Brampton On Stage celebrates Heartbeat Students in an exciting and entertaining final showcase

BY PAUL JUNOR

Brampton On Stage celebrated the final performance of its Heartbeat Students on Tuesday, June 11^th. The performance took place at the Rose Studio inside The Rose Brampton at 1 Theatre Lane in downtown Brampton. It was in 2021 that the Black and Indigenous Youth Internship and Co-op program was launched by the Performing Arts Division at the City of Brampton largely due to financial contribution from Algoma University. It is described as, “The first of its kind in Canada, the program is designed by, for, and with Black and Indigenous students, and guided by an incredible team of Indigenous and Black mentors and professional artists.”

The goals of the high-school program include the following:

• Celebrating and elevating Black and Indigenous youth
• Increasing cultural understanding
• Providing opportunities for professional development
• Preparing students for future leadership positions and careers in the live performance industry

Some of the areas of focus include:

• Multi-dimensional Black and Indigenous education
• Creative expression opportunities
• Career mentorship
• Wholistic support
• Collaborative evolution

The names of the students are:

Dallas Naava-Ssenyondo (visual artist, songwriter)

Dallas is originally from Brampton, with a background in performing arts both on and off stage and has formed a good background for further studies at Sheridan College. The bio states, “Dallas is an enthusiastic, energetic person who enjoys the performing arts and working with people. They are looking forward to creating songs, visual art and starring in performances that uplift and allow people to experience things from a different perspective. Dallas writes songs to express themself, communicate all their thoughts, and feelings and share their gift with the world. Their inspiration for the song comes from listening to different beats and instruments, reading books and other song lyrics.”

Damare Frank (Franklin-writer, performer)

He is destined for a great future as a talented 17-year-old Black interdisciplinary artist originally from Scarborough. He is enthusiastic about using his musical gifts to inspire others through the power of sounds. He has experiences in talent shows, dance performances and being part of a virtual presentation featuring Chief Stacey Laforme.

Marie-Antoinette Kanyinda

She is currently a student enrolled in the Regional Arts Program at St. Roch in Brampton where she is a vocal major. Her main interests are in RnB music and Pop, but she can reach further into different genres.

Sakinah/Ashabi (singer, writer/storyteller)

She is presently a student at York University pursuing a major in Humanities with a focus on: Arts, Music and Culture. As a singer-songwriter and producer she composes within diverse genres such as: jazz, alternative, rock, indie and art pop. She utilizes her Yoruba oral traditions of storytelling.

I interviewed two students: Dallas and Marie-Antoinette on Monday, June 3^rd regarding their participating in this unique co-op program. Dallas is excited to have learned so many new skills from his involvement. “My confidence has increased tremendously and with respect to portfolio development, there has been significant developments.”

There have been many benefits in multiple areas so that they are tremendously indebted to Neree Morgan. Marie-Antoinette spoke about the role that her parents played in helping to nurture and develop her musical talents. Being surrounded by music all her life played a crucial role in fostering an interest from early childhood up to the present. Although she plans on pursuing a degree in Political Science at the University of Toronto and eventually into law, she plans on still performing as a singer.

There is no doubt the 2024 Heartbeats in Performing Arts high-school co-op program will leave a lasting impact on the student participants. There was a packed house at the performance at the Rose Studio on Tuesday, June 11^th, 2024. Sakinah performed songs from a “Girl Like Me Tracklist,” She states, “Storytelling is central to her singing, and I want listeners to feel what I feel.”

Franklin spoke about his passion for music that is not hip hop. He talked about positive life changes and growth. He recited a poem titled, “Season Change.” He states “The bigger I got, so did my dreams’ voice gives me the power to be whoever I want to me. The most natural process of the creative process was writing the poem. “

Sharica Brown, a former grade 11 student who was part of the 2021 program gave a testimonial. She states, “I’ve learned through art that everyone has a place that can allow them to express and represent themselves. This was an experience I definitely won’t forget and will carry with me forever.”