Dolya (meaning “fate” in English) is the first Ukrainian folk dance Company of Newfoundland and Labrador. We have come together to build a Ukrainian Dance base for newcomer Ukrainians, Canadians of Ukrainian descent, and all in St. John’s who are interested in learning about and participating in this dance genre. Formed in September 2022 by just 4 dancers, Dolya is currently comprised of 14 dancers. Our goal is to promote and develop Ukrainian folk and Cossack stage dance and to popularize it in our beautiful province and beyond. The current repertoire of Dolya encompasses 2 folk dances, the 1st being a Ukrainian cossack (“kozak” in Ukrainian) number entitled “Kubansky Tanok”, and the 2nd being an excerpt from the most celebrated Ukrainian social genre dance “Hopak”. The music for the 2 traditional Ukrainian folk dances was arranged, performed and recorded by musician and composer Myroslav Gutej from Perth, Australia. Our greatest need is to fundraise and develop our costumes (Ukrainian national dress) for performances. Our current folk costumes are “on loan” from the Suzirya Ukrainian Dance Theatre of Calgary, who have kindly supported the efforts of the Dolya dancers in St. John’s to perform on stage, so they can effectively fundraise to make their own. The cloth, materials used and the embroidery required is very detailed, the maiden floral head-dresses, necklaces, and the red boots and ribbons all contribute to the wonder of a Ukrainian dance performance, and the Dolya dancers are keen to replicate that for our St. John’s audiences.
Formed by singers and multi-instrumentalists Pierre-Luc Dupuis, Éric Beaudry and David Boulanger, De Temps Antan provide a surprising – and surprisingly exploratory – experience, rooted in time and memory. “…there is no better group to apply this magical tonic than the Quebecois power trio known as De Temps Antan” University of Dayton Arts Series, USA In 16 years, De Temps Antan has performed over 1000 concerts in 18 countries (North America, Europe, Russia, Malaysia), produced four critically acclaimed albums ( Traditional Album of the Year in 2014 ( Ce monde ici-bas) & 2018 (Notre album SOLO) at ADISQ,nominations for the Canadian Folk Music Awards etc.) and produced several important professional showcases including APAP 21, Folk Unlocked 21, RIDEAU 2019, FOLK ALLIANCE 2019, BABEL MED, WOMEX and the PAY. The trio of virtuosos is taking trad music to the next level with their fifth album Pesant, to be released in the fall of 2021. An ambassador for traditional Quebec music, the group enjoys an enviable international reputation. Accessible and dynamic, the trio’s music brings people together. Folk fans will find something to their liking, as will those looking for a festive atmosphere, as well as fans of francophone music.
Dan started out at CBTG’s hosting Tuesday’s with Mast & DT in 2007. She has been booking and promoting alternative rock and folk shows for 16 years, creating a positive performance space and opportunities for queer and other outsider artists. She released her first solo album Horses with Lasers in 2009. Dan has completed several solo and band tours across Canada. She is currently part of the group Sweet Baby Angels and is in the process of releasing an album in the new year.
Christian Dauble (they/them) is a trans-nonbinary craftsperson, scholar, and musician currently living in St. John’s, NL. Originally from Florida, they moved to NL in 2017 to pursue their graduate studies in music and folklore. Along the way, Christian became more enthralled with the world of textile crafts and participated in Heritage NL’s Craft-at-Risk program in 2023 as a weaving apprentice. They are committed to craft education and the promotion of craft as a tool for sustainability and community building.
Bill Brennan is Assistant Professor of Instrumental Conducting at Memorial University of Newfoundland. His expertise as a pianist, percussionist, composer and producer can be heard on some 100 albums to date. His album of 2006 Solo Piano received nominations for MusicNL and ECMA “Instrumental Album of the Year”. His album Solo Piano 2 won the MusicNL Instrumental album of the year in 2008. His newest CD with Andrea Koziol was released in 2019, entitled I’ll Be Seeing You. It garnered the MusicNL Jazz and Blues Award.
Brennan has been musical director for Tada’s productions of Chicago, White Christmas, Rocky Horror Show, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Rock of Ages and Disney in Concert. He was musical director and composer for Building Jerusalem, an award-winning play by Michael Redhill (Best new production, Dora Awards, 2000). He has also performed on film soundtracks for The Ice Storm (directed by Ang Lee) and Antwone Fisher (directed by Denzel Washington)
Brennan has recorded with the Juno-nominated Oliver Schroer, ambient-pop-rocker Andy Stochansky, guitarist Kevin Breit, film composer Mychael Danna, and with fellow Newfoundlanders Sandy Morris and Patrick Boyle. He has backed up such greats as Cab Calloway, Placido Domingo and Dizzy Gillespie.
Always in demand as a folk and jazz pianist, Brennan performs regularly with his own projects. He has performed across North America and around the world: Indonesia, Austria, Germany, France, Japan, Norway, the Czech Republic, England, Scotland, Portugal and Switzerland.
Over the past three decades, Brennan has been involved with some of the best-known organizations in Canadian culture. He has performed with the National Ballet and the Canadian Opera Company. He was musical director of CBC’s beloved Vinyl Café (hosted by Stuart MacLean), and a documentary composer for David Suzuki’s The Nature of Things. He has produced numerous albums, including recordings for Lady Cove Women’s Choir, Renee Marquis, Brad Jefford and Shelley Neville.
Nationally and internationally, his work has been formally recognized through a number of prestigious awards and commissions, including the Freddie Stone Memorial Award (1999). He has been commissioned to compose for contemporary music performers including flautist Ellen Waterman, and percussionists Romano DiNillo and Ed Squires. Several of these works have been premiered at the International Sound Symposium.
More than 30 years of relentless experience have garnered Brennan a solid reputation as a performer, composer and arranger of contemporary classical, jazz, folk and world music — always exploring, always open to new ideas, Brennan’s talents resist classification. Geoff Chapman of the Toronto Star says: “Brennan … is a central figure in this country’s music.”
Brennan was named the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council Artist of the Year for 2006. For many years he conducted the Memorial University Jazz Ensemble. He now directs the Memorial University’s Wind Ensemble and Gamelan Ensemble.
Ana & Eric are a Brazilian duo based in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador. Having performed in Brazil, Europe, and Canada, Ana & Eric offer a unique combination of Brazilian bossa nova and North American indie-folk. In 2020, the duo released two singles “Hope” and “Lights My Way” as well as their self-titled debut EP, which earned them one nomination at the 2021 ECMA Awards, and three nominations at the 2021 MusicNL Awards. In 2023, the duo released their debut album “Our House From Here” and the singles “I Can See Our House From Here” and “Manhã de Abril (April Morning), which have received wide coverage in Brazil, Portugal, and Canada. Ana & Eric received three 2023 MusicNL Award nominations, and are touring Newfoundland in the Winter 2024.
Behak is an arts administrator, baker, and community organizer in St. John’s. Originally from Tehran, Newfoundland has been her home for more than a decade. Behak is a founding member of the non-profit NL Iran Alliance, working to create cultural spaces for the Iranian community in St. John’s and beyond.
