Annual General Meeting, Saturday August 29th

BENT Umbrella will be hosting our Annual General Meeting on Saturday August 29th, 2009, at 1:30 P.M. in the Community Room of the Vancouver Public Library, Firehall Branch (1455 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C.). There will be a short meeting followed by some snacks and socializing.

We will be reviewing the previous year's accomplishments, presenting the financial statements and electing new executive members. All members are encouraged to attend and participate in the electing the Board of Directors. A printable nomination form is available at the following link: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfj58ktb_20g6cpp37w

Our intended agenda is as follows:

1. Chair's Report
2. Presentation of the Financial Statements
3. Nomination and Election of the Board of Directors
4. Special Business: Revision of Bent Umbrella's mission statement

We would like to change Bent Umbrella's mission statement from:

Bent Umbrella Performing Arts Society shall produce events in Vancouver BC focusing on the art of drag kings and gender bending performance for local, Canadian and International audiences. We are open to dialogue, accountability, responsibility, physical accessibility, embrace and respect diversity and participation. In October 18-21 2007 we will produce IDKE9 – Genderations.

to:

The Bent Umbrella Queer Performing Arts Society produces events fostering queer and gender bending performance. We aim to build a diverse and inclusive performance community in Vancouver, B.C. We are open to dialogue, respect and accountability, and embrace ideas of diversity, physical accessibility and participation.

Please join us:

Date: Saturday August 29th, 2009
Time: 1:30 P.M.
Place: Community Room of the Vancouver Public Library, Firehall Branch
1455 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C.

New members are welcome to sign up at the AGM. If you have never been a member but you’re interested in supporting an arts-oriented queer non-profit society, you’re someone we want on board! If you come to the AGM and would like to nominate or vote for our Board of Directors, simply fill out a form and pay the membership fee of $2.00 ($1.00 for volunteers) upon arrival. If you wish to volunteer in the upcoming year please email us.

Please RSVP by e-mail (by using the "E-mail Us" link at the side of this page) if you plan to attend, so we can provide enough refreshments!

Thank you,

Board of Directors
The BENT Umbrella Queer Performing Arts Society

Thanks for making Q Factor so fabulous!

Q Factor was as an amazing success thanks to everyone who came out, dressed up and got down!

We'd also like to give our heartfelt thank-you's to all the volunteers who helped us put on this event, and a special shout out to the folks at Spelt Bakery who dropped by early to give us cookies. And that's all on top of our fabulous sponsors.

If you had fun at the party and would like to be involved in future Bent Umbrella events, check out our AGM announcement for Saturday August 29!

Movie Time!

We're getting so excited about next week's party that we made a movie to show you how awesome it's going to be!

Check out our YouTube masterpiece:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1ETuYE0Hxw

Costume Contest Prizes

Everyone should definitely be working on their costumes, because you could win these amazing prizes:

- Haircuts by Missy, Rosie and Spencer from Coup Salon
- a gift certificate to Spartacus Books,
- a gift certificate to Rhizome Café,
- a $50 prepaid visa from Vancity Visa to spend wherever you like
- two tickets to see the Terminal City Roller Girls
- tickets to the Vancouver Queer Film Festival
- a clever piece of apparel from I Love Hats

Physical Entertainer Dianna David Joins us at Q Factor!

Never a dull moment with this unique bundle of personas. Culprit to shifting energies in a room and flipping frowns upside down. She has a plethora of tricks up her sleeve with a personality that will go a mile. Dianna David has performed for local events such as Cirque du Soleil’s Opening Gala 2007, Tomorrow Collective’s Brief Encounters, Souldiers Dance Company Gala’s Lead Clown, Dances for Small Stage, PRIDE Main Stage, Crimson Cabaret, MANUP, AIDS Walk Vancouver, Science World’s giant piano performer and so many more. Visit her on her website: http://www.diannadavid.net/

Burlesque by VaVa Vunderbust!

‘Busting’ out with energy, sparkle, and sass – VaVa Vunderbust – is queerly a whole lotta woman! Known for her colourful costumes, over-the-top props, and endearing endowments; she inspires audience intrigue and delight in her womanly shape.

Hailing from Vancouver, BC, VaVa is a proud member of the Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society (www.screamingchicken.net).

As a performer, VaVa brings comedy, sex appeal, and body positive activism to the stage, as she endeavours to entertain, break body boundaries, and give a whole new definition to the term 'Boobie Tricks'. Quite simply – VaVa rocks!

Photo by Shimona Henry (www.shimonahenry.com).

Jillian Deri To Dazzle With Aerial Silks!

Jillian Deri is part of the Great Northern Way Aerial Club and has trained at Circus West and at the Aerial Dance Festival in Boulder, Colorado. She has performed for various community events including the Crimson Cabaret, Little Sister’s Diorama Party, Coop Radio Cabaret, The Odd Ball, Illuminaries, Sistahood Cabaret, Vancouver’s International Burlesque Festival, Queerwood, Caleb’s Hope, Loving Spoonful and the Pride in Arts Festival. When not dangling, Jillian can be found writing her dissertation in Sociology on polyamory and jealousy.

Q Factor, August 2nd: an East Van pride party from outer space!

