Arts opportunity

Ever wanted to dance like your favorite pop stars? This 8-week class is all about learning fun, energetic moves inspired by the biggest names in pop music. No experience needed—just bring your energy and get ready to move. 

We’ll break down iconic choreography from music videos, making it easy to follow and fun to perform. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just looking to try something new, this class is for you. 

Our Community Dance Classes at NaAC are for anyone 18 and older, no matter your dance skills, gender, or background. All movement styles and abilities are welcome! 

Register here: accessarts.ca/whats-on/music-video-moves-popstar-edition

About the instructor:

Performing Arts Manager, Ashley Brodeur, became enthralled with the National access Arts Centre in the dance studio. After leading a movement session, her time with the artists at the NaAC ignited a passion that has inspired a career shift holding great potential of impact to the performing arts ecosystem. Creator and Director of Maven Movement, providing professional level performance and training opportunities on an equitable scale has been her focus for the past 7 years.

 With professional performance credits that include Culture Shock Washington, D.C., the Dubai Shopping Festival, The Fringe Festival, TIFF, BravoFact!, collaborations with brands such as Loreal, Labatt and XBox, Toronto’s Choreographer’s Ball and the Much Music Video Awards with PSY, she believes it is essential to ensuring high caliber performance opportunities are available to all, especially those underrepresented in traditional professional atmospheres. 

An attendee of the BFA Dance Program at York University, the Commercial Dance Program at George Brown College and the Professional Training Program at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, she has actively trained in Los Angeles, Toronto and Saint Petersburg, Russia. Previously, she has taught coast to coast in Canada, the Dominican Republic and has shared her skills with hundreds of students throughout various school residency programs.

A long-time faculty member at the School of Decidedly Jazz and iLLFX Education, she has also guest taught at numerous dance studios throughout Ontario and Alberta resulting in an extensive wealth of knowledge and adaptability to dance and the performing arts. 

This hands-on program introduces artists to the world of digital music creation and soundscapes. Participants will explore sound fundamentals, digital tools, beat-making, melodic design, and audio layering techniques. Each session includes interactive activities, collaborative projects, and creative experimentation with both traditional and unconventional sounds. By the end of the program, participants will have created their own unique soundscapes and compiled a digital portfolio of their work. No prior experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to explore sound in new ways! 

No prior experience required! NaAC Sound Haven  is for people 16 and older and is open to mixed-ability participants and community members.   

The skills that you will be acquiring from this class are techniques for sound recognition, digital music production, rhythm creation, recording, and collaborative composition. 

You will enjoy this class if you love experimenting with sound, creating music digitally, or exploring new ways to express creativity through audio. 

Register here: accessarts.ca/whats-on/sound-haven

SJ Obatusin is a musician, producer, and audio engineer with a deep passion for fostering creativity through music and sound. With over 15 years of experience in music production, recording, and composition, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the NaAC’s music programming, aiming to introduce artists to the world of digital audio, production, and sound design.

SJ has experience teaching and leading workshops with artists of all skill levels. He believes in adapting his teaching methods to meet the needs of each participant, ensuring accessibility and engagement. His goal is to create a welcoming environment where artists feel empowered to explore sound, experiment with new ideas, and express themselves through music. 

This program guides artists through the exciting process of crafting original songs in a fun and collaborative environment. Participants will explore song structure, lyric writing, melody creation, and performance techniques through hands-on activities and group collaborations. Each week offers new opportunities to create, refine, and share music, culminating in the recording of original compositions. 

No prior experience required! Verse, Hook & Harmony is for people 16 and older and is open to mixed-ability participants and community members.

Artists will develop skills in lyric writing, melody and rhythm creation, song structuring, and performance. They will also learn basic recording techniques and gain confidence in presenting their work. 

You will enjoy this class if you love writing songs, exploring musical ideas with others, or bringing your stories to life through music. 

Register here: accessarts.ca/whats-on/verse-hook-harmony

About the Instructor:

SJ Obatusin is a musician, producer, and audio engineer with a deep passion for fostering creativity through music and sound. With over 15 years of experience in music production, recording, and composition, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the NaAC’s music programming, aiming to introduce artists to the world of digital audio, production, and sound design.

SJ has experience teaching and leading workshops with artists of all skill levels. He believes in adapting his teaching methods to meet the needs of each participant, ensuring accessibility and engagement. His goal is to create a welcoming environment where artists feel empowered to explore sound, experiment with new ideas, and express themselves through music. 

Manager of Engagement - Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge
Type of Position: Full-time, permanent, in-office
Closing Date: April 17, 2025, 11:59PM

The Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge (AAC) is a not-for-profit, charitable organization operating within Treaty 7 territory with a mission to advance and enhance the arts in Lethbridge.
The AAC is a multi-faceted organization whose activities include: advocacy on behalf of artists and
arts organizations, increasing public understanding of and support for the arts, promoting arts events and initiatives, and creating events and opportunities for artists and the community to connect. The AAC is also responsible for the management of Casa, the City of Lethbridge’s purpose-built community art centre.

This position works closely with the Executive Director and Communications Manager, plus other departments to evaluate and implement strategies that promote and raise the profile of the AAC and the arts community. The role will incorporate current engagement and communications components and combine them into an overall strategy.

Visit artslethbridge.org to download the full job description and wage range. 

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and resume in PDF format, electronically and in confidence, to the attention of: Steven Foord, Executive Director, Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge, hr@artslethbridge.org before April 17, 2025 at 11:59 pm.