Claude Watson Arts Program - Earl Haig S.S.

The Claude Watson Arts Program is a dual thrust arts and academic experience, offering students a focus in one of:
Dance, Drama, Film, Music or Visual Arts.

Join our Virtual Open House on Wednesday, November 10th at 6:30 PM.

Visit www.claudewatson.ca for the link!

The Dance Department welcomed returning guest artist, Allen Kaeja.

Allen Kaeja is an internationally recognized and award-winning Choreographer and Dance Film Director, who has created over 180 stage works and choreographed for 28 films. Allen is Co-Artistic Director of Kaeja d’Dance with Karen Kaeja. His stage and film works have been featured in commercials, films and festivals around the world. He has received numerous national and international commissions, teaches Kaeja Elevations and Dance Film master classes worldwide. Allen co-developed many site-specific and audience interactive engagement performance strategies with Karen over the past 30 years.

Allen and Karen recently completed performing/teaching in Japan, Singapore, China, Israel, across Canada, Mexico, USA and the UK. Allen was very excited creating with Director Keira Loughran, choreographing Wendy and Peter Pan until COVID closed Stratford Festival. Allen and Karen are creating for their upcoming 30th anniversary next year and have recently received the Dance Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award and are FINALISTS for the Toronto Arts Foundations-2020 Celebration of Cultural Life Award.

The Dance Department is excited to welcome guest artist, Jimmy Vásquez González.

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Jimmy Vásquez González started his dance career at the age of 7. Surrounded by the Latin culture of his native land, Jimmy A.K.A "Chico" started his journey with the dance styles of Salsa, Bachata and Merengue. At the age of 13, Jimmy moved to Canada, where he was introduced to the style of native Toronto Hip-Hop, also referred to as "Flavour". Today, Jimmy continues to pursue his undeniable love for dance, through teaching, performing and sharing his own creativity in hopes of inspiring others.

Congratulations to all the Zoom International Student Film Festival winners! If you missed the event, you can view the entire showreel at the following site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbtY0x0jJZ0

The winners at this year's 25th Anniversary Zoom International Student Film Festivalfestival are:
Best Animation - Mama_ (Ireland)
Best Sound Editing - In Pieces (Greece)
Best Cinematography - Morion (Netherland)
Best Screenplay - The Pursuit of Happiness (Canada)
Most Promising Junior Filmmaker - Serok (Iran)
Best Editing - Recur (Malaysia)
Most Promising Senior Filmmaker - Seeing Again (Canada - Film Arts Major student)
Best Director - III Minutes (Spain)
Best Picture - Lift Off (UK)
Audience Choice - Seeing Again (Canada - Film Arts Major student)

Zoom International Student Film Festival 2021 | Full Festival Reel Zoom International Student Film Festival presents 2021's finest student films! See short films by high school students from around the world. Instagram: ...

The Film Arts department is thrilled to welcome Michael Carlucci, sound recordist and designer, as a guest artist. Michael will be hosting 4 Masterclasses on sound capturing and sound design.

Michael Carlucci is a Sound Recordist, Designer, Editor, and Mixer from Toronto, Canada. He has worked for companies such as New Realm Media, Rogers Sportsnet, and most notably Taqqut Productions.

Michael is a proud graduate of the RTA School of Media program at Ryerson University. There he studied audio engineering for film and television, as well as topics related to the business of creative media and producing. He has also gained opportunities during his studies to learn from industry professionals such as Frank Morrone, Paul Shubat, Alan Degrafe, as well as spend time understanding the ins and outs of the audio side of the industry during his internships for Technicolor and Rogers Sportsnet.

In 2018 Michael founded the company Provan Sound. His company dedicates its time conducting a variety of audio engineering tasks for independent production companies focused on producing short to feature films, radio spots, audio books, documentaries, podcasts, and occasionally music production. He currently operates his company while working full time as the lead audio engineer for Taqqut Productions.

The Dance Department welcomes guest artist Lisa Auguste. Lisa has been working with our grade 9 and 10 majors in lyrical and contemporary dance.

