The Canadian Champion, Friday, March 30, 2007 - Bi ARTS Di Giorgio finalist for CHUM's Green Beit Prize By Stephanie Thiessen CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF D avid Di Giorgio has always been the ambitious type. He just isn't one to let opportunities of any sort pass him by. So when he heard last year that there was a contest for artists to express their views of Ontarios Greenheit, lie didn't think twice. Lt was yet another chance to advance his production company and jusi plain have fun. Less than a month ago, the com- poser and E.C. Drury music teacher was notified that hîs entry, a dance piece. was chosen as one of 10 fînalists for the Green Beli Prize, svhich is heing sponsored hy CHUM. its now up to the public 10 go online and vote for their favourite entry to determine the winner. The pnize? Ten îhousand dollars to put îowards future productions - and a qoîte literai green heut, specially designed. "It's a pretty hig thing and we're super excited about it,' Di t.dorgio said. -We'd love to get as much support as possible to win thîs thing and hopefully he able to cre- ate more pieces to celebrate the Greenibelt." Di Giorgio entered a dance piece entitled Magie of the Mist, which he wrote and choreographed wiîh Toni Grates, his business partner in As Promised Productions, and lyri- cist Lee Siegel. It's a full-on production," he explained. The piece is eight minutes long, and tells the legend of the Icîcle Fainies, who lîve in the mist of Niagara Falls. its set to music from, Cirque de Soleil. It was originally created for the openinig of the Festival of Lights ai Niagara Falls. With the lalls beîng one of the Greenheclt',s mosi cherîshed land- marks - and one of the seven uat- ural wonders of the world - Di Giorgio leli a piece cclebrating the talls certainly fit int the themne of the contesi. The audition day wais preiiy memorahle, Di Giorgio saîd, since it involved having 42 young dancers - children and teens - plus par- ents and 10 makeup artîsîs make the trek to the Bravo! studios ai City' 1-V in Toronto. -We aIl showed up in a rehears- aI rom l'm sure they (contesi organizers) had no idea what they were gettîng into!" he saîd. I here weren't many restrictions ahout what could he entered, Di Giorgio explained, whîch inakes it a pretty unique contesi. "twas for artists of every kînd wîîh pieces that celehrate some aspect of the Greenheli," he saîd. The other top 10 entries fll into the areas of fashion, music, poeîry, radio, vîsual arts and even karate. Di Giorgîo said be hopes this will open some doors for As Promised Productions in the 'edu- taînmenî" field. He sees hîs compa- ny creatîng musicals and shows ahout sucli topîts as larmîng and agriculture and then hninging them mbt schools. As a high school mnusic teacher, lic obviously has hclpful expenience wiîh the education sysîcm, he saîd. Vo vote for the winner, visît www.citytv.coin/cvents/toronto/gre enbelt07. Voîing wiIl be open for ai leasi a couple of weeks. Si-phante Ihicssen can b e chcd ai sthiessin@amiltoncanadianhlhampi- lin.coeai GRAHAM PAINE / CANADIAN CHAMPION MUSIC MAN: Feeling right at home in front of the piano, composer David Di Giorgio is in the running for a $10,000 grand prize for his dance piece Magie of the Mist. WANT TO LOSE WEIOHT?3 You're flot alone with SureSlim® A proven, personalized, medical weight-Ioss system- You've tried them ail - diets, puis, shakes and calorie counting systems - without success. Finally help has arrived in the form of SureSlim's revolutionary approach to dramatic and permanent weight-loss. SureSlim's corporate physician will analyze your blood test resuits and we'Il show you how, by eating regular foods, dramatic weight Ioss can be achieved by balancing the key hormones that control your metabolism. With the SureSlim system, startling resuits can be realized without massive calorie reduction, supplements or strenuous exercise. And best of ail, you don't have to go through this on your own. Cail to meet with your trained weight loss consultant today. Get The Resuits You Want-Easily Attend our free inormation session and Iearn the essential tacts about nutrition and inetbolism that could belp change your lite torever. Cali today and let SureSil design a customized weight loss programn for you! SureSIim Mîssissauga SureSIlim Oakville 3035 Argentila fload 2387 Trataigar Road (Siuthweit tirner ai fwy 401 and Wînîtîn Churchill, in tht Supercentre by Starbuckîl (Trafalgar Ridge Plaza> 905-286-4949 e mississauga@surelim. ca 905-257-1102,* oakville(.4suraslma.ca nU..m 1 nn «raL &%" v ir -1 iLi [ma I MIr v Mlorn