The reConnexion Artists
The three core members:
Jajube Mandiela
Jajube works as an actor on stage, screen and in voice. She is a graduate of the 2007-2010 b current rAiz’n Ensemble, and she has several years of experience facilitating classes and workshops at Young People’s Theatre (YPT) School of Drama, with Nomanzland Performance Collective, in Toronto high schools, Theatre Direct’s Summer Drama camp, and b current’s Summer aRts Project. She even co-created Broach It!, a workshop on tapping into and using negative emotions for positive performance. Jajube’s best known performance work is Chantay on Degrassi (Muchmusic/Teen Nick), while in voice, Pristine on Crash Canyon (Teletoon), and upcoming on stage: Sia (Cahoots Theatre Company, spring 2012).
my passion for reConnexion:
I have a vision for reConnexion working to form stronger bridges between performance art, social work communities, and neighbourhoods in Toronto, so that youth and young artists can have a thriving and active network of supporting people and resources, which we can see as the foundation for sustaining our work into the future. With the reConnexion Collective, I believe I can help to open more doors for youth who like me want to see people who mirror ourselves in all levels of performance, not just in the spotlight (i.e. acting, directing, playwrighting); but also 'working' the spotlight (behind-the-scenes/technical jobs) and making the spotlight visible (jobs in production, marketing, administration). I help lead reConnexion because this is how I (as a professional artist) contribute to real, positive change in the world.
Natasha Adiyana Morris
Adiyana works as a poet, playwright and comedian. She trains with b current – two years in the Summer aRts Project and was a 2010-2011 rCurrentz Program member. She has also worked in the Paprika Festival, with anitafrika! dub theatre as a resident artist (2010), and was part of Obsidian Theatre’s 2011 Writing Shards program. She is the Artistic Coordinator for AfroChic, a not-for-profit organization which addresses how physical appearance and family dynamics manifest within the Afro-Canadian community. Through this work she has gained skills in program planning, scheduling and recruiting artists for projects. Along with her creative activities Natasha is invested in social work through a post-graduate Child and Youth Worker program at Humber College. Her field placements included working with marginalized youth in a shelter and schools, which has inspired her to aim towards opening a community center in 2013.
my passion for reConnexion:
I first became involved with reConnexion through facilitating Trip2Show outings and as a workshop facilitator at the phenomenally successful first Uth: A Day Experience. I admired the grounded nature of the reConnexion initiatives, as well as the core members’ organization and ability to successfully and regularly outreach to different levels of the performance arts and social worker/youth mentor communities. I became a core member this past summer, because I want to use my administrative and planning skills to help this collective flourish. Working with the enthusiastic team of members to empower marginalized youth links with all of my other projects.
Amanda Nicholls
Amanda is a graduate of the theatre performance program at Humber College and b current's rAiz’n Ensemble (2007-2010). She is an actor, creator and arts educator. Amanda is the Coordinator of the Jump Theatre Project at Humber College and directed this years (2011) “Born To Be”: the participants’ collective creation piece. She is working to further develop and expand the Jump Theatre Project which provides free services for under-privilege youth in Etobicoke. Amanda has a passion for creating devised theatre, collective creation and directing. She works continuously to hone her craft; as you can never stop learning.
my passion for reConnexion:
I chose to join the reConnexion Collective because I feel it is important to support and give opportunities to youth and emerging artists. As an arts lover and practitioner, I think using various art forms is a great way to help youth grow, however, arts programming can be very expensive therefore inaccessible. Being apart of the reConnexion Collective enable me to give youth access to free and/or affordable arts activities as well as create opportunities for youth, other emerging artists, and community artists to showcase their work.