Lisa Auguste is a multi-faceted performer working out of Toronto, Ontario. In 2008, she was a member of So You Think You Can Dance Canada's first Top 6. She has appeared as Cheetah in the Mirvish Production of the Broadway musical Disney's The Lion King, and can be seen in the feature film Shall We Dance with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez. She has been a principal dancer with ProArteDanza, an internationally renowned dance company that uniquely fuses ballet and modern dance; Helix Dance Project, and Gadfly. She has also traveled through Europe, South America and the Caribbean as a dancer with both Royal Caribbean and Regal Empress cruise lines. She can be seen in music videos for Our Lady Peace, Lauryn Taylor, Love Inc, Jully Black and Shawn Desman. She was a featured dancer on the Toronto Pan American Games Closing Ceremonies, the Toronto One television show, Kiss 92's 1st annual award show, and the lead in the Life Network's TV series Style By Jury and Match Maker. Lisa has trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, modern, salsa, hip-hop, some break dance, popping and acting. She is an avid teacher, choreographer and adjudicator known throughout Canada for her creative and disciplined style.

"Calling All High School Filmmakers and/or Animators"

TONIGHT at 8:00 PM!

Revisit some amazing Holla Jazz and Mix Mix Dance Collective performance clips from the past!

Dance Immersion’s online Versus Dance Battle

Friday, February 26, 2021 @ 8:00 PM

No registration required. Join the event for free on dance Immersion’s website – www.danceimmersion.ca/event/battle

Inspired by the popular music Versuz Battles, dance Immersion has invited Holla Jazz & Mix Mix Dance Collective to dig into their archives and pull out some of their favourite dances of the past to share with us - jazz, waacking, house, hip hop, and more! Each company will battle brief video clips of a past solo, freestyle section, and group work. No winners or losers, just fun!

Hosted by Nicole Inica Hamilton, the Versus Dance Battle will feature stellar dance clips, commentary from artists Ashely “Colours” Perez and Natasha Powell, and an interactive skincare product giveaway from Rub of Luv by Jaz Fairy J!

Click the link on Feb. 26 around 8:00 PM to join this uplifting celebration of dance!

More about the companies: HOLLA JAZZ & Mix Mix Dance Collective - HOME (weebly.com)

The Grade 12 Claude Watson Drama Majors welcome CW drama alumni Daniel Chapman-Smith from Project Humanity. Daniel and the Project Humanity team are helping the class create an original Verbatim Theatre play.

DANIEL CHAPMAN-SMITH, CO-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A Co-Founder of Project: Humanity, Daniel has spearheaded clothing drives, eco events and Tokens4Change (with Youth Without Shelter). Daniel has been a lead producer on PH theatre productions. He has also developed and facilitated programming for youth in schools and shelters across the GTA.

As an actor, Daniel has appeared with Soulpepper, Burning Passions, Lonesome Crowded West and BLR Studios. His formal training was at Ryerson Theatre School, and the Claude Watson Arts program before that. Daniel also has a strong dance and music background.

Daniel’s non-professional passions include his family, ultimate frisbee and tango.

The Film Arts department is excited to welcome Joe Frankel as guest artist. Joe will be holding five Masterclasses in Screenwriting beginning January 25th!

About Joe Frankel:
Joe is a screenwriter whose credits include a limited series based on The Phantom comics and a new animated comedy series, Steve Guttenberg: Frenchman that is currently under development in Hollywood. He is the founder of Imaginary Courtyard, a content agency that promotes movies and brands, and IC Movieology, an online film school that offers courses in film studies and professional smartphone filmmaking. An alumnus of the MFA Writing for Screen & Television program at USC (University of Southern California) in Los Angeles and the BFA Film & Video Production program at York University, Joe has worked as a writer, director, producer and script doctor in Toronto, New York, and LA for companies ranging from Cineplex Entertainment to Universal Studios. He is also the co-founder of the Zoom Film Festival. Contact Joe at: [email protected]