Latest news with #dance
CTV News
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Saskatoon teen dancer chases dreams to Hollywood
WATCH: A Saskatoon teen is getting the opportunity of her dreams to pursue a dancing career on the biggest stages. A Saskatoon teen is getting the opportunity of her dreams to pursue a career dancing on the biggest stages. She's been invited to a two-week intensive camp to prepare her for the industry, but it's expensive, so she's raising money to pay for her trip. When Sky Ouellet posted a video dancing to a Tate McRae song on social media, she didn't think much of it. But it caught the eye of a respected choreographer and director based in Los Angeles. 'A couple of months after I posted it, this girl named Milena Fortunato commented on it,' said Ouellet. 'And then I just started following her. We started DMing each other, and then she invited me to join her program called the Business of Dance.' While she enjoys most genres of dance, Ouellet prefers hip hop. 'I kind of just fell in love with the style of hip hop,' Ouellet told CTV News. 'I trained in various other styles like ballet and contemporary. Hip hop is more loose in the body and also [includes] different types of styles like popping, locking, and breaking. Contemporary is more of a sad type of music; you flow more in your body and do more tricks. Hip hop is more of an upbeat music and more intense.' On top of her regular high school studies, Ouellet has been taking online courses to learn about the business side of dance in Hollywood. And her performance got noticed there too. 'She saw how good I was doing, and she gave me a $500 scholarship to the Hollywood Summer Tour,' she said. While in Los Angeles, Ouellet will be training with industry pros and studios, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry. 'I will have photo shoots, red carpet walks, music videos, and talent agency showcases,' she said. 'I'll be on TV; hopefully, it will take me far in my career.' Saskatoon teen dancer chases dreams to Hollywood (John Flatters/CTV News) In an industry with as many lows as it has highs, Sky's parents were hesitant at first. But they see her passion and the opportunity that the Hollywood Summer Tour offers their daughter. 'Something that we're really looking forward to is the agencies that are going to be there,' said Garett Ouellet. 'And she's going to be able to have seminars, information seminars with them. They're going to walk her through the ins and outs of the industry, and then she'll be able to showcase her talents in front of them.' While it's the opportunity of a lifetime, it's also an expensive trip in an already expensive sport. So, to help pay for the trip, her family is raising funds in a variety of ways. 'Our GoFundMe is our central fundraising place where you can go and donate,' said Ouellet. 'But we are working hard in other areas, like our bottle drives. It's been huge, so we've been going out most nights in our neighborhood. And it's been a small unit, just the five of us in a minivan.' Ouellet says SARCAN locations in Saskatoon will accept donations at the Drop and Go counter. 'The Drop and Go is huge; it's Sky's Hollywood Tour.' The family is also holding a Facebook auction, and Sky will be teaching a hip hop class in July to raise funds. She'll be bringing back something to raise money for the Children's Hospital too. 'We're having a supporter shirt done up,' said Ouellet. 'It's going to be autographed with all the artists and the special guests down there, and then it's going to be brought back and auctioned off for the Saskatoon Children's Hospital.' And while she has plans of performing at Madison Square Garden or the O2 Arena, Sky knows it's going to take a lot of effort. 'You don't just get famous overnight,' she said. 'You need to work hard for it, and you need to put in the time and effort and have the patience for it. Because if you don't have any of those three, then you will just not go anywhere, because there's no such thing as being famous overnight.' The Hollywood Summer Tour begins on July 22.