Q-Factor is the newest East Van queer dance party to land this Pride! This science fiction themed extravaganza welcomes all fagbots, space creatures, mutants, proud freaks, geeks, kinksters, transfolk, queers and their allies to the WISE Hall (1882 Adanac) on Sunday August 2nd.

Tunes are provided by DJ Buzy Bee and DJ Ruggedly Handsome, so bring your dancing moon boots.

Watch aerial silks by the elegant Jillian Deri and burlesque by the fabulous VaVa Vunderbust. More exciting performers TBA!

Costumes are encouraged with fabulous prizes! Body painting available for a suggested donation. Complete your outfit with alien skin or your favourite sci-fi design.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Get your tickets at Little Sister’s (1238 Davie) or People’s Co-op Bookstore (1391 Commercial) July 11th onward! Interested in volunteering? Get in touch with us at volunteer.qfactor@gmail.com

This is a 19+ event. All genders welcome. The venue is wheelchair accessible through the back door, so let our volunteers know should you need to use this entrance.

Check out the Facebook event page at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125737997787

Next volunteer meeting: Friday June 19th; Get involved... Please forward

Have you ever wanted to get involved in the organization of an awesome party?

Q-Factor is a new East Van queer dance party. Its first installment will be Sci-Fi themed (fagbots, space creatures, mutants, tech freaks... bring it on!) and held at the WISE Hall on Pride weekend, August 2nd.

We need dedicated volunteers to help us plan and execute the most bumpin' party this side of Main! Join us at Spartacus Books (684 East Hastings Street, www.spartacusbooks.org) on Friday, June 19th at 7pm for a short meeting of alien minds.
You can also contact us at volunteer.qfactor@gmail.com.

This event is sponsored by Bent Umbrella, a non-profit society aimed towards fostering queer and gender performance in Vancouver, BC.

Bent Umbrella Events Committee Meeting

Join Bent Umbrella on Friday June 12th at 7 pm, Waves Coffee at Commercial/3rd, as we plan out Q FACTOR, an East Van queer dance party we're holding at the WISE Hall on Pride weekend in August. We need dedicated volunteers to help us plan and execute this night! We are tentatively going with a Queer Sci-Fi theme.

We are deeply inspired by some of Vancouver's best queer dance parties of the past and present, including Odd Ball and BENT among others. Please note, though, that we are not affiliated with either - this is a brand new celebration and we want YOU to help us make it a night to remember! You can click on the link under "Contact Us" on the right side of this page if you have any questions.

See you there,
Bent Umbrella

Come to preQuel, a fundraiser and dance party for Bent Umbrella, happening Friday, May 29th at LICK Nightclub (455 Abbott).

Performances by: Justin Casey-Cumms, Rayne, Vic, Leroy, Cazzwell van Dyke and Edward Malaprop. DJ Riot and Conrad Best (half of the hit duo ANACONDUH!) will be spinning the decks, so bring your dancing shoes! Doors open at 10pm Cover is $10

Call for volunteers! LICK Nightclub, Friday May 29th

Bent Umbrella Queer Performing Arts Society needs YOU to volunteer with us on Friday May 29th. We are having a fundraiser and dance party at LICK Nightclub. Volunteer shifts are 9:30-11:00, 11:00-12:30, and 12:30-2:00 - we need one person per shift to help us at the door. Performers and DJ to be announced. Volunteers get in FREE!

Proceeds will go towards our upcoming workshops and community events. We are proud to report that our first such night, Drag King Infomercial at Rhizome Café on May 9th, was a success! You can find the photos on our Facebook or Flickr pages (search for Bent Umbrella).

But the big one we're building up to is our Pride party, Q Factor, at WISE Hall on Sunday August 2nd. Putting on a fabulous queer dance party isn't cheap, and we want to give Vancouver a night to remember!

If you are interested in volunteering please e-mail us using the link on the sidebar, and let us know which shift(s) you'd be available for. Please include your phone number so we can get in touch quickly.

See you on the dance floor!

Membership Form

We now have an experimental online membership form. If this causes you any problems, feel free to comment to let us know.

Click here for the Bent Umbrella membership form.

A Drag King Infomercial

Come to a Drag King Infomercial at Rhizome Cafe on Saturday, May 9th:

Spring Events

Check out our upcoming events over the spring and summer!

Ever wanted to learn how the Kings do it? We'll have an informative, entertaining and accessible show on May 9th at Rhizome Cafe where you can see your favorite entertainers break it down to an all ages audience. Then join us on May 29th for a fundraiser (and dance party) at LICK. A fundraiser for what, you ask? Bent Umbrella has booked the Wise Hall for August 2nd and we're putting on Q FACTOR, an "Odd Ball"-inspired party that promises to knock your socks off!

We're always looking for volunteers and members. If you're interested in becoming a part of our umbrella send us an email at bentumbrella@gmail.com.

Bent Umbrella Honored at 2008 Xtra West Community Hero Awards

We'd like to send our thanks to the organizers and judges of the Xtra West Community Hero Awards for nominating us in June of last year in recognition of our work on IDKE9. It was an honor and a pleasure to be among the nominees for community group of the year.