Welcome to the internet home of
Voices Without Borders

About Voices Without Borders Inc.

Voices Without Borders, Inc., was incorporated in Michigan to promote, support and sponsor choral music performances and other performing arts activities for young people in the schools and community. As its first project, the corporation produced the 2009 Children of the World in Harmony Youth Choir and Dance Festival. Based on the success of that festival, VWB, Inc. will be producing the 2010 International Children of the World in Harmony Festival in Petoskey, Michigan from 18 – 23, July, 2010 Learn how you can get involved!

About Children of the World in Harmony Festivals

Children of the World in Harmony Festivals have been produced in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas over the years beginning in 1982 with the first international festival of this name in Hong Kong. Choirs, dance ensembles and other performing arts organizations from around the world are invited to participate in these exciting and multi-cultural non-competitive festivals. The major objectives of the festivals are to promote choral singing, dance, and the other performing arts and to promote international peace and understanding by bringing together representatives of various cultures to these festivals.

The 2010 International
18th Children of the World in Harmony MiniFest

July 18-23, 2010.

Voices Without Borders Inc. will present several youth choirs and dance ensembles from the US, and Canada, and Vietnam in the 2010 Children of the World in Harmony MiniFest. Click here to find additional information about the MiniFest Schedule.

The truest expression of a people is in its dance and in its music. ~Agnes de Mille

The 2011 International
19th Children of the World in Harmony Festival

Several dance, choir and instrumental groups have already committed for the 2011 Children of the World in Harmony Festival which will be held in the Little Traverse Bay area of north central Michigan from July 18 through July 23, 2011. The deadline for application is September 15, 2010. To learn more about this festival and toview the General Information sheet which outlines the fees and other requirements, and for a festival application form click here.

Dancers Without Borders Ensemble

The Dancers Without Borders Ensemble first performed as a part of the 2009 Children of the World in Harmony Festival. Since that time, the ensemble has been organized into an ongoing organization and the dancers have been rehearsing under the direction of Cynthia Anthony a well known and highly qualified choreographer/dancer. The ensemble’s first 2010 performance is on May 9, 2010 in a program presented at the Harbor Springs Performing Arts Center. They will perform in July during the 2010 Children of the World in Harmony MiniFest and will continue to rehearse and perform a regular season in the Northern Michigan area. Voices Without Borders, Inc. is the organizer of the Dancers Without Borders Ensemble. Information on future tours of the ensemble will be available soon.

Cynthia Anthony has 23 years of experience as a dance instructor and choreographer. A veteran of the arts, her work encompasses contemporary and Broadway jazz, urban hip-hop, and classical ballet as well as specialized production expertise in musical theatre. Cynthia developed her professional skills with The Young Americans, performing extensively across North America and internationally as a featured Broadway, ballet and jazz dancer. Later work included dance and acting training with top studios in Paris, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles and multiple appearances in television commercials and on hit shows such as “Frasier” and “Desperate Housewives”. Cynthia has been a guest instructor at Blue Lake Fine Arts, elected member of Northern Michigan Dance Council, and choreographed countless dance and musical theatre productions.

Cynthia is founder and director of Bravo Productions, a dance production company serving the Little Traverse Bay area. At Bravo Productions, she teaches hip-hop and jazz classes and choreographs performances for her students. Cynthia’s wide ranging expertise allows her to assist students in developing a deeper understanding of different dance forms. She cultivates self confidence by praising individual success and achievement. Celebrating these accomplishments, Cynthia then incorporates each student’s growing skills and self awareness into more complex dance combinations. With this foundation, Cynthia has proven that children not only participate more enthusiastically, but also superbly perform her challenging choreography.

Click here for information on auditions for the Dancers Without Borders Ensemble.

Little Traverse Youth Choir

The Little Traverse Youth Choir was formed by Voices Without Borders, Inc. as an outgrowth of the 2009 Children of the World in Harmony Festival. Members of the choir come from school districts throughout the “Tip of the Mitt” area of Michigan. Auditions were held in February 2010 and rehearsals began at the end of that month.

The director of the choir is Heather Marvin, a highly qualified singer/director from the Petoskey, Michigan area. She has been the director of the Petoskey Middle School Musicals for the past three years and formerly directed a church children’s choir. Mrs. Gertrude Fairbairn will serve as accompanist.

The choir will make it first appearance as a guest choir on the Little Traverse Choral Society concerts on May 2 and 3, 2010. Their first solo concert is scheduled at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Petoskey, Michigan on May 22, 2010 They will maintain a regular concert season in the Northern Michigan area. The choir will also perform during the 2010 Children of the World in Harmony MiniFest and the 2011 Children of the World in Harmony International Youth Choir and Dance Festival in 2011.

Auditions for the summer choir will be held in June 2010. Young singers between the ages of 11 and 19 may arrange an audition by contacting Heather Marvin at marvin.hr.t@petoskeyschools.org
or by phone at (231) 348-2252