Cat Jae and Cat Tash performing at Hollywood's Urbanesque

Check out this dance event that Cat Jae and Cat Tash will be performing at this Thursday!! It's going to be a darn sexilicious evening. Prrrr...


Hey all,

Catalyst Performs at 'Dancing for the Compass'

Last night, Catalyst performed for the annual charity event "Dancing for the Compass". With a 50's and 60's theme, the event raised money for families facing economic and social challenges in the community. Catalyst performed a bumpin' and jivin' high energy number that literally got some of the audience members out of their seats to dance with us!

"A big thank you to you Janet and Catalyst for last night.You have a great gift. It is a wonderful thing to share your gift with others.The people loved it! All the best."

Brian McGoey
Organizer of the Compass (and the doctor that helped heal Cat Jae's broken arm)

Catalyst Presents "The 5th Element" RECAP

Catalyst has been off the whole summer but we are gearing back up for fall and a huge 2011 season!

Until then...check out our piece "The Rain" which was performed in The 5th Element. Enjoy!

10 Tips for a Catalyst Audition

What to expect at a Catalyst Audition: 10 Tips to Succeed

10. Everything counts
Make every move count from the moment you walk into the door to the time you leave. Don't cut short, skip, gloss over, and/or shorten any of the moves. Be with everyone in the room and make every second count.

9. Be prepared
Who is Catalyst anyway? Do I need a headshot/resume? Do I need a solo prepared? What styles are they teaching? Before any audition, be prepared with the necessary information and tools which will help your audition run smoother.

8. Take Risks
To be a Catalyst, you must be willing to experiment in different realms. On and off stage, our dancers take risks and see every outcome as a learning experience.

7. Don't overload on the make-up and we are frightened of bowas or pom pom's
Catalyst is known for our fresh, natural talent and although we love to go ALL-OUT for a show, we don't let the glitz take away from the essence of the dance itself. Shine for us.

8. Have fun!
Auditions can be gruelling but lighten up, they are not the end of the world. Although we mean serious business when it comes to dance, we require laughs, playtime, and pure foolishness in order to create our best work.

7. Steer away from Zzzzz's...
If your life depended on being an entertainer or performer, then please do just that! ENTERTAIN us with something different, exciting, provoking, even crazy. We are rooting for you and the last thing we want is for our eyes to glaze over.

6. Share
Share your pens. Your dance space. Your energy. We are Catalysts for each other so be willing to give away what you already have. The less you have, the more you are forced to replenish.

5. Pay attention
Details count so stay alert for instructions and demonstrations. We move pretty fast so try your best to stay on top. We take note of all extended effort:)

4. Stretch
Yes your body, but also your mind and your soul. Sounds cliche, but our moves come from an internal purpose and we own a holistic approach to our training. Start your inhaling and exhaling now...

3. Have the right shoes
This one is a toughie. Catalyst can be seen in bare feet, socks, runners, boots, and/or heels depending on our mood. Expect the unexpected and be prepared to dance your butt off no matter what footwear.

2. Tell us a story
We would like to get to know you so be prepared to answer some random questions. Catalyst mission is to dance to inspire change. What are you inspired by?

1. DO YOU
We are looking for YOU, not anyone else. So please don't forget this person at home. It is this person who may have actually made the final cut.

CATALYST wishes you GOOD LUCK!!!

Email us at info@catalystthecompany.com if you have any comments, questions, and/or need to fulfill Tip #2.

CATALYST is EXPANDING!!!

We are looking for fresh new CATS to join our roster. Come out and show us what you got!!

AUDITIONS

SUNDAY OCTOBER 17, 2010 - 4:00 PM
CITY DANCE CORPS - 489 QUEEN ST WEST, 3RD FLOOR

Due to an upcoming busy 2011 season, Catalyst is seeking unique female & male dance artists for its core company and roster, under the direction of Janet L. Castillo (JLo, Christina Milian, JOJO, Kurtis Blow) and Natasha Powell (Nickelodeon’s Spectacular, Center Stage 2, Rihanna).
Seeking: Versatile dancers who are 20 yrs and older, possess strong technique in their forte of dance (ballet/contemporary, latin, hip hop, street styles, jazz, and other styles welcome). Must be passionate, willing to take risks, and have a raw and enticing quality in their performance. Teaching and choreography skills are a definite asset.

Core performers must be available for 2 rehearsals per week. Roster performers are on contract basis and attend
rehearsals as required.

