Common Boots Theatre, in partnership with Friends of Allan Gardens, presents
Stretch Club & Playground
Hosted by
Derek Kwan
September 11 – December 4, 2023
Stretch Club: Every Monday (except October 9) 9-10 a.m.
Playground: Sep. 25, Oct. 2, 16, 23 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.
Children’s Conservatory, Allan Gardens
19 Horticultural Avenue
The first rule of Stretch Club is: ALWAYS TALK ABOUT STRETCH CLUB! Stretch Club is an opportunity for everyone to come together for some light stretching, breathing exercises, and warming up in a relaxed environment. Bring your own yoga mat and join us for a gentle start to your week. Note: Ambient temperature in the greenhouse can be below 20°C, you may want to bring a sweater- then again it’s a GREENHOUSE and may be warm! This time, we will be joined by other movements specialists who will lead some of the sessions, including Derek Kwan, Miggy Esteban, and Denise Fujiwara. (9-9:45am)
Stretch Club Special Guest Leaders
October 16, 23: Alice Cavanagh
October 30, November 1: Denise Fujiwara
November 13, 20, 27, December 4: Miggy Esteban
Playground is a place for community and to rediscover our love of play and fun. We will play childhood playground games that continue to have relevance in theatre as adults, as well as fun group exercises that develop ensemble, group dynamic, and team building. Perfect for the young-at-heart, and for those seeking a unique way to connect and train together through physical exploration and play. Note: Athletic shoes are recommended as we will be playing on a concrete floor. Led by Derek Kwan. (10am-12pm)
All are welcome- please let us know if you have any access needs, or if you require any accommodations. All abilities and levels are welcome. Children welcome with caregiver participation.
For questions, please write: [email protected]
Participation is FREE. Please register to give us an idea of numbers.
Drop by ONE or BOTH events
We are grateful to be partnering with Friends of Allan Gardens for this project. They are allowing us use of their amazing greenhouse facility. If you would like to support the amazing work they do, you can DONATE HERE.
Special Guest Leader Bios
Alice Cavanagh
(October 16, 23)
Alice Cavanagh (she/her) is an Australian movement artist, movement coordinator, and personal trainer now based in Toronto. Trained as an actor at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne (2012) where she fell in love with the power of movement. Since moving to Toronto in 2017, Alice has worked as an actor, stunt performer and movement coach in theatre, film and motion capture. In 2018 Alice began to collaborate with dance theatre company Frog In Hand as a performer and rehearsal director. She loves to use strength training, functional movement, and improvised movement tasks to help artists and general public connect to their unique quality of movement and unlock their full potential for longevity and pain-free living.
Denise Fujiwara
(October 30, November 1)
Denise Fujiwara has created a practice of contemplative Butoh dance that assists participants to experience deeply embodied movement through the cultivation of curiosity, the imagination, awareness and presence. Her work as a dance artist has developed over 40 years of intensive practice, performance and study. Her mentors include Japanese butoh master Natsu Nakajima and Montreal dance icon, Elizabeth Langley. She is a recipient of the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Muriel Sherrin Award for international achievement in dance and has led workshops and master classes across Canada and in Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Cleveland, California, Copenhagen, Krakow, London, Germany, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and India. www.fujiwaradance.com
Miggy Esteban
November 13, 20, 27, December 4
Jose Miguel (Miggy) Esteban is a dance/movement artist and educator based in Tkaronto/Toronto. Miggy is currently a PhD candidate at the Department of Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto. Influenced by disability arts and culture, Black radical traditions, Indigenous storytelling, and queer performance, his work engages in embodied practices of improvisation to encounter the interpretation of gesture as a site for inspiring pedagogies of/through dance.
Your support helps with our efforts to make our work more accessible and welcoming, including: providing free or low-barrier participation options and training to community members.
The Children’s Conservatory at Allan Gardens is located near the northwest corner of the park, close to the intersection of Jarvist St and Carlton St.
The entrance is visible from Carlton St and is between Grace Toronto Chuch and the Allan Gardens dog park. There are paved walkways to the door.
The closest TTC stop is the 506 College Streetcar stop at Jarvis St and Carlton St.
The Children’s Conservatory at Allan Gardens is entirely on ground level. Paved pathways lead up to the entrance.
Inside are two gender-less washrooms, including one accessible toilet.
All ages are welcome, however children must be accompanied by an adult.
Please note: Due to the nature of the greenhouse, some areas of the floor may be wet during rainy days. These will be clearly noted. We’ve been told the water isn’t great for drinking, you may want to fill your water bottle before arriving.
If you have additional accessibility needs or concerns, please write to [email protected] and we will happily work with you to address any accommodations and ensure that you are welcomed fully into our activities.
