Toronto Revellers Christmas Fete ~ Saturday, December 3 at Hickory House ~ Jones and Wuk Up

Join the Toronto Revellers on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at the Hickory House (440 McNicoll Ave) for their Christmas Fete and coat drive. Hosted by bandleader Jamaal Magloire and MC Brenton B, featuring DJs: Chief, Revz, Chris Nice, 2 Touch, and Infinity Sound Crew. See you there :)

New Details Added ~ Toronto Revellers Christmas Fete 2011

The TORONTO REVELLERS Christmas FETE

The TORONTO REVELLERS Christmas FETE

SATURDAY DECEMBER 3, 2011

@ The Hickory House
440 McNicoll Ave (at Victoria Park), North York

Doors Open at 10pm

$15 Advance Tickets
19+

Music by Revellers Djs:
DJ Chief, Dj Revz, Chris Nice, 2 Touch, Infinity Sound Crew

Hosted By:
Jamaal Magloire & Brenton B

MORE INFO & TICKET OUTLETS COMING SOON!

Toronto Revellers Announces 2011 Christmas Party

Toronto Revellers...It's Christmas!

What better way to spend the holidays than with family and friends? ...and that is exactly what the Toronto Revellers are planning to do.

The Revellers family has just announced their 2011 Christmas party, to take place on Saturday, December 3 at the Hickory House (440 McNicoll Avenue @ Victoria Park) in Scarborough. Admission will be $15 at the door (no advanced tickets), and the Revellers will be accepting charitable donations (to be announced shortly).

So please save the date, and get ready to ring in some holiday cheer with the Revellers administrative team, section leaders, masqueraders ~ past, present, and future ~ and of course our resident DJs that kept us moving down the road on Carnival day this past summer.

As we prepare for Bollywood 2012, we want to ensure that we move forward as a unified team, and the family that plays together......stays together.

We continue to be, the people's band, and want to end off the year with those who have dedicated their time, their energies, and themselves to making the Revellers who they are today.

Hope to see you there :) 

More details to follow...

"Carnival in Canada" featured in Jamaican fashion magazine, Panache

Special thanks to Panache Jamaica magazine for featuring Stacey Marie Robinson's article on "Carnival in Canada" and her experiences with the 2011 Toronto Revellers, in their anniversary edition!

Thanks to Jai Chapman for providing the photographs, and Kwansa Shelley, Nola Paul, Onica Skinner, and Silver for modeling the "Wicked" and "Winkie Guard" costumes!

Socacize Year-Round with Keishia Facey!

The great thing about carnival season is the joy, the celebration, and the festivities it brings...the bad thing, is that it only happens once a year.

People in Toronto have always said that "once Caribana passes, the summer is over." This has been the saying for decades...there's a build-up towards the Caribbean parade...and then once it passes, the summer always seems to slow down, take a little decline in activity, and the fall breeze blows in and we mentally get ready for winter.

Happens every year.

But the good thing about the "spirit" of carnival, and the love of the culture it that it doesn't have to go away. Of course, if your pockets can support it...you can go from Caribana in July/August, drive down to Labor Day in Brooklyn in September, hop on a plane to Miami for October, and gear up for Trinidad in the new year.

OR...you can sign up for Socacize.

God Bless Ayana Lee-Rivears for conceptualizing this phenomenon. Women across the city have fallen in love with this soca-inspired aerobics session, and I think it has been a wonderful addition to the yearly routine and preparation for the "summer body" and the carnival stamina. And of course, a healthy lifestyle.

Fortunately, Socacize doesn't have to "just" be a pre-Caribana thing. Right now you can catch classes year-round in all corners of Toronto, or even buy a DVD to sweat at home...and keep the spirit of carnival and the joy of soca music in your system, even when the degrees drop and winter approaches.

This year, the Toronto Revellers mas band was fortunate to have our resident reveller Keishia Facey provide Socacize classes at our mas camp on Monday evenings. Her jovial spirit, big smile, encouraging words, and welcoming energy were appreciated by all who attended.

This fall, Keishia is providing session in the east end (Ajax); for details, please visit http://www.socacize.com/profiles/Keishiafacey.

Below, Keishia's personal message and update:

Hi All,

I just wanted to let everyone know that we will be commencing the new Fall Socacize Session on Saturday, September 10th at 10am.  Classes will be held at Footnotes Dance Academy.  I am hopeful that I will see everyone out. 