Be prepared to learn choreography in different styles, and have a solo routine that is a maximum of 1 minute.

Please bring an open heart, headshot and resume. Contact info@catalystthecompany.com and visit http://www.catalystthecompany.com/

CATALYST Presents "The 5th Element" RECAP PART 1

The energy was buzzing underneath the glimmering disco balls and candle-lit venue. People from all over the city arrived to show CATALYST support for their Premier Production of "The 5th Element".  Drawing a diverse crowd into the venue,  it was clear that everyone (whether decked out in a formal dress or chilling in a casual jumpsuit), was welcome and resonated the most perfect vibe. 

With a pre-show for Media, CATALYST and special guests performed 'Earth', conducted interviews, and spoke with Free the Children Representatives about their mission "Dance to Inspire Change"

Super host Ayesha Mansur started off the night preparing the audience for "The 5th - a new movement" 

With an uproar from the audience to begin, everyone got close as the lights went down, music began, and the velvet red curtains opened...

"To the rumblings of the Earth"

Inspired by: The Heartbeat 

CATALYST and special guests shook it up in their custom-designed Earth costumes by Sponsor SHKANK INC. 

Drumming duo Bongo and B setting it off!

Special Guest GADFLY swiping the floor with their Capeiora-inspired moves

Sweaty bodies, shaking feathers, pulsing hearts, and seductive smiles ruled the Earth Element. Interpreted as 'the beginning',  Earth set the tone for the night as everyone entered an unknown realm of possibility. 

The curtains closed and after a big exhale from the audience, the sound of the rain began.. 

Check out The 5th Element Dancers in Rehearsals

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHILIP SPORTEL 

www.rattailfilms.com

"DANCE TO INSPIRE CHANGE" 

What is "The 5th Element" anyway??!!!!

The Countdown is ON. 

We are officially 5 days away to CATALYST Premier Production "The 5th Element".  Do YOU have your tickets already?? If not, make sure to get them online at www.catalystthecompany.com 

Want to find out more about what "The 5th Element" is and our Charity Free the Children? Check out the following links as Cat Jae and Cat Tash talk about the Show!!! 

Article on TO Live with Culture 

Podcast on Evi-Dance Radio 

Article in Mississauga News 

The "What's Your Element" Ticket Contest is still on so send your submissions to info@catalsytthecompany.com to win!! 

What's Your Element? Ticket Contest

What your ELEMENT?

Catalyst is holding a contest to win FREEEE tickets to The 5th Element on Wednesday, May 5th at Six Degrees.

Send us what YOUR Element is? What's your superpower? Your gift that you share with the world? Are you a Ninja with some Lethal Grace? A Firestarter with Contagious Spark? A Soul Sistah with unwavering faith??? Look within and let us know what you bring to the world and the Character that YOU are.

Send your Element and your story to info@catalystthecompany.com to win FREEEEE Tickets to the Show!!

Get your tickets NOW to the most Enticing Dance Show Toronto has seen! Escape from the every day, bring your friends, get down, and let's DAAAAANCE!

Get your Tickets to The 5th Element!!!

Taking that risk....

Thoughts from "Beast" 

When I stop and look at the life I’ve lived, it already amazes me. I’ve seen beauty, adventure, freedom, and experienced moments that would take any ones breath away. I’m living life exactly how I pictured it and for that, I am truly thankful. I am living my dream.

      It’s amazing how different Reality and Dreams are. They are completely opposite worlds. Reality can get you by one day at a time, but it is your Dreams that push you out and beyond. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always had that one dream.  As I grew up, it appeared even more. It never stopped. It came to life when I moved to Toronto two years ago. That dream was Dance.

      I believe in life that you should never settle for anything less of what you want. A back up plan is safe but is it what you desired? Another path is convenient but is it where you wanted to be? The answer is up to you. I live life knowing that it is not a dress rehearsal.  You only have one shot to live life exactly how you imagined it. Taking the safe way isn’t satisfying when you know there is something else out there your heart is reaching for.

I have a Ferocious Desire for performing.  My mind, body, and soul screamed for it and although there were risks, I listened.  At this moment in time, I can fully say that taking that risk was the best decision of my life.

Dance is and always will be that dream that takes me to the places in my life where I see beauty, adventure, and freedom.  Like the burning heat of the fire, my flame will never settle for nothing less than what I truly desire.  It is who I was then, who I am now, and exactly who I will be in the future. I will never stop.  That's me. 

That Feeling...

