Become a Triple Threat!
RSOM is offering a new class for children in grades 4-6 that introduces students to the artistic trilogy of musical theatre: acting, singing, and dancing. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, songs, skits, and dances all while learning how to create a story through song and movement. On the last day of the program, they will perform a mini showcase concert for family and friends. The class is being led by Joy Mwandemange, who is also our acting coach at RSOM.
CLASS INFORMATION
- Starting Date: Saturday, January 7
- Ending Date: Saturday, March 4
- Time: 10:00 – 11:30am
- Number of Classes: 8 (No Class February 18)
- Number of Spaces Available: 10
- Cost: $220.00
- Age Range: 9 – 12
- Location: RSOM – 480 Avalon Place
Register Now!
INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY: JOY MWANDEMANGE
Joy Mwandemange is a queer artist from Malawi, and she has always been a performer. Her love for the performing arts began in elementary school where she discovered her love for music after learning the recorder. She quickly moved on to play the Eb Tenor Horn, the flute, and joined groups like the drum line, school choir, jazz band, and the Bongo Bang Boom Drum Band where the students played a variety of African drums.
In high school, Joy’s love of performing arts led her to take part in a Musical Theatre Focus Program at Sir Robert Borden High School which led her to start taking the art form more seriously. She went on to graduate from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Music with Honours in Musical Theatre Vocal Performance. Joy was a part of the Black Theatre Workshops Artist Mentorship Program and has also taken part in an Afro-Caribbean dance apprenticeship through MASC (Multicultural Arts for Schools and Communities) where she assisted in creating and teaching dance workshops for 2 classes (grades 4 – 6).
Joy has been a part of Lost Baggage since their first season, where she was the director, musical director, and choreographer of ‘A Little Lin Music’, a cabaret focusing on the music of Lin-Manuel Miranda and a production of his short musical, 21 Chump Street. Joy has since worked on many of LBMT’s productions in various roles. She is a board member of LBMT and also serves as the company’s HR Director. She also recently joined the board of TotoToo Theatre (Ottawa’s LGBTQ theatre company) and co-directed I’m Not That Cabaret, their successful return to productions after a 3- year hiatus.
Joy is also a working actress who uses her talents in various ways. She works with a company called 6am Productions where she improvises as various colourful characters in a number of virtual murder mysteries. She also performs and serves in Oh Canada Eh!?, a Canadian dinner musical, as well as working with Diversity and Beyond – a company that uses specially tailored role play simulations to train companies in diversity and inclusion training.
She has a passion for creating and participating in theatre and art that speaks to her experiences, culture, and principles and so she gravitates to art that portrays and celebrates the black experience in all its forms. She is also a singer and rapper and creates music under the name Thandizo.
Riverview School of Music 