Jo-Ann Savoie (President of the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement) Anu Srivastava (Chair,Panorama India), Kripa Shekhar (Executive Director of SAWC), Esther Enyolu (Executive Director, WMRCC of Durham), Myra James (Instructor - Ontario Police College, Chair of Women in Law BUILD), Lillian Kwok (President Mississauga Chinese Business Association), Sanjay Makkar (President ICCC) and Gary Gu (President of Mississauga Mandarin Association) lighted the lamp and formally inaugurated DD Awards Nite 2016. Chief Guest Jo-Ann Savoie (President of the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement) made the inaugural address to officially open the festivities of the evening.

Hon. Dr. Kirsty Duncan MP (Minister of Science) & Harinder Malhi MPP (Parlimentary Assistant to the Minister responsible for Women Affairs) were the Guests of Honor who greeted for the organizers of the event and gave away the prestigious DD Women Achiever Awards for 2016.

“Fear and guilt close to our heart.........when we let go fear and guilt we can hear our heart whisper........ when we can hear the whisper, we believe in ourselves.......we can make our dreams come true and the key to that is gratitude.for what you have........trusting your heart is the right thing to do...no matter what" (Shannon Skinner - Key Note Speaker @ DD International Women’s Day 2016 )

Netra Unni – received the “Rising Star” award being the young achiever for her excellence in scientific research.

Hon. Dr. Kirsty Duncan MP (Minister of Science) presented the life time achievement awards to Hon.Hazel McCallion and Hon. Dr. Asha Seth in recognition for their exceptional skill, dedication, community service and vital contribution to our community. Hon. Hazel McCallion stole the show with her characteristic charisma and candor while according her praise and support for all women.

“Women can do anything that a man can do........Women are much better drivers than men......We are taking over gentlemen, so step aside..... ..............Act like a lady; think like a man and work like a dog...........Women have to support women.............Real progress will happen only when women start supporting women” - Hon. Hazel McCallion (DD Lifetime Achiever, 2016)

This event was flawlessly organized under the leadership of Mary Ashok (Managing Director), Smriti Dash (VIP & Media Coordinator), Shamitha Barathan (Program Coordinator), Manjula Das (Entertainment & Catering Coordinator), Bindu Mathew (WOMB Coordinator) and Jane Jomy (Volunteer Coordinator).

There was a Raffle Draw to raise money for the Princess Margaret Hospital Cancer Foundation.

Another new attraction at this event was an East Indian drum concert called " Chendamelam" by women. Here again, the women musicians gave an impressive performance boldly entering into the here-to-fore all-male dominated world of traditional drums. DD Awards Nite 2016 was indeed a true testimony to Dancing Damsels commitment to recognizing women success and to encouraging them to pursue their aspirations.

Toronto: The International Women’s Day has been celebrated the world over with events marking and celebrating the day since 1911. This year, the Dancing Damsels Inc.-now known as "Team DD"- a registered non-profit Multicultural Arts Promotions Company for Women Empowerment, commemorated the day at The Meeting House,Oakville on March 8, 2015. The event celebrated and recognized the social, economic and political success of women in our community.

Federal Minister Dr..K Kellie Leitch MP (Minister of Labour & Status of Women), Bonnie Crombie (Mayor, Mississauga), Provincial Minister Kevin Daniel Flynn (Minister of Labour and Member of Treasury Board) and Dr. Asha Seth (Canada’s first Indo-Canadian female Senator) jointly inaugurated the event by the lighting the traditional Indian lamp followed by the Canadian National Anthem.

Hon.Dipika Damerla MPP (Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, responsible for Long-Term Care and Wellness )-Politics, Asha Vishwanath (President of Kannada Sangha Toronto) -Community Leadership, Brandy Leary (Founder Anandam Dancetheatre)- Arts & Cultural Integration , Thresia Thomas (Woman behind the success –through various Associations) -Community Service,Ramneek Singh (Indian Classical Vocalist) -Music, Ravinder Malhi (Founder of Toronto Aesthetics & Hair Academy -Business, Malavilly Varatharajan (Provincial and Regional record holder in cross-country)-Sports, Puja Amin (Owner and Director of Sanskriti Arts in Toronto and President of Bollycore! )- Performing Arts, Dr.Arthy Saravanan (Mrs. India International 2014) –Volunteering , Angie Seth (On Air Reporter Global News Toronto )-Media & Communication, Reena Deon (South Asian creative still Photographer ,Photo Journalist) -Photography, and Lata Menon (Barrister and Solicitor ) -Law, Mary David (the first woman in the Seiwa Kai (“Say wa keye”) GoJu Ryu Organization in Canada to earn her 5th Degree Black belt) –received the DD Women Achievers 2015 Awards.

Bolly core; Belly Up; Zumba; Ontario Heartland Chorus; RAW; Toronto Strings; Mommy and Baby Fitness; etc performed. In addition, there was Martial Arts –Karate by Mary David and live concert by Ramneek Singh.

Team Sonijya Raj of Re-Max Realty was the Mega Sponsor of this event.

The other sponsors are: Kulwant Singh Deo (Deol Law Office), Air Route Travels, SandS Holidays, Riya Travels, Chaitanya Health Services, The Nilgrisl Tandoori Cook House, Joseph Shaji (Homelife Today Realty Ltd.), Sujit Nair (CANFIN Financial Group), Sunil Vazhavilla (Mortgage Alliance), Thomas Classes, Smt. Mala Pisharody of Adishankara Academy of Performing Arts, JoseKutty Jose of Remax Realty, Suresh Raman of Kingsway Real Estate Brokerage, and Zac santhosh Koshy (Re-Max Realty).

Bindu Mathew and Minu Jose were the MCs of the evening.

Toronto: March 8th, International Women's Day! A special day for women to celebrate. Dancing Damsels, a non-profit dance company is leading this year's celebrations. This resplendent event will be held at North York Memorial Hall, Yonge Street, Toronto from 6:00pm onwards.

The theme of the event will be: “INSPIRING CHANGE”.

Most often people think that such celebrations are nothing but a proclamation by a group of feminists for women's independence. However Dancing Damsels are seeing these celebrations as means of empowerment and inspiration for women to pursue their dreams. They hope to encourage women to stay confident without spoiling their individuality, to express the human emotions and enjoy the beauty of life.

As more women are becoming educated and financially independent we need to bring a change in society and its outlook on women. When we say “change”, it doesn’t mean to challenge men or create rivalry but to encourage them to see that women are not a sexual object only but she is an individual who has desires, aspirations, dreams and talents just as men. This new face of women has to be understood and the approach to women should be changed. Through this celebration Dancing Damsels hope to facilitate and inspire that change.

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MARY ASHOK: A medical graduate (MBBS) pursuing classical dance for more than two decades, is the Founder and Managing Director of Dancing Damsels Inc.

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Toronto: Canadian Malayalee Association (CMA) honoured the Dancing Damsels dance group with a special recognition award on Saturday, December 14th, during the Canadian Malayalee Association annual Christmas & New Year bash Chill 2013. They were recognized for their outstanding performances & remarkable support extended to the Malayalee Community during the year 2013. The award was presented by Mr. Kulwant Singh Deol of Deol Law Office and was received by Ms. Mary Ashok, Managing Director and the Lead Choreographer of Dancing Damsels dance group.

Dancing Damsels dance group, made its successful entry into the cultural arena of Toronto with the presentation of a Bollywood medley dance in 2012.