Activities and workshops

Haka is a variety of ceremonial dances in Māori culture. It’s a challenge, the summoning of physical, mental and spiritual power for a very specific intention. There are traditional and contemporary haka for many occasions. Participants will learn the calls, actions, words & their history, as well as its meaning, traditions and protocols.  Mihirangi is a proud advocate of her culture and her workshops are renowned to be captivating, passionate, inclusive, generous and when appropriate – humorous.  No singing or dancing experience is necessary. 

Do you know what a handpan is? You will be surprised by the beautiful sound and the origin of this flying saucer shaped instrument. It’s with a humorous touch and lots of passion that Robert will teach you about this instrument.

For all musicians interested in learning a Bulgarian piece with embellishments. You will learn how embellishments change from one region to another.

Au temps des seigneuries. A unique musical adventure that takes the audience on a journey from the great castles of the Middle Ages to the beautiful seigneuries of New France. An invitation to share the songs and dance tunes of the minstrels, travellers and boaters of yesteryear. 

Through historical anecdotes, multi-instrumentalist Philippe Gélinas leads an interactive arts activity showcasing unusual instruments and surprising music that enlivened people’s lives over 400 years ago.  

 A great opportunity for people to discover several period instruments including the bagpipes, crumhorn, lute, dulcimer, wooden flute, hurdy-gurdy and several other mediaeval stringed instruments. 

A discussion with the two singers around their unique background alternating between rock and heavy metal to world music. They want to share with you how one’s musical and cultural baggage comes in handy in all aspects of life. They will try to give you examples of what their voices are capable of when we try our hardest. Expect to sing along!

In the Andean region (north of Chile, south of Perú and Bolivia) the “Aiyus” (towns) prepare the carnival for the whole year. The music searches for “Tara”, the harmony of the wind troops that connects the terrestrial life with one of the higher spirits. There are many rhythms and dances and the group will share some of them.

Singer-songwriter originally from Lac-Saint-Jean, Ian Fournier has produced 12 albums of songs as well as a large number of shows across Quebec and abroad. He offers a fun workshop where participants will learn how to write a song.

The workshop explores 2500 years of guzheng history, styles, and cultural influences. It discovers instrument construction, playing techniques, and 20th-century reforms. Join us for a captivating journey through the essence of this ancient and evolving musical tradition!

Let’s have fun hitting drum with techniques that mobilize the whole body.

Didgeridoo workshop with Pierre-Olivier Bolduc, teacher and crafter of this ancestral Australian Aboriginal wind instrument.
* Bring your own didgeridoo. 
* Some didgeridoos will be provided for those who do not have one. 

A quick introduction to cajon, explaining the origins and how it was introduced in flamenco and others music styles. Some basic rhythms and patterns, body percussion, nothing too complicated so everyone can have fun and develop an interest on the instrument.

Scottish Ceilidh Workshop is a chance to play together, create together and get to grips with the fun of playing in a group. We will look at arranging a track so whether you sing, play the pipes or thump out the low notes, you’ll have a role to play in the final track.

es Pieds de Velours is a group of international folk dancers that has existed for 30 years. Its members, dancers of all ages, take turns teaching dances of their choice in circles, couples and lines. The dances taught come from countries and regions such as Greece, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Russia, Israel, Armenia, England and Quebec.

Discover the traditional recipe for beef empanadas as prepared by the gauchos (cowboys) of The Pampas of Argentina.

Fatima Zohra will present a dish from her native Morocco: plain malwi and stuffed with vegetables! Malwi is a kind of Moroccan pancake with a unique taste that can be eaten with cheese, jam or any spread, not forgetting Moroccan tea!

Discover the subtle combinations of wine and cheese during this convivial evening of tasting!
In collaboration with Cantine Ermes 
A presentation by EXP 

Back again for another year, the Bailando and Tango Salsa Club schools are offering a variety of Latin dance performances and workshops (Bachata, lady styling, rueda and Cuban salsa) to get you in the mood for Fiesta Caliente! Come warm up with us and practise your new skills to festive, upbeat music.