Thoughts from "Cool Chic" 

I’ve never really been able to put into words how I feel about being a dancer.  How can you verbalize a sensation that can only be expressed through movement? Over the years, I’ve thought a lot about the question “Why do you dance?”  Most dancers you ask have an answer, the most common being something about self expression or the high of performing.  Usually when confronted with that question by somebody, I make up some bullshit to give them what they want to hear.  However, when confronting myself with the question, the only truthful answer I can find is that I actually don’t know. 

I do know that I have a thirst for perfection when working that spans all aspects of my life.  I crave clean lines, sharp angles, the perfectly arched foot.  I love that as a dancer you’re working with limitless possibilities of perfection.  For even the best dancers, there’s always room for higher legs and sharper turns. 

I also know that by nature I am a fidgety person.  God give patience to whoever has to sit beside me on long train rides!  While my mind can stay focused on one task, my body, my absorbing aura, needs to be in constant motion to stay satisfied so maybe dance is an outlet to expel my tension.

There’s also the obvious reason, like every dancer on this planet, I love to perform.  Go ahead and stare, I welcome your eyes on me and the challenge of keeping you interested.  However selfish it may seem, what I love about performance is not being able to reach out and touch your emotions, but being in touch with mine.  Like the flying freedom of the air, it’s a feeling that goes beyond the stage.  There’s nothing comparable to that feeling of seamlessly connecting one practiced move to the next whether it’s on stage, in the studio, or in your head as you’re walking down the street. 

At the end of the day, the only answer to the question “Why do you dance?” that makes any sense to me is just to feel that feeling.  It doesn’t happen all the time.  It can be fleeting and infuriatingly unpredictable but when you feel it, it really is something else.  That’s the best I could ever possibly do to describe it.  Those who know just know.

I hope to see you all at The 5th Element so I can just save all the words and show you what I mean. 

Mark your calendars.  You don't want to to anywhere else but at "The 5th Element" on Wednesday, May 5th, 2010. 

 

Ying and Yang...

Thoughts from "Ninja"

I've spent a lot of time gazing in mirrors, bound up in spandex and lyric attire... pinned to perfection. The amount of work a dancer must put into ballet is both physically and mentally exhausting. Nonetheless, it is where my true passion of movement began.

Over the years, my thirst for new experiences grew immensely. I found myself indulging in fantasies of martial arts, flips, tricks, and breaking. I journeyed far from the structure and extremities of ballet, and began developing a style that would best express who I am... lethal grace, the technique and elegance of classical ballet infused with the raw and boundless freedom of street dance.

In my journeys, I have travelled many places and met various kinds of artists. I fall in sheer captivation every time I see someone fresh, passionate and willing to embrace their movements. These artists are able to tell definitive, captivating stories, and I have enjoyed being the author to some of their narratives.

The stage has always been my home. When I'm away from its dark floors, elevated heights, and eye-blinding lights, a part of me is missing. I have a deep rooted connection to the stage, and I use it as a vessel for journeys beyond the realm of our existence. It is a place where people can dwell in wonder, and allow themselves to sink to the emotional depths of the water.

I came to Toronto to study in performance arts. During this time, I met a part of me that had been buried in the core of my being. Like the water, it was in constant motion even when it appeared to be calm, still, and serene. I grew to understand that we hold this part inside of us, below the surface, moving as rapid as water. It's strength can carry us through the hardest of times, or drown us in the silence of our sorrow. Acknowledging this, has enabled me to grow, and find balance within myself. Now, all that I want is to have the chance to share this feeling, in every motion that unfolds... and connect with those who feel it too.

Mark your calenders. You do not want to be anywhere by at "The 5th Element" on Wednesday, May 5th, 2010.

Satisfying the Soul...

Thoughts from “Soul Sistah”

My dance career has existed in two worlds. Classical Dance and Street Dance.

Airplanes have taken me and my luggage to two different coasts. The East Coast, and the West Coast.

I sang the same song in both stories when I was at the point where I was trying to “find myself”. The lyrics went something like:

“Where do I fit in?”

“Where will people accept me for me?”

“Am I good enough to be here?”

“This isn’t working out, let me try something else...”

“I think I deserve to be here, but what do others think?”

But through growth, experience, and TONS of reading, I realized that it didn’t matter what city I was in, or what style I was doing. My location and what I was doing was irrelevant, so long as the soul was being satisfied.

