image:/images/38/56/3d62049f485c972441c4c01e43d1.jpeg
         width:440
         height:294
         credit:Photo/NICOLA BETTS
         caption:Punk band Fidget performs at the BIG on Bloor festival June 21.
         end:end
      
         image:/images/78/51/6d42b7494de0a7cc759e700ef257.jpeg
         width:440
         height:294
         credit:Photo/GRAHAM PAINE
         caption:The Diva Moms and the 3 Dads performed June 14 to a crowd of several hundred in the auditorium of John English School, with proceeds going to the school's Healthy Bites Lunch Program.
         end:end
      
         image:/images/d1/70/857f4ba743c7af6f8ede264d355a.jpeg
         width:440
         height:294
         credit:Photo/BRENT LEWIN
         caption:Dancers get ready backstage before Vasanth Taal at the St. Columba and All Hallows Church May 24. The evening featured a performance by the Gunaseelan Dance Company.
         end:end
      
         image:/images/5e/e1/371be38544888957cafbb46bc5b1.jpeg
         width:440
         height:294
         credit:Photo/BRENT LEWIN
         caption:Sara Montalba, Jennifer Dang, Sandra Mateiya, Nusa Fransico, Mimi Adal and Isabella Marro strike a pose during the 7th annual Stomp, an urban dance competition and showcase held recently at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
         end:end
      
         image:/images/e2/f6/99c653f049a1b9d553538c6793e9.jpeg
         width:440
         height:294
         credit:Photo/BRENT LEWIN
         caption:Rishma Vhairio, centre, performs an Indian dance routine with her partners during International Night events at Lester B. Pearson Collegiate May 15. 
         end:end
    
       

BRIEFS

Luminato is underway

Luminato, which bills itself as Toronto's "festival of arts and creativity," kicked off last night (Thursday) for its much anticipated 10-day run with opening ceremonies at the University of Toronto's Hart House Field that featured performances from the National Ballet School and the Festival's Light on Your Feet dancers.

Luminato wraps up June 15.

Last year's inaugural festival attracted more than one million participants to more than 100 events, including 10 world premieres and three Canadian premieres.

Luminato's program, which takes place almost entirely within the old city of Toronto borders, encompasses a broad spectrum of creative expression including music, dance, theatre, film, literature, visual arts and lectures.

Conceived out of the city's unique vibrancy and cultural diversity, and designed to showcase Toronto's bustling downtown core and the cultural renaissance transforming its renowned concert halls, galleries, museum collections, and performing arts companies, Luminato was created to bring Toronto's light to the world, and the world's light to Toronto.

For more information on both free and ticketed Luminato events, including dates, locations and schedules, visit www.luminato.com. Tickets are available through all Ticketmaster outlets (call 416-872-1111 or visit www.ticketmaster.ca).

Learn music with legends

The Guitar Workshop Plus at Humber College Lakeshore Campus has announced its artist lineup for the 2008 summer program featuring jazz legend John Scofield, rock instrumental virtuoso Paul Gilbert, legendary bassist Billy Sheehan, Canadian blues artist Sue Foley, rock guitar guru Gary Hoey, drummer Rick Gratton and more.

Designed for aspiring musicians of all ages, the program offers students a unique setting for musical and personal growth while studying multiple styles, courses and levels with some of the industry's leading musicians.

To learn more or to register for one of the two summer sessions, July 13 to 18 or July 20 to 25 call 905-567-8000, go online to www.guitarworkshopplus.com or e-mail info@guitarworkshopplus.ca.

Staying Alive winners

Insidetoronto.com readers and their friends will be learning how to eat to survive.

Breakfast for Learning ( www.breakfastforlearning.ca ) created the Staying Alive Board Game to help kids learn that eating well will help them to survive.

According to the game Staying Alive, players are mountaineers who are on their way to scale the Andean mountains when their plane crashes, destroying the communication gear.

Using eight Japanese anime-type characters, kids move their pieces, collecting nutritional points. The person with the most nutritional points wins.

The games and free and are available online or by calling 1-800-627-7922.

Congratulations to Leslie Toy from Bloor West Village; Raymond Chung, Jan Edward, Brian Mee, Lori Lam, Wendy McNalley, Audrey Gallen, Sonya McFarlane, Jennifer Wu, Scott Reinhart, Eunis Elsee Palma and Cathy Nelson from Scarborough; and Sean Rockburn and Maria Novo from York; and Danny Davis and Kitty Liu from North York.

Keep visiting insidetoronto.com for more contests.

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