Briana Andrade Gomes, 11, and Kelly Lopes, 12 (pictured above), collectively known as Tha Spot performed a feisty number called Single Ladies to a capacity crowd of fellow dancers, choreographers, their friends and family.

This was the fifth anniversary of Toronto's Original Choreographer's Ball, a performance showcase of some of the city's finest youth dance artists, organized by Thamovement.

While the majority of dance performances seemed to imitate the moves seen in music videos of Britney or Beyonce, there was some original choreography performed as well.

Istoica, the team of Chris Altorf and Jessica Hayes (artist gallery profile here) are best known for their stunning portraits and daily photoblog, but lately they've been producing more video-based creations. One of their latest videos - posted last week - is called Colour. Embedded above it's an, um, colourful display of what happens when you put two barely clothed models, bright paint and playful sensibilities together in one room.

Kinda makes me want to make a trip to the local art supply store.

For more Istoica video work, check out the full collection on Vimeo.

With their imminent arrival, Funktion joins the Toronto Free Gallery, Mercer Union and Paul Bright Gallery as new residents in the neighbourhood formerly known more for the House of Lancaster and Club Paradise strip clubs, and some pretty good falafel joints. I hope the galleries collaborate on their schedules so they have some openings on the same night. It'd make for a good gallery crawl alternative to Ossington, Parkdale and West Queen West.

More info on Funktion on Facebook. The Facebook Event for the opening is here.

Photo from theFacelessFew web site

These intense love stories are sure to heat up the cold winter months, and we've got a pair of tickets for one lucky reader to attend the Jan. 27th performance of Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, at the magnificent Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts.

All you've got to do is text WHOA to AGOAGO (246246) from your cellular phone, join AGO Mobile and sign up for their mobile alerts.

After doing so, I got a message that says "Welcome to AGO Mobile bi-wkly msgs. Rply w JOIN to confirm. Admit 1: AG12330 valid to 1/18/09. Redeem @ box office. Opt-out: STOP." After replying with JOIN, I get a text message saying "Welcome to AGO Mobile bi-wkly msgs. Stay tuned for more info, special offers and artfacts. Text STOP to Opt-out."

Thanks, AGO. This almost makes up for charging $18 regular adult admission price, which even Frank Gehry called "highway robbery."

Everyone knows about ballerinas, but what do you call a male ballet dancer?

According to Noah Long, rising star of the National Ballet Company and featured dancer in 'The Nutcracker', they're called...

This Wednesday, to celebrate their achievement, Spacing is throwing a party at The Great Hall. There will be live music, photos from Rannie Turingan and large panels displaying the finalists from their thinkTORONTO urban design ideas competition. Oh, and cake.

It's a little something different from the gallery that often features the fine work from the DK Photo Group collective.

Looking for a unique gift for that special someone this holiday season? All pieces are 8x10" prints and priced at just $200.

The opening party is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at galleryDK, 1332 Queen St. W. (just west of Dufferin).

The exhibition runs until December 21. The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Photo by mightymightymatze.

Well, the continued popularity of both the store and the gallery means they're continuing to grow. On December 11th they'll be christening their new exhibition space with a show called STAY GOLD. It's their fourth installment of their annual holiday exhibition of unique art gifts and will showcase the handcrafted work from over 20 artists including Gary Taxali and Nathan Jurevicius.

Photo by Jen44 on Flickr

Canadian artists are always crediting our northern environment as an inspiration for their work. Emily Carr, Margaret Atwood and K.D. Lang have all acknowledged how our climate has lead them to pursue themes of solitude and perseverance.

The weather effects street artist Mike Parsons a direct way; if it's nasty outside no one will walk past his stand on Queen West and buy his work.

The shows explores her world not simply through interviews, but by taking the viewer behind the scenes of her work, showing how she interacts with her subject during a photo shoot, shops for props, prints in the darkroom, and mingles with guests at her exhibit. As a photographer, I was compelled. Her images are complex and entirely memorable, so to watch her work, see what and how she uses her equipment, and in general being a fly on the wall in her world was captivating.