October 31, 2011
Culture is the sum of all the forms of art, of love, and of thought, which, in the course of centuries, have enabled man to be less enslaved. – Andre Malraux
We’re back!! Yes, that’s right! We’re back to see if you’re ready to rise up to the challenge once again! The Arts and Culture Council of Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) will be hosting its second annual Thaalam dance competition AND Canadian Tamil Film Festival (CTFF) in June 2012!!
Dance is an integral part of art as it is a form in which individuals are able to express themselves through movement. In essence, it captivates the viewers and commonly depicts a story without words. Individuals or groups of dancers unite and create a trance that allures people together and is often complimented by music and costume. In an attempt to showcase the power of dance, Thaalam 2011 was held this past June 19th. Thaalam is an inter-university/college dance competition in which the Tamil Students Associations (TSAs) from various Canadian colleges and universities come together and compete. Through Thaalam, Tamil dancers have a venue to display their talent and passion for dance. On June 19th, 2011, we held our first Thaalam competition and 6 different teams took part in this event. They were supported by upbeat, pride-filled cheer squads and worked really hard to showcase their talent on stage. The competition had even given the winners an opportunity to compete on an International Dance Competition, ‘Aadukalam 2011’.
Just as dance acts as a way in which culture can be preserved, film is another area that incorporates a wide variety of art forms. Films embody culture and history, and have been one of the prime forms of entertainment for audiences. They regularly incorporate language, music, and dance and often pass on strong messages to the viewers. The Canadian Tamil Diaspora has continuously devoted a lot of time and effort towards filmmaking, and this has been recognized through their increasing level of achievements. For this reason, the Canadian Tamil Film Festival (CTFF) was established to act as a venue in which the creativity and talent of Canadian Tamil filmmakers can be showcased to the larger public. By doing so, they gain positive feedback which would work towards enhancing their talent and it would further help them continue to prosper in their field. This past January 23rd 2011, CTYA held its first CTFF and it was supported by many individuals. Many awards were distributed and the event was a huge success.
Both Thaalam and the Canadian Tamil Film Festival (CTFF) work to preserve the Tamil identity. Through these events, Tamil language, culture, and history is being represented and strengthened. The Arts and Culture Council of CTYA is responsible for creating an environment for youth that is inspiring and conducive of self-expression through the arts and culture. Among its key objectives are the improvement, re-orientation and expansion of programs that promote the arts and Tamil culture to Canadian Tamil youth and the broader Canadian community.
Thaalam and CTFF will be taking place together in June 2012. Arts and Culture Council of CTYA is currently accepting university/college teams who would like to participate in Thaalam 2012. CTYA’s Arts and Culture Council is looking forward to working with talented and dedicated youth who are enthusiast in coordinating Thaalam 2012 and CTFF 2012. If you would like to participate and/or volunteer for either the Thaalam dance competition or the Canadian Tamil Film Festival (CTFF), please contact CTYA’s Arts and Culture Council at arts.culture@ctya.org or 647-865-CTYA (2892).
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