Class Times/Fees

Saturdays
8 week Session - September 10th, 2011 - October 29th, 2011 - Entire Session $80.00 or $12.00 Drop In

Tuesdays
8 week Session - September 13th, 2011 - November 1st, 2011 - Entire Session $80.00 or $12.00 Drop In

Please contact me if you are interested in participating in both the Saturday and Tuesday sessions for additional savings on session fees!!

Please also be advised that Footnotes Dance Academy will also be offering additional Socacize Classes, check http://www.footnotesdanceacademy.com/ for more information.

Thank you again,

Keishia Facey
Licensed Socacize Instructor
647-981-5256
pin: 27209BC1
www.socacize.com

What We Learned as Toronto Revellers Section Leaders

Well, we did it! It wasn't easy...and there were times when we thought we wouldn't even make it to Carnival day (physically!)...but we did it!



Sonia Bhatia, Candice Dixon, Cherr Evans (absent from photo), and me Stacey Robinson took on the amazing challenge of being section leaders for the Toronto Revellers 2011 Welcome to Oz presentation...and we did it.

We were the biggest group of section leaders. Some ladies had the expertise to handle it on their own...some worked in pairs. Everyone had support, but we went on as a team of 4, and definitely needed the strength in numbers to make it through.



There were the ultimate highs (like seeing our costumes on the parade route)....and there were the ultimate lows (like disappointing a few ladies with late costume pieces)...but overall we have come out satisfied with the experience, and we are wiser as a result.

Now I can't officially speak for the other ladies, but I do know that I walked away learning a great number of things from this experience:

1) I love my city. I think Toronto is the best. And throw in a little soca music, hot weather, good friends, and good looking people in beautiful costumes...and it's beyond great. There is no better time of year in Toronto than carnival time, and it's a combination of everything I love, all built into one dynamic festival. Fortunately, this year we were able to prepare and celebrate for months, rather than just one day.

2) I love my culture. I know a lot of people think carnival and soca music and steel pans are a "Trini ting"...but as someone of Jamaican heritage, I can attest that our culture is our culture. The music, the food, the people, the energy...it doesn't belong to one specific island of people. Yes, there is a deeper connection to carnival in the Trinidadian culture...just as Jamaicans will have a deeper connection to reggae music. But that doesn't for a minute make any of it mutually exclusive. I am proud to be a Jamaican who ADORES carnival culture, and I think that if you love the Caribbean period...then you can appreciate the wonderful attributes of carnival, and what it means to our people, collectively.

  

3) The Toronto Revellers are good people. We were with this group of individuals virtually and on the phone from fall of 2010, and then physically in the same mas camp from May 2011 until August 2011. And the more time we spent around this group, the more we grew to love them. Our bandleader Jamaal Magloire was supportive and motivating, and his family and extended family treated us all as their own. We were well fed, we were hydrated (wink, wink), and we always felt comfortable amongst our band. Yes, we had some glitches, and yes there were some people "around" that we could have definitely done without (ahem...) BUT the Revellers took care of us, and really proved to us why the Revellers are known as the "people's band." Great hearts, and good intentions all around.

4) We had an awesome group of section leaders! We all heard nightmares about just how bad it could be. We've heard about stealing, and gossip, "hating," and sabotage...as first-time section leaders we automatically had our guards up against the worst...and quickly put them down when we got to know and love the other ladies (and gentleman) that we would be making mas with. We spent long hours with these individuals, they were all supportive, helpful, encouraging, fun, and truly a team. Shouts out to the lovely ladies Christiane Tetreault, Simone Russelburn, Camille Lewis, Roxane Austin, Donna Sisneth, Zakiya Ricketts, Attasha Jordan, Joanne Chase, Yvette McBurnie, Giselle "The Wassi One" Blanche, and of course...Roger Taylor-Montano.

5) WE LOVE ROGER TAYLOR-MONTANO! Roger took our section from design obscurity, into confident creators! The minute he arrived from Trinidad (literally) in the spring to assist the band, he was very informative for us. Patient. We loved his hard work, his creative vision, and his artistic mind...overall! Every band needs a good go-to man to assist and advise, and Roger was definitely that man for us!

  

6) Team work is key. Believe me, it was no picnic. Four women creating approximately 50 kiddies costumes and 150 adult costumes, PLUS dealing with the purchasing, organizing, administration, customer service...AND our real lives at the same time was a CHORE. Even going into the experience as good friends, our personalities, allegiances, sacrifices, opinions, and dedication were definitely put to the test! We've since learned what it takes to make this process run smoothly. We had our trials and we had our fumbles and disappoinments, but in the end it was still a great experience.

