Artists

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  Featuring Hardeep Buckshi

  

  Featuring Hardeep Buckshi

  Hardeep Buckshi is a multi-talented Canadian singer and a composer. Although he specializes in singing ghazals and semi-classical, he is also versatile in composing and singing a variety of Indian music. The delivery of ghazal requires a very special expression and Hardeep does so with his deep and unique voice and soulfoul presence.

  Hardeep is a Ganda-Bundhit (traditional) disciple of the legendary Mehdi Hassan, an internationally renowned singer and was honored to share the stage and perform with Mehdi Hassan and received his blessings.

  Hardeep has been able to keep the traditional ghazal gaayaki (singing) alive in Canada for over 40 years, with nearly 300 performances to his credit in BC, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and in India.  He has also performed for the NAC, the Jazz festival, Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, CBC and countless other events.

  Inspired by Pandit Kundan Lal and Master Vishambhar Das, from whom he received tutelage in semi-classical vocal music, Hardeep has since completed his music degree from Allahabad University.  He has been featured on International Radio and Television, including Door Darshan TV (India) and CBC Radio (Canada). Decades of hard work, dedication, devotion, along with his extraordinarilly original style of singing have made Hardeep Buckshi an artist deserving of the title of a living legend in Canada

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  Featuring Viren Mehta

  

  Featuring Viren Mehta

  Viren Mehta has been accompanying Hardeep Buckshi  for over 30 years on various percussion instruments.  A percussionist is like a heartbeat which joins other instruments together and brings out the beauty in rhythm.

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  Featuring Vignesh Chandrasekaran

  

  Featuring Vignesh Chandrasekaran

  Vignesh Chandrasekaran has been playing Tabla and harmonium for the past 23 years. He primarily learned music at Ramakrishna Math & Mission in Chennai under the guidance of Swami Jnanadananda & Sri PS Ramachandran, and subsequently from various other Gurus. He has accompanied for over 200 concerts playing carnatic classical, hindustani classical, bhajans, ghazals and Kathak in India, Canada and USA. He graduated with a Masters from The University of British Columbia and currently resides in Ottawa.

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  Featuring Santosh Shail

  

  Featuring Santosh Shail

  Santosh Shail is an accomplished musician, well known for his memorable performances at multi-cultural events in Ottawa for over 25 years. He served the South-Asian community in Ottawa as producer and host of the immensely popular radio program 'Arohi' on CHIN 97.9 FM, setting a quality benchmark for ethnic programming in Canada. Santosh is also a media professional with over 30 years’ experience in international broadcast communication. He is President of Shails Communication Inc., a leading media production company in Ottawa, and Executive Director of the Canadian Institute of Mass Communication (CIMC). Despite his many professional engagements, Santosh always finds time for his first love, music. He is an accomplished singer and guitarist and has many original compositions to his credit. He mostly sings popular and light-classical songs in Hindi, but he also loves to sing English oldies.

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  Featuring BhangraScape

  

  Featuring BhangraScape

  BhangraScape, a Bhangra group from Ottawa, was started with a vision and purpose of making Bhangra accessible to everyone in Ottawa and beyond. Bhangra is a very energetic and celebratory folk-dance originating from the land of Punjab in India. With BhangraScape, the founders want to make sure this vibrant legacy continues and provide opportunity to everyone to remain connected with this element of the culture of India.

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  Featuring Geoffrey Dollar

  

  Featuring Geoffrey Dollar

  Geoffrey Dollar is a graduate from the School of Dance Contemporary Dance Diploma Programme. Since graduating in 2016 he has remained an active member of Ottawa’s growing dance community. He has worked with many organizations and artists such as Ottawa Dance Directive, NAC Dance, Canada Dance Festival, The University of Ottawa Theatre Department, Propeller Dance, Aroha Fine Arts, Upasana: The Spirit of Dance, the Ottawa International Salsa Convention, Sinha Danse (Montreal), MASC (Multicultural Arts for Schools and Communities), FESFO (Fédération de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne), the National Center for Dance Therapy with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens as well as the CEAO (Centre d’excéllence artistique de l’Ontario) at De-La-Salle High School. He has performed and choreographed in Ottawa and Toronto for festivals and events such as New Blue Emerging Dance Festival, The 6th annual HUM TV Awards, Series Dance 10: Floorplay, to name a few.

  He aims to bridge gaps between various performing arts communities by creating and engaging with work which creates a sense of collaboration and unity. His work as an educator and arts administrator has allowed him to perform outreach within various communities in the hopes of spreading his vision of dance as well as his love of the performing arts. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Mr. Dollar has familiarized himself with video production and editing to continue to serve and support the communities and organizations with which he is working.

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  Featuring Amber Green

  

  Featuring Amber Green

  Amber Green began movement training at the age of 6 and trained in competitive figure skating until the age of 18. During University, she took pre-professional level dance technique classes at the National Ballet School, Metromovement, and at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. After graduating from University, Amber trained in The School of Dance’s three-year Professional Contemporary Dance Diploma Programme in Ottawa. Since graduating from the programme in 2015, she has been working as a freelance dancer and choreographer in addition to teaching at the Gloucester Skating Club and in elementary schools with Momentum Moves Canada. As a certified Yoga teacher, she provides group and private classes in Ottawa. Amber began training in Kathak under Guru Anjali Patil ji in 2021, and has performed in four editions of ArohaFest.

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  Featuring Rhea Jain

  

  Featuring Rhea Jain

  Rhea Jain is an emerging dance artist currently training in Kathak Classical Indian Dance under the tutelage of Guru Anjali Patil Ji. She is eager to garner more performance experiences through formal engagements such as ArohaFest and to sharing her passion for dance with the local artistic community.  

