Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Fire in their feet. America’s Ronald K. Brown  dancers in full Flame On mode By Stephen Weir, Toronto Caribbean Camera Ronald K. Brown is one class act.  The 51-year old American dancer and choreographer slipped into downtown Toronto over the weekend without fanfare, notice, and unfortunately ticket sales. His seven-member troupe put on last Friday’s night blistering performance at Harbourfront’s Fleck Theatre, even though they were dancing in front of a near empty house. On the last leg of a seven-month cross America tour, where he and his troupe Evidence, have played to sold out houses, he could have been forgiven had he left a bit of soul when he crossed over the border. But no, he and his dancers gave it their all. Jumping, running, rolling on the stage floor and then some - the dancers performed at a pace best described as synchronized blur.  Three dances were performed at each of three weekend shows. The dances could be viewed simply as

Carnival Themed Fete At the Art Gallery Of Ontario Attracts Hundreds and Hundreds Rhoma in costume at the AGO - photo by Craigg Slowly By Stephen Weir for Caribbean Camera Rhoma Spencer, Macomere Fifi, traditional costumed carnival performers and dancer Jasmyn Fyffe took the AGO by storm last Thursday night as part of the art gallery's First Thursday fete. The theme last night was Carnival, and thousands crammed into the Toronto public gallery to jump up. Rhoma Spencer, a well-known Trinidadian Canadian actor and producer, recreated the custom of Viey la Cou (The Old Yard), where traditional Mas was performed over two centuries ago. The characters that she brought to the Dundas St W building were larger than life. There was Dame Lorraine, a Trinidadian mas character of the 18th century, was known for love of dance and shakes it up in a big way with huge padded breasts and an equally large padded butt. Pictured with the Dame is Rhoma Spencer dressed as the Midnigh

Tis The Season And The Caribbean Camera Was There Michael Williams and the Foreva Carnival models in the new Tees By Stephen Weir for the Caribbean Camera With Carnival Season arriving in Toronto, Mas Camps are beginning to introduce their new themes and look.   Michael Williams, the founder of D’New Regulars Foreva Carnival, had a T-shirt photo shoot. Mr. Williams and D’New Regulars are one of the longest running competitive bands in the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival.   This year the band’s theme is based on John John, a part of Trinidad’s capital, Port of Spain. On Friday, the band’s Foreva Carnival models posed with Mr. Williams wearing their new signature t-shirt “ Fresh Out of John John. Photographs by Antony Berot.

One Love. For One Day. In Toronto By Stephen Weir for the Caribbean Camera For the 27th year in a row, the City has declared February 6th as Bob Marley Day in Toronto.   In a special ceremony a proclamation from Mayor John Tory was read out, Bob Marley Day Awards were presented to community leaders and a Jamaican surfing reggae star performed to a small group of Marley supporters. Bob Marley Day began in 1991 with the first proclamation made by the former mayor of Toronto, Mayor Art Eggleton. This year, Mayor Tory signed the Bob Marley proclamation and had councillor Michael Thompson read it out at the Friday noon hour award ceremony and mini reggae concert.   Pictured left: Jamaica reggae star and owner of the island's surf club, Billy Mystic performed at the City Of Toronto's Bob Marley Day proclamation ceremony. On Friday at noon the city proclaimed February 6 as Bob Marley Day in the city.. Organizer Courtney Betty (l), Billy Mystic and councillor