7) It's not about the money, money, money. Although we were advised to treat carnival as a "small business" and approach the expenses and profits as such...in the heart of it all, money is truly not the driving force. In fact, even if there was a concrete fee or salary attached to the time and effort put into making costumes...it still wouldn't be justifiable or easily quantified. Making mas is TRULY a labour of love. Point blank. If you don't enjoy the environment, the music, the people, the food, the design, the materials, and the overall end product...then don't even bother. There is no amount of money that can compare to the rewards of the experience...and money alone can not drive you (physically or mentally) to complete this particular task with joy. It's about the love of carnival, nothing more...nothing less. BUT, the money is a nice perk when all is said and done :)

  

8) We learned from example. All praises due to Alain and Royette who were our section leaders in 2007 for the Toronto Revellers' Viva Las Vegas presentation. Our section "Sin City" was our introduction to playing mas. It was our first time with the Revellers, and our section leaders took such good care of us, that we always remembered the experience. They were organized, they never showed bad face, and they made an outstanding costume for us that definitely had an impact on the road. Likewise, we learned from other section leaders this year with the Revellers who took the time out to guide and teach us the things that only an experienced leader would know.

9) Toronto's carnival is a valuable entity. It's a shame that it's had its fair share of controvery, management adjustments, and news frenzy, but Toronto's Caribana/Caribbean Carnival is really a hot commodity. And until you are a part of the actual physical construction of carnival...you'd never really know or appreciate just how much hard work goes into the production. And when you think of the decades that the carnival has been taking place, and how the little work we do is multiplied fifty-fold for each band, and each section...it's really impressive. The section leaders put in a lot of hard work, and the value of their commitment alone is a powerful force in the overall event.

  

10) There is no other way to experience the carnival...than from within the carnival. It's one thing to stand at the side of the road, chip along with the trucks, and grab a bite to eat as a spectator. It's another thing to play mas with your favourite band, and enjoy the parade in full costume. But to actually be a part of the construction and creation of the parade itself is a phenomenal feeling. As we take each step up in the carnival ladder, we realize more and more how great it is to be a part of this amazing event year after year.

Overall, we're grateful for the experience, the people we've met, and the lessons we've learned. We're grateful for our family and friends that helped us get through it all! And most importantly...we're ready to do it again, bigger, and better, more aware, more prepared, and more dedicated in the years to come.

Toronto Revellers at Barrie Caribfest 2011

And we don't stop! The Toronto Revellers headed to cottage country to participate in Barrie's annual Caribfest on Saturday, August 13, 2011.

We had a great time. Although smaller in number than the main carnival in Toronto, the Barrie Caribfest had a little vibe going on, still. We were able to see our masqueraders again, our DJ Chris Nice and MC Brenton B were hype, and most importantly, it was a great dayo ut with our fellow Revellers in the hot (HOT!) sun with great music and energy.

Here's some video from our day up north:







Good times indeed, and definitely a new addition to our summer routine. It's really nice to get out of the city (without going toooo far) for the day and take in the scenery. Right on the lake, Barrie is beautiful, and the vibe out there was really nice.

Machel Montano at Wild Water Kingdom ~ Toronto Carnival 2011

Despite the long nights of preparation beforehand...and the long day on the road for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival on Saturday, July 30, 2011...we still managed to find the energy to head north to Wild Water Kingdom that evening to catch the Machel Montano show.

And it was definitely worth it.

It was enough seeing Machel perform at our mas camp on Canada Day...and even better seeing him on the road with our band for the carnival. But it was an extra special treat to see Machel and his full band, dancers, and a full performance on stage at the Wild Water Kingdom.

What a phenomonal performer! This man never ceases to amaze us with his stage presence and energy.

We love him...and here's why:





Looking forward to seeing him back in Toronto again...soon!

Toronto Revellers on de road - Carnival 2011

I love my Toronto Revellers. I think our Welcome to Oz theme was so bright and festive, and the costumes collectively looked amazing on the road on the morning of Saturday, July 30, 2011 at the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival. An added bonus of course, having Mr. Machel Montano himself accompany us along the way (sorry, didn't get much video footage of him)!

Here's a few video clips of our beautiful and handsome masqueraders, DJs, friends, and new family on the road:













We are "the people's band"!

Wicked Section Gets WICKED at the Toronto Carnival 2011

Our section had such a GREAT vibe Carnival morning. Our masqueraders were full of energy, full of personality, and they looked awesome congregated together, moments before we crossed the official judging stage.