Me and jazz have a great time together, but locking really knows how to make me smile. Contemporary and I connect, but popping really knows my soft spots. Ballet was my first relationship, but hip hop has my heart forever. I’m a dancer period, but I gravitate to the street dances more because I have a deeper connection to them. They take me on journeys that are unexplainable. I also learned that when it comes to being on either the east coast or west coast, the location doesn’t matter. My home is purely where my heart is.

This has motivated me to inspire those all over the world. Aid them in finding those very things that make them genuinely happy, and help them discover where they feel at their absolute best! Help them to discover their element.

Through the rumblings of the Earth, I found hope, discovered faith, and found my element.

Through the rumblings of the Earth, I found what touches my soul.

Mark your calendars. You don't want to be anywhere else but at "The 5th Element" on Wednesday May 5th, 2010.

CATALYST Presents 'The 5th Element' "An insatiable journey..."

Thoughts from "Firestarter"

To the glam of Hollywood, to the street hustle of New York, to the artistic landscape of London, England, my dance career has miraculously allowed me to venture the world’s top entertainment cities. I have witnessed some of the most fascinating people, places, and things, while transforming enormously at every single moment.

Upon returning to Toronto last year, many people ask “Why did you come back?” or ‘You must miss LA.” And my answer is always the same. “I came back because I was ready to come HOME.” After searching outside of myself for so long, I realized that the real answers I needed were already inside of me. I had found my element.

For Toronto, I see the most fascinating things. I see possibility. I see incredible opportunity. I see raw talent just waiting to sprout. I see creative excitement. This is what keeps my fire burning. This is what ignites my contagious spark.

The 5th Element represents the insatiable journey that we are on every day. Each one of us has something unique to offer the world. Through this show, we have created a fresh platform for our city’s most extraordinary talent, from emerging to professional, to tell their stories and reveal their dynamic gifts. With no rules but our own, let us build together. Let us find solutions instead of problems. Let us look at our own self-reflection instead of spending precious time mirroring others.

It is my great honor to invite you in joining Catalyst and Special Guests as we entice you with our elements in hopes that you will discover yours. As Catalysts, we dance to inspire change….for ourselves, for each other, for our city, for the world…..

Mark your calendars. You don’t want to be anywhere but at “The 5 Element” on Wednesday, May 5th, 2010.

“From the rumblings of the earth, to the emotional depths of the water, to the burning passion of the fire, to the flying freedom of the air….”

Get Ready.

CATALYST teaching at DANCE-UP-A-SWEAT DANCE ATHON tomorrow! Come out and support a great cause!

Cat Jae and Cat Tash will be teaching tomorrow at the DANCE-UP-A-SWEAT DANCE A-THON

Sunday March 14th
Joy of Dance Studio
CATALYST workshop 2:30-3:10pm

All proceeds going to the Haiti Reflief. Come out, move and shake, and support a great cause!!

CATALYST Quote of the Day

"Making the Unknown KNOWN is the most important thing."

Sneak Peak at CATALYST Photoshoot

CATALYST dances at "Performers Unite for Haiti"

Catalyst was invited to dance for "Performers Unite for Haiti" and was able to share their energy, and love for dance with the crowd in support for a critical cause.  Thanks to Mikey Tsang and all the coordinators and talent who helped put this event together.  

Look out for Catalyst in the coming months as they perform and continue to inspire at other exciting events in the city!!! 

Catalyst Bootcamp Instructor HOK performs with Usher at NBA All Star Performance

CATALYST wishes you all a Happy New Year!!

CATALYST would like to wish you all a Happy New Year and all the best for 2010!! Stay locked as we bring you much more extraordinary performances, shows, bootcamps, workshops, and seminars!

Catalyst choreographs for "The Prodigy" Music Video

 

THe Prodigy, a UK-Based Electronica band, put out a competition to create a music video for their track "Run With The Wolves".  Rattail Films and Director Phillip Sportel invited Catalyst to do the choreography for the video submission showcasing their diverse artistic ability to create a dark, animalistic mood. 

The winner will be announced in February 2010. Thank you to all cast and crew. 

 

CAT JAE in NYC!!!

Cat Jae has just returned from NYC catching up with BDC,  In the Heights, The Groovaloos, and America's Best Dance Crew NYC Castings.  Shouts to the wonderful Chonique Sneed for allowing Jae to be a part of the experience,  Team Sepulveda always reppin worldwide, Steve from Blueprint for getting Canada on the map, and all the talented cast and crew.  

Keep dance alive and let's keep schooling each other on this magical art form.