatre, tap and acrobatics. She was a top-six dancer in season four of So You Think You Can Dance Canada.
Melissa Mitro
Runner-up on season four of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Melissa Mitro is a contemporary dancer who is well acquainted with jazz, ballet, tap, acrobatics, lyrical, highland and cha-cha. In her spare time she enjoys salsa dancing.
Shane Simpson
Dancing around the house at the age of seven, Shane Simpson would imitate music videos in front of friends and family. With an obvious desire to dance, his mother signed him up for lessons in Toronto and they’ve never looked back. Though trained primarily in jazz and contemporary, Simpson trained at five different studios practicing hip hop, acrobatics, lyrical, tap, ballet and modern. Working with notable performers including Lady Gaga, Jully Black and K-OS, Simpson says his biggest accomplishment to date is making the top six in season four of So You Think You Can Dance Canada.
Savannah Storm
A high-school student in Toronto, Savannah Storm has been dancing and training at the Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance since the age of eight. She was admitted into the competitive program at the age of 10 where she is involved in pointe, jazz, ballet, tap, acro and lyrical. She has completed her Cecchetti Exams (ballet) up to grade three where she attained honours each year.
About the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games
The Pan American Games are one of the world’s largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). The Games comprise all Olympic Summer Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports. The Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games will draw 10,000 athletes and officials and feature 48 sports in 17 municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10–26 and the Parapan American Games August 7–14. For more information about the Games, please visit toronto2015.org.
About BaAM Productions
BaAM is a creative development and project services company specializing in the unique requirements of high-profile and large-scale sports, cultural and entertainment projects. Clients include the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, the CN Tower and the Olympic Spirit Group. Follow #BaAMProductions on Twitter and at www.baamproductions.com to stay up-to-date with all of our exciting projects and events.