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  Featuring Moov Ottawa Dance

  

  Featuring Moov Ottawa Dance

  Moov Ottawa Dance is a professional bilingual Street Dance Company run by Co-Artistic Directors Alea de Castro and Arnaldo Betancourt Silva. The group specializes in the styles of Hip Hop, Breaking "Break Dance", House, Waacking, and more. They share their skills and knowledge locally and internationally through dance classes, workshops and school programs, and high-caliber performances at festivals, community events and dance battles.

  Welcoming students of all levels and spectators who love dance, Moov offers a creative outlet, a unique experience and guidance to Street Dance and Culture.

  *we are not a dance studio*

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  Featuring Priyanshi Chaklashiya

  

  Featuring Priyanshi Chaklashiya

  Priyanshi Chaklashiya is a passionate artist deeply rooted in ancient henna art. With every stroke of her henna cone, she aims to bring beauty, culture, and self-expression to life.

  Each year of her henna journey has been a canvas, and every design has a story waiting to be told. From intricate bridal patterns to contemporary and culturally inspired creations, she has dedicated myself to mastering this art form. In her view, henna isn't just about adorning hands and bodies; it celebrates individuality and tradition. She is eager to help you mark your special moments, whether a wedding, festival or personal milestone.

  She blends tradition with a modern flair, and will surely create henna memories which will last a lifetime. Your unique story deserves to be told through the intricate patterns and designs only henna can provide!

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  Featuring Payal Bhatia

  

  Featuring Payal Bhatia

  Payal is an artist based in Ottawa with focus on expressionist and abstract style of art. Her work is inspired by the therapeutic nature of the arts, and depicts self-expression in texture, colour and flow. She loves experimenting with different art media, as she finds that one can be just as creative and innovative using commonplace items. Her default medium to work on, however, is acrylics. She enjoys using bright colors in her artwork. “Even though the artwork I create is largely for self-healing, knowing that there are many people who associate with and relate to my artwork gives me immense joy.”

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  Featuring Johanne Richer

  

  Featuring Johanne Richer

  Johanne Richer, Visual Artist, was born in Montreal. Throughout her life art, of all forms, has always been present. Her passion for music led her to 10 years of dance training in Ballroom Dance and Argentine Tango. Over time she realized her dream of putting on canvas the vibrant and colourful world of dance. The essence of her creativity is drawn from her knowledge and varied artistic experiences. These assets serve as a guide and serve her well in the realization of her artwork. As a figurative painter. oil is her preferred medium. Movement is the common thread and driving force which underlines gestural and dynamic freedom while keeping in mind the techniques, the posture, the estheticism, as well as the complexities of dance. She recreates her impressions of each moment harmoniously by using compositional effects, and a vibrant and varied palette.

  Her work has evolved over the years as she continuously explores new challenges. Latin Dance, Ballroom Dance, Classical Indian Dance, and Integrated dance are but a few of the various styles she has explored. For several years she has exhibited her artwork in Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick, committing herself to a full-time artistic practice since 2016. These different disciplines are the means through which she expresses what she feels. She dances on her canvases and transmits what drives her.

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  Featuring Rashmi Rekha

  

  Featuring Rashmi Rekha

  Born and raised in India, Rashmi haslived in Ottawa for most of her life. Despite her studies in Physics followed by a professional career in Information technology and business administration, art has remained a passion of hers which she pursues with vision and vigor by presenting her imagination and unique perspective through colourful images on the canvas.

  Her paintings, which explore numerous mediums and surfaces, have been showcased within private businesses in Ottawa; such as CISTEL Corporation, as well as at the Midway Family Fun Park on Kaladar Avenue in Ottawa, and by several art collectors across the US and Canada. An international manufacturing company in Ottawa, ProSoya Inc. currently showcases 15 of her paintings in their office walls, and in their Atrium.

  As an active member of Arts Network Ottawa, The ArtEast association, and Art Lending Ottawa, she has regularly participated in community exhibitions in Ottawa and Orleans and is an Artistic Mentor at Studio 507, Ottawa.

  Her Artwork has been recognized and she have been granted a distinguished award by the Prime Minister of Canada in 2006.

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  Featuring Lily Lachapelle

  

  Featuring Lily Lachapelle

  Lily Lachapelle is a Visual Artist, born in Montreal in 1964. At an early age, she explored numerous brush-work techniques, drawing from her mother’s passionate approach to visual arts. For years, she developed her skills as a performing artist, an animator, as well as a competitive swimmer. These experiences all inform her practice and understanding of movement within her work. She enjoys working with different mediums, and views painting as a space within which exists infinite possibilities. Only in 2018 did she begin her professional artistic development by enrolling in the Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Arts and media program at UQAM. Working with different techniques and mediums has opened new pathways of creativity and collaboration. These new mediums also allow her to more accurately incorporate her interests as well as subject matter which is, at times, political or intimate; inspired by social movements, memories of her loved ones, as well as by performing artists. Enshrined in her work are the recurring themes of the feminine condition, water, and flowers. Her play on light, obscurity, back-lit scenes, and shadows allows her to transmit a unique form of realism which can be found within each of her pieces.

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  Featuring Anantha Mahadevan

  

  Featuring Anantha Mahadevan

  Anantha has been a yoga and meditation teacher for the Art of Living Foundation for 18 years, and has taught the Art of Living courses in Ottawa, as well as in different communities in Ontario and Quebec. He's been meditating and doing the breathing techniques taught for 20 years.

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