Natalie Di Luccio, is a talented Canadian. She is exporting 'Indian
culture' to India.
Toronto is known as Hollywood North. A favorable exchange rate, tax
benefits makes, convenient location and not so unique nature mean many
US films are shot and then produced here. Toronto has developed a depth
and breath of artistic and technical talent suited to the business of
film and TV. Talent was traditional developed in the local theater
scene, which is second only to Broadway in North America. Toronto now
home to one of the world most prestigious and productive film industry
events, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
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A lesser know fact, Toronto in practice is now Bollywood West.
Developing local talent and chasing foreign film production is a
component of Canada's long term economic development plan. A number of
Indian film producers and directors are now based here. There are a
number of sound stages and production companies that specialize in
Bollywood type films.
Ontario is also home to a large, sophisticated and well off local South
Asian audience. 'Genes add to the scene'. Each year Toronto hosts the
International Indian Film Festival of Toronto (IIFFT), the International
Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA), the up and coming Punjabi
International Film Festival (PIFF). Like the TIFF these highly
acclaimed festivals almost always sell out.
In the area where I live, there are a number of bullpen dance studios
that specialize in teaching Bollywood, Bhangra, Giddha, styles of dance.
These studios are cultivation the next generation of Bollywood talent.
These organizations are attracting talent from cities across the US. And
I talking hip-black, -white, -oriental as well as -Indians; from very
young kids, young and thru to older adults. (The interesting thing is
almost all of the students in the programs are doing this as
extracurricular work on top of their regular studies... Not breaking
into professional Bollywood dance means you can always fall back to your
second choice of doctor, accountant or engineer )
Nachdi Jawani, a private Punjabi dance school I'm familiar with, is
booming. Their classes across four locations are filled. Most locations
fill three studios with 10 one-hour classes every Saturday and Sunday.
Their recitals and competition are almost always sold out. The
organization trains dancers as well as musicians and stage production
people. Despite of their apparent success they still are pressed to keep
their best instructors due to the competition between local schools.
Canada is producing a whole generation of multi-cultural, good looking,
well rounded talent.
With the introduction of world cultures in the secondary school
curriculum, specialized fine arts, music, dance and history at the level
of higher education, and exposure to world arts and music through many
festivals and via the internet, it is easy to see that Canada can become
a hot bed for Indian culture. And it is also easy to understand how a
Canadian Italian girl like Natalie Di Luccio can become a hit across India.
Watch out India! Canada, and the the rest of the world, will be soon
exporting Indian culture and talent back to India.
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Lets keep this in mind. Trade in talent and culture works both ways.
Goa, likewise, is quickly becoming the epicenter for Jazz music and
production in South Asia. Goa-Jazz is a fusion is developing to
something quite amazing.
In the past, Goan's have made careers out of singing Portuguese songs or
playing pianos, violins and brass instruments well.
And another observation, whether Goan's like to acknowledge his fact or
not. Goa has established itself in the twentieth century being the Eden
and seminal to the going development of electronic and trance music.
Goa Trance is Goa's greatest contribution to world music. It is played
on iPods, in dance clubs and at festivals and is heard by billions
across the planet.
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/toronto-poised-for-bollywood-boom/article4181707
http://www.omnitv.ca/on/en/videos/3361993842001 (Bollywood Star:
Toronto Audition Craziness)
http://tiff.net
http://www.iifft.ca
http://www.pifftoronto.com
http://www.nachdijawani.com
--
Albert Peres
afpe...@3129.ca
416.660.0847 cell