Here's a few video clips of the ladies of WICKED and the gentlemen WINKIE GUARDS rocking the hell out of our costumes, and doing the Toronto Revellers proud at the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival 2011.









What an amazing morning!

Keeping Our Spirits Up at the Toronto Revellers Mas Camp

In the days leading up to the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival (aka Caribana), we were fortunate to have an awesome vibe at our beloved mas camp.

Socacize instructor Keishia Facey was there to instruct aerobics class for our Revellers, friends, and even young ones every Monday evening out in the camp lot.



And for the late nights, and all-nighters, we were blessed with good music, good company (God bless our volunteers) and of course the excitement of the upcoming festivities.

Here we are one night doing our "glue gun shuffle" and hoping to get another few hours of work in on the costumes.

Junior Revellers ~ Welcome to Oz ~ Band of the Year 2011

They were amazing. The little tin man. The little ruby red crew. The witches of the east and west. And who can forget the lion, the bright greens and oranges, and all of the wonderful "munchkins" that made up the Toronto Revellers Junior band for WELCOME TO OZ. We were the biggest band on the road, 350 kids strong!

Special shout out to our Bewitched and Lil Soldiers sections who did us (Candice, Sonia, Cherr, and I) soooo proud :)

The temperature was well above 30 degrees, sunny, humid, and HOT on Saturday, July 16 in the Jane/Finch community, but the Scotiabank Junior Carnival was an absolute success. A few bottles of water, a few sprays of mist, and plenty of energy and good music kept everyone in good spirits as we headed down the road.

Our designer Roger Taylor Montano did an awesome job leading the construction of our feature pieces that resulted in recognition...final official results to be posted.

And if Saturday wasn't enough, on Sunday our Junior Revellers hit the stage at our mas camp for their las lap blocko, where they got to show off their costumes for family and supporters, and chip around the lot to demonstrate exactly why they came in top billing.

Congrats to the kiddies for doing a great job in their costumes. To the other section leaders...it's one parade down, and one more to go! Let's hope that the adult Revellers can do as great a job as our Junior Revellers did.

Less than two weeks to go...

Here's some footage from the kids this weekend at the parade:



And on Sunday evening at their las lap victory blocko:



Stay up to date with the Toronto Revellers at http://www.TorontoRevellers.com!

Order of the Bands ~ Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival [Caribana] parade ~ Toronto 2011

Revellers!

The parade is only weeks away, and before we know it, it will be the much anticipated Saturday, July 30. Here are a few details about the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival...

The order of the bands for the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival [Caribana] 2011 was announced this weekend. For category A, the order is as follows:

1 - MARK DELEONMAS (TORONTO MAS) IN ATLANTIS - A CARNIVAL MYTHOLOGY
2 - LOUIS SALDENAH (LOUIS SALDENAH MAS-K) CLUBSECRETS OF THE OUTER LIMITS
3 - THEA JACKSON (TRUDYNASTY )THE ROARING 20'S
4 - MARLON SINGH (CALLALOO) NATIVE AMERICAS
5 - DEXTER SEUSAHAI (TRIBAL KNIGHTS) LEGENDS
6 - JAMAAL MAGLOIRE (TORONTO REVELLERS) WELCOME TO OZ
7 - MARCUS EUSTACE (CARNIVAL NATIONZ) MYTHICAL CREATURES
8 - WHITNEY DOLDRON (MAS PLAYERS INTERNATIONAL) FAIRYTALE FANTASIES

Yes we are #6! A far stretch from last year's #1 position where we have a full clear view of the empty road ahead of us all day! But in 6th position we'll be in a good place between Tribal Knights and Nationz, and the parade route will surely be filled with spectators by that time!

Please note that there have also been a few changes to the parade route this year; here's a map: http://www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com/pdf/2011/parade_map.pdf.

In regards to the new route, the Toronto Revellers' have just noted: "This year the parade will look a bit different on the road. As usual we will be congregating in the CNE Grounds as we prepare to showcase our costumes. NEW for 2011, located midway on the parade route there will be a judging tent erected." 

Time is almost here...Revellers, yuh ready?!?

Machel Montano Celebrates Canada Day with the Toronto Revellers

The Toronto Revellers definitely deliver! After much hype and anticipation, it was wonderful to see Machel Montano hit the stage at our Canada Day blocko "Fete'ish" on Friday, July 1, 2011.

Our mas camp has been an all-purpose event and entertainment venue. This is where we had our band launch back in April, our Junior Carnival launch in May, and along with being the place where we continuously work on our costumes, it's a location that is already embedded with great memories.