Learn the basics of the Argentinian tango danced in the milongas of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Join us for a workshop on cumbia, Colombia’s most representative dance and practiced all over the world. Three cultures are part of cumbia’s origins: African, indigenous and European.

The Service d’Aide aux Néo-Canadiens invites you to participate in a percussion workshop led by Bruno Roy, facilitator of rhythmic circles that bring people together. During the workshop, Bruno Roy will provide you with different percussion instruments and celebrate with you the pleasure of being together.

This workshop will give a quick overview of the technical aspects of this dance: body-work, foot-work and hand-clapping. Following the exercises learned, we’ll choreograph a sequence that will enable participants to try a small dance.

Come and make origami with the L’Œil de Chat team! Even today, the mastery of origami helps us to develop our fine motor skills, our concentration and our patience. Looking forward to “fold” with you!

Come and make lotus flowers with Falun Dafa! The lotus flower is an ambassador of peace, symbolising the purity that can emerge from turbulent times, and representing the hope that helps overcome difficult conditions. The lotus flower symbolises the beauty of an ancient practice called Falun Dafa. Fadu, a Chinese girl who lost her father to persecution in China, initiated the project to make lotus flowers bloom across the world. She wanted to spread peace and respect for traditions and beliefs to every family in the world. Come and make your own flower with us!

Come and make lotus flowers with Falun Dafa! The lotus flower is an ambassador of peace, symbolising the purity that can emerge from turbulent times, and representing the hope that helps overcome difficult conditions. The lotus flower symbolises the beauty of an ancient practice called Falun Dafa. Fadu, a Chinese girl who lost her father to persecution in China, initiated the project to make lotus flowers bloom across the world. She wanted to spread peace and respect for traditions and beliefs to every family in the world. Come and make your own flower with us!

Come and make origami with the L’Œil de Chat team! Even today, the mastery of origami helps us to develop our fine motor skills, our concentration and our patience. Looking forward to “fold” with you!

Come and discover the historical evolution of traditional Chinese musical instruments. Vivian Yang Li will also introduce the classic repertoire.

Love manga? Here’s your chance to take part in a manga drawing workshop! With her university studies in comics, Sophie Viens will share the basics of manga drawing and create with you. 

Come and make lotus flowers with Falun Dafa! The lotus flower is an ambassador of peace, symbolising the purity that can emerge from turbulent times, and representing the hope that helps overcome difficult conditions. The lotus flower symbolises the beauty of an ancient practice called Falun Dafa. Fadu, a Chinese girl who lost her father to persecution in China, initiated the project to make lotus flowers bloom across the world. She wanted to spread peace and respect for traditions and beliefs to every family in the world. Come and make your own flower with us! 

The artist will go into the historical part of her instrument and share stories behind each piece she plays.

Come and discover Japanese tea and the tradition surrounding this famous beverage. Anne Ricard will present their specialties at Mystea and offer tastings.

The Centre d’Art de l’opéra de Pékin du Québec (Jingju Quebec) presents the costumes, make-up and decorations from traditional Chinese opera. They also offer face mask and hand fan painting activities and talk about the Pekin opera postures.

The workshop will be a presentation of a variety of Japanese instruments used by the group. The presentation will cover the history of these instruments and will also include a few acoustic pieces.

Come and make lotus flowers with Falun Dafa! The lotus flower is an ambassador of peace, symbolising the purity that can emerge from turbulent times, and representing the hope that helps overcome difficult conditions. The lotus flower symbolises the beauty of an ancient practice called Falun Dafa. Fadu, a Chinese girl who lost her father to persecution in China, initiated the project to make lotus flowers bloom across the world. She wanted to spread peace and respect for traditions and beliefs to every family in the world. Come and make your own flower with us!

Come and discover Chinese tea and the tradition that surrounds it. Anne Ricard will present their specialties at Mystea and offer tastings.

The Centre d’Art de l’opéra de Pékin du Québec (Jingju Quebec) presents the costumes, make-up and decorations from traditional Chinese opera. They also offer face mask and hand fan painting activities and talk about the Pekin opera postures.

Love manga? Here’s your chance to take part in a manga drawing workshop! With her university studies in comics, Sophie Viens will share the basics of manga drawing and create with you.