New York Times
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Churchyard' and ‘Tablet' Review: Irreverence and Resurrection
Paul Taylor isn't commonly discussed as a religious choreographer, but religious themes run through the nearly 150 dances he made across six decades. That his perspective was usually irreverent doesn't mean it was unserious. William Blake, explaining why Satan has the best lines in John Milton's 'Paradise Lost,' wrote that Milton was 'of the Devil's party without knowing it.' Taylor's dances often seem to suggest that we're all of the devil's party and that it would be hypocritical to pretend otherwise, but also that the implications of that truth could be very dark. Take 'Churchyard' (1969), one of the two works that the Paul Taylor Dance Company has reconstructed for its run at the Joyce Theater this week. It starts with a woman wearing what looks like a nun's wimple, her palms pressed together in prayer. The accompanying music sounds medieval, and the actions of the dancers who soon join her are both prayerful and pastoral, almost Edenic. Halfway through the dance, though, these images are replaced with the cavorting of devils or maybe the damned. Now with bulges like tumors in their costumes, the dancers fling themselves around in gnarled, twisted positions, jumping like frogs and scratching themselves. The men carry the women upside down, and the woman from the beginning, now a siren-like figure in a cape, swings her head to slap the ground with her braid. It's like a Hieronymus Bosch painting with touches of go-go dancing. Taylor called the work's two sections 'Sacred' and 'Profane.' But the sacred half isn't pure. The score — by the semi-forgotten avant-gardist Andrew Sarchiapone, who called himself Cosmos Savage — mixes in sounds of storms, which could also be a bowling alley next door. The innocent interactions between men and women are so chivalrous that they're arch, with hints of lust and trouble in paradise. The perversity of the choreographer-god seeps in with impossible-to-hold balances (set to fast music) and cruelly slow descents to the floor. The profane section is more fun, with naughty bits. But it is fun for us, not for the lost souls. There's desperation in their frantic activity. They seem compelled. And if their fate is ours, this memento mori of a dance is a nightmare. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jennifer Lopez and her child Emme visit the studio... after ex Ben Affleck invited her kids to his premiere
Jennifer Lopez turned her work into a family affair when she invited her child Emme to a dance studio in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The 55-year-old singer and actor looked ready to work up a sweat in a sporty ensemble, while Emme favored a casual–cool look that suggested they weren't joining their mother's dance practice. The mother–child bonding moment comes after ex-husband Ben Affleck showed that he was still a part of her children's lives when Emme and their twin brother Max, 17, attended the premiere of his thriller The Accountant 2. Jennifer opted for a baggier-than-usual outfit on Wednesday, including an oversize gray zip-up hoodie that was cropped to show off a hint of her rock-hard abs. She wore a black sports bra underneath that highlighted her cleavage, and she matched it with a slim set of black leggings. The Hustlers star wore her long caramel-colored hair parted down the middle and cascading down her shoulders so that it perfectly framed her large aviator sunglasses. She completed the workout-ready look with white trainers and mid-calf socks, and she accessorized with a large black handbag. Emme favored a white tank top with a long gray–green gingham button-up shirt worn open, along with baggy denim cargo shorts, a brown belt and classic black Converse high-top sneakers. The nepo baby — who uses they/them pronouns — wore stylish eyeglasses and listened to something on earbuds as they headed into the studio. Fans of Jennifer and her ex-husband Ben Affleck were shocked in April when the Oscar winner revealed that Emme and their brother were attending the premiere of his film The Accountant 2, despite his bitter divorce from their mother. Ben revealed the reunion while speaking with Entertainment Tonight, and he also took the opportunity to speak warmly of his ex. 'For the record, Jennifer Lopez is spectacular, great to my kids, great ongoing relationship with them,' the star explained. 'I love her kids. They're wonderful. She's [an] enormously important, tremendous person of a lot of integrity who I adore and am grateful to,' he added. Ben noted that Max and Emme were in the audience with the three children he shares with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner: Violet, 19; Fin, 16; and Samuel, 13. The bonding moment comes after her ex-husband Ben Affleck showed he's still a part of her children's lives when Emme and their twin brother Max attended the premiere of his thriller The Accountant 2; pictured April 16 in Hollywood 'It's a great night. The kids are here, Jen's kids are here. I 'm very, very excited,' Affleck gushed. 