By Anthony Michael Maio
The 15th anniversary season at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans features a new partnership with Axé WorldFest — an organization that empowers BIPOC artists, newcomers to Canada and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. It’s an initiative that reflects the centre’s strengthened commitment to ensuring that its annual lineup of performers includes traditionally unrepresented groups.
Born and raised in Brazil and living in Canada for more than 20 years, Claudia Balladelli is Axé WorldFest’s co-founder and artistic director. Her collaborative work with the Shenkman centre has expanded over the last few years, and Axé has become the official partner of the east-end venue’s World Music series.
“We have a shared vision to promote cultural diversity and artistic expression,” said Balladelli.
Axé (pronounced ah-sheh) is a West-African and Afro-Brazilian concept associated with vitality and interconnectedness. “I see a development in how organizations are wanting to work with us,” Balladelli said. “Orléans has a close-knit community feel, allowing for intimate gatherings and strong local partnerships.”
This month, the Shenkman celebrated 15 years since the City of Ottawa backed the creation of the centre as a public-private partnership. According to the organization’s most recent strategic plan, the centre has undergone changes to enrich programming that represents “a broader spectrum of Orléans and the city at large.”
Portfolio manager Jahn Fawcett, who started as a technician at the centre 13 years ago, said he’s had a front-row seat watching the place evolve. “I think we are trying to respond to changing demographics in our own community,” Fawcett said. “The centre is a place for all, and the organization wants to make sure that more people are represented.”
Compared to last season, this year’s lineup is a move away from international artists to Canadian performers who represent the diversity of various communities. That includes a new partnership with Nagata Shachu Taiko Group of Toronto, which is scheduled to perform at Shenkman on Oct. 7.
“I think we are trying to respond to changing demographics in our own community. The centre is a place for all, and the organization wants to make sure that more people are represented.”
— Jahn Fawcett, portfolio manager, Shenkman Arts Centre
At the centre’s 15th anniversary event on Sept. 8, there was an announcement about a special milestone: Cassandra Olsthoorn of Arts Network Ottawa — housed at Shenkman — revealed that the ARTicipate endowment fund has now supported artists with 243 grants valued at more than $1 million. Artists such as dancer Stuti Mukherjee was a 2022 grant recipient who was able to use the funding to create a professional South Indian dance project called Navarūpa.
Just after the ARTicipate announcement, Rwandan-Canadian singer-songwriter Empress Nyiringango gave a performance that drew enthusiastic applause from the large audience. It was the first time this Ottawa-based artist has performed in Orléans, although she has many years of experience playing shows in the downtown area.
“When I came to Ottawa in 2007 and started to perform, I noticed right away when I picked up my guitar and started to sing that, although people didn’t understand my language, they would just get up and dance — they would love it,” said Nyiringango.
In what she describes as her “Jablur” sound — which blends jazz, blues, and traditional Rwandan music — Nyiringango uses her native country’s oldest instrument, an “Inanga,” and mixes this traditional sound with contemporary music. Her native language is Kinyarwanda, which she uses along with Swahili, French, and English in her shows.
Expressing delight at the opportunity to perform at Shenkman’s anniversary event, she described Canada as a place where people “enjoy all genres of music, as long as it sounds good.”
Upcoming Axé WorldFest partner shows include Lemon Bucket Orkestra on Oct. 22 and Joyce N’Sana on Nov. 14.