Since the launches we've had a few informal BBQs, and just yesterday, an appreciation event for the hard working and loyal volunteers of the band.

To see Machel celebrate Canada Day with us was a joy. To the backdrop of fireworks, he engaged the crowd of Revellers and gave us a sweet reminder that the entire day on the road Caribana day (yes, I still can't help but call it Caribana!) he would be there right with us.

Along with the presence of Machel, we had the opportunity to see all of our costumes on stage simultaneously again. Not since the band launch have we had the opportunity to view the "Welcome to Oz" collection together like that. And what a sight it was!

Between Machel, the costumes, the beautiful weather, honouring our country, and just being with other Revellers and section leaders made it a fabulous day.

And so the countown begins. There are four weeks left. Four weeks of Socacize-ing, beading, glueing, fete-ing, and anticipating the day of the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival.

Revellers....yuh ready?

Canada Day Long Weekend with the Toronto Revellers and the "Wicked" Section

It's amazing how time flies. We began this process as new section leaders back in the fall of 2010, and now we find ourselves in the middle of production and increasing anticipation as the summer officially begins tomorrow.

We've been in the carnival mindframe since there was snow on the ground and subzero temperatures...so to feel the sun shining, to hear the music playing at the Toronto Revellers' map camp (2135 Sheppard Avenue East) and to know that the actual parade day is drawing nearer is very exciting.

I believe the upcoming Canada Day long weekend will be the unofficial official kick off to a summer of activity at our camp, as the countdown towards the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival begins.

The Toronto Revellers have an exciting weekend planned starting with "FETEISH" on Canada Day (Friday, July 1) from 4pm - midnight. Infinity Sound Crew, DJ Chris Nice, and DJ 2Touch will provide the musical vibes as we celebrate our band outdoors, and enjoy the city. Hosted by Machel Montano and other special guests...what better way to spend your holiday? Only $20.

On Saturday, July 2 the fun continues with "TABOO," an all-inclusive event that will give you good food, good music, and drinks for just $40.

Tickets for both events are available at the mas camp, and also online at http://www.ticketgateway.com/.

In the meantime and inbetween time, we the "Wicked" [witch of the west] and "Winkie Guard" section are hustling hustling hustling (everyday!) to make sure our costumes are of the best quality, available on time, and that the ladies and gentlemen of our section are ready for the road!

Join the "Wicked" and "Winkie Guard" section for Toronto carnival 2011!

We invite you to participate in the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival [Caribana] 2011 with the Toronto Revellers' section "Wicked" [witch of the west] and the male section "Winkie Guards." Here's a look at our costumes...for more information, visit the mas camp Emerald City at 2135 Sheppard Avenue East, email us at WickedRevellers@gmail.com, or visit the Revellers' website http://www.TorontoRevellers.com.

Toronto Revellers - Junior Revellers Band Launch 2011

Childhood movie-watching isn't complete without knowledge of The Wizard of Oz, or at least The Wiz. On Sunday, May 29, 2011, the Toronto Revellers launched the junior costumes for 2011 at Emerald City, showing a few of the movie characters in all their glory.

Toronto Revellers Mas Camp Opening

Days after the official band launch, the Toronto Revellers opened their doors to the public to view the costumes of Welcome to Oz.

The Toronto Revellers Band Launch 2011

The big day finally arrived! All sections were ready to display their 2011 costumes for Toronto Revellers' Welcome to Oz. At a special tent in the Emerald City lot, friends and supporters gathered to see the models strut their stuff down the yellow brick road...

The Photoshoot

The night before the band launch, we gathered at Emerald City (the Toronto Revellers' mas camp) to take official photos for the website. Take an inside look at the makeup, preparation, and execution of the photoshoot, with photography by Jai Chapman.

Preparing the Costume Prototype

Trial and error. This is what we learned as we prepared to create our very first "Caribana" costume prototype. With help from the Toronto Revellers, past section leaders, personal experience, and team collaboration, we came up with an inaugural version of the "Wicked" costume...and eventually the final version of our interpretation of the Wicked Witch of the West. And let's not forget her faithful "Winkie Guard."

Getting ready for Oz!

Before the costumes were designed, before the production began, and before we even got into 2011, we gathered a few of our friends to pay tribute to the "Welcome to Oz" theme for Toronto Revellers 2011 carnival presentation.

Our talented associates each gave us their own rendition of the Wizard of Oz classic, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Kwansa


Lisa Banton


JD Keyz