'I'm proud of the movie, I love the movie and I love when all the kids come out. It's really fun, it's exciting.' He continued, 'I'm thrilled that the kids are here with me. The relationships that you can have with children like that, it's the joy of my life. And those kids are amazing, and I'm glad that this is a movie they want to come to.' Despite apparently attending, all of Ben and Jennifer's children appear to skip the red carpet. Although Ben spoke warmly of his former stepchildren, the remains of his relationship with Jennifer appear to be tenser, and he is reportedly going to humiliating extremes to sever their final ties. The former couple finalized their divorce in early January of this year, but but they are still connected through ownership of the Beverly Hills mega mansion that they bought in May 2023 for an eye-popping $60.8 million in cash. Since going public with their separation, the two put the 38,000 square-foot home on the market for an even pricier $68 million. Last month, it was reported that Ben and Jennifer had slashed the asking price by more than $8 million to $59.95 million, almost $1 million less than what they initially paid. An insider exclusively revealed to the extent that Ben is willing to go to push along a sale so that he can put his disastrous and short-lived marriage to the actress and singer out of mind. Ben and Jennifer were married in July 2023, nearly two decades after calling off their first engagement. The actress filed for divorce two years later and they settled in January 2025; seen in 2021 in Venice Lopez and Affleck tied the knot in July 2022, nearly two decades after their first relationship and engagement. But their puppy love soon soured, and filed for divorced just two years later. She cited irreconcilable differences as the cause for their split, which she dated to April 26, 2024. The two finalized their divorce in January of this year. Last month, Jennifer was lambasted by fans for her lesbian kiss at the American Music Awards. The hitmaker — who hosted the show and shared kisses with both male and female dancers during an opening medley of her songs and the evening's nominated tunes — was branded 'desperate' by fans due to the bizarre kiss. But an inside source exclusively told that the kiss was all part of a coordinated strategy for Lopez. ' followed the direction of her PR and she did exactly what she was told to do for her post-Ben [Affleck] comeback,' the source said. 'She is living her best life and has zero f***s to give right now,' they continued. 'She dealt with so much uncertainty, but she was brave. She did not allow the negative commentary to bring her down. Instead, she kept going and living her life.' Despite Jennifer's best attempts to put on a good show and also spice up the AMAs, viewers were largely disappointed in the ceremony. One common criticism was that there was a dearth of major stars in attendance. The show was also criticized for airing few categories live, which may have been due to many of the nominees and winners not bothering to show up to the ceremony, which was held in Las Vegas. The event was savaged on social media, with several
Vogue
19 hours ago
- Vogue
What Traditional Dance Reveals About a Travel Destination
Ultimately, dance is a prism for understanding people. Their resistance, passion, grief, transcendence, and joyful celebration. For those communities willing to share this with visitors (through ceremony or education at cultural centers), don't neglect the opportunity. And if you're asked to join—the only answer is yes. I've been welcomed into a swaying circle of Samburu women, leaped between moving bamboo poles beside the Manggarai, and heel-toed my cowboy boots across a dance hall in Montana—each experience deepening an appreciation for each culture's singular identity (and serving as a humbling reminder I should probably stick to ballet). So, to travelers mapping out their itineraries, take note: every culture has its own form of traditional movement, a few of which are highlighted below. Clear your dance card. Photo: Amansara Khmer (Cambodia) Dotted with temples and surrounded by ancient ruins and sacred mountains, Cambodia is a landscape imbued with spirituality. Travelers checking into Amansara should book the Dance & Devotion experience, which brings guests to the sacred dancers of Angkor Conservatoire. Here, classic Khmer dance is preserved in its native form (not a performance, but a spiritual offering) and guests have the opportunity to watch both rehearsals and the basrei ceremony. Afterward, a master teacher guides guests through a few hand movements and storytelling techniques. Viennese Waltz (Austria) Experience the glittering glamour of Viennese waltz during the city's Ball Season, which runs from November through April. During this time, Austria's gilded capital hosts over 400 balls that evoke its imperial past (particularly the Opera Ball that is held in the most beautiful ballroom in the world: the Vienna State Opera). Guests staying at Almanac Palais Vienna can book their Night at the Ball package, which includes a private dance lesson, couture gown, and horse-drawn carriage to the ball (with a limousine return at the end of the night, plus an in-room breakfast and spa treatment the following morning). Legong (Bali) Hinduism's cultural influence sweeps across all aspects of life on the island of Bali, especially through expressions like traditional dance. There are several styles that visitors can observe—from the Kecak 'fire dance' to the Barong and Kris 'dagger dance'—but definitely don't miss out on Legong while on the island. With its vibrant facial expressions and complex finger and foot movements, the story of a king who finds a lost maiden is colorfully brought to life. If you're eager to dive deeper into meaning behind these intricate movements, take a Balinese dance lesson at Hoshinoya Bali, held in a gazebo overlooking the jungle. Tango (Argentina) Argentina and Uruguay have long sparred over who invented tango, but if you find yourself in the former, book an experience with Untamed Traveling to experience the authenticity of Argentine Tango. Activities can range from lessons to an overnight stay in a tango hotel in San Telmo (the oldest neighborhood in Argentina). If educational tourism is your love language, they can even take you to a lecture about the history of the tango, followed up by a visit to a milonga where locals go dancing. Bon Odori (Japan) Japan is home to hundreds of styles of traditional dance, from Kabuki's dramatic theater sequences to the Geisha's graceful Kyomai movements. For travelers looking for an authentic, immersive dance experience, the Gujo Odori Festival in the Gifu prefecture lasts from July to September. This dance festival takes place during the obon period when the Japanese honor ancestral spirits, and there are ten recognized dances (which you're encouraged to learn on the spot from your neighbor). Even better: many attendees opt to wear yukata kimonos and elevated wooden sandals called geta. Sau Sau (Rapa Nui) Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island) is the southernmost point of Oceania's Polynesia Triangle. Its rich culture and heritage is celebrated at Nayara Hangaroa (a luxury hotel owned by a local family) where guests of the property are invited to learn about the traditional dress, and can see expressions of the Haka'Ara Tupana dance group two times a week during peak season. One of the most common styles of dance is the Sau Sau; a joyful rocking of the arms and hips with dancers in skirts crafted from feathers or grasses. Sema (Türkiye) This enigmatic dance, practiced by members of the Mevlevi Order of Sufi Muslims known as 'whirling dervishes,' dates back to the 13th century and the teachings of the poet and mystic Rumi. Often called a 'moving meditation,' the ritual (known as the sema) features dancers in tall hats and flowing white robes spinning in circles to reach a state of spiritual transcendence. The dance represents a journey of shedding the ego and connecting with the divine, and it requires months of dedicated practice to learn. Travelers can observe these sema ceremonies at destinations like the Mevlana Cultural Center in Konya or the Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum in Istanbul, which has ceremonies every Sunday at 6 p.m. Caci (Flores) This ritual whip fight is integral to the Manggarai's cultural identity on the Indonesian island of Flores. The energetic dance is held between two male fighters who take turns attacking and defending. The attacker uses a whip, while the defender uses a round shield made of buffalo hide. Caci is accompanied by chanting and drumming and the fights are ceremonial, not intended to be violent. Guests staying at the newly opened Ta'aktana, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Labuan Bajo can discover Caci every Thursday at the property's amphitheater, or they can arrange an off-site dance excursion as well.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Scott, So You Think You Can Dance Choreographer, Dead at 52
Hip-hop dance choreographer Dave Scott, who brought many memorable routines to the Fox competition series So You Think You Can Dance, has died. He was 52. 'It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Dave Scott, who touched so many lives with his warmth, kindness and spirit,' reads a statement posted to Scott's Instagram account on Tuesday. 'During this difficult time we are doing our best to honor his memory in the way he deserves with love, dignity and respect.' More from TVLine R.I.P., Anne Burrell: Robert Irvine and More Food Network Stars Pay Tribute ('She Was a Radiant Spirit') Food Network Star Anne Burrell, Host of Worst Cooks in America, Dead at 55 Project Runway Contestant Arthur Folasa 'Afa' Ah Loo Shot and Killed at Utah No Kings Protest A cause of death was not shared. On the small screen, Scott's most notable choreographing work came from So You Think You Can Dance, where he contributed a number of hip-hop performances beginning in Season 3. Below, you can revisit one of Scott's standout dances, performed during Season 4 by contestants Comfort Fedoke and the late Stephen 'tWitch' Boss, with Chris Brown's 'Forever' as the soundtrack: Scott also lent his dance talents to ABC's Dancing With the Stars, MTV's The Wade Robson Project and Bravo's Step It Up and Dance. On the film side, Scott choreographed for movies like You Got Served (2004), Stomp the Yard (2007) and Step Up 2: The Streets (2008), among other projects. TV Stars We Lost in 2025 View Gallery40 Images Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
