Stage Door News
Stage Door News
TORONTO (May 10, 2016) – Last fall, Toronto welcomed its first three-day dance festival to critical acclaim and an enthusiastic, sold out audience of nearly 10,000 people. Returning for its second season, Fall for Dance North will take over the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts from October 5-7 and will feature 11 acclaimed Canadian and international dance companies, including two festival commissions by Ottawa-based dancer/choreographer Natasha Bakht, and Toronto-based competitive ballroom dancer Maria Shalvarova and her partner Alon Gilin. Co-presented by Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, tickets will once again be available for $10 for any seat and will go on sale on Friday August 12 at 10am. Full festival program will be announced on August 8. Visit www.ffdnorth.com for details
“The first year of Fall for Dance North exceeded all our expectations. Toronto has a growing appetite for high-quality Canadian and international dance and we are proud to present our Festival to this culturally infused city,” said Ilter Ibrahimof, Artist Director. “We are very excited to announce the dates for the second edition, and look forward to building on the energy and the momentum from the first year. We can’t wait to reveal the full line-up in August!”
“It is our pleasure as co-presenter of the festival to welcome its second edition to the Sony Centre,” said Mark Hammond, CEO and Director, Programming, Sony Centre For The Performing Arts. “Successful beyond all expectations last year, we fully anticipate the same energetic support and social media buzz this coming October.”
About this year’s Festival Commissions:
•Ottawa-based dancer/choreographer Natasha Bakht will create 786, a new solo exploring the sacred in the everyday, with a particular focus on Muslim rituals and the Islamic call to prayer. She will be joined on stage with Montreal-based musicians Pierre-Yves Martel and Alexander MacSween, who will compose original music for the piece.
•Toronto-based competitive ballroom dancer Maria Shalvarova and her partner Alon Gilin will create a new work showcasing various styles of Latin American dances, including Paso Doble, Brazilian Samba and the Cuban Rumba. Champions both as a couple and individuals, Maria and Alon will take the theme of love – what else? – to create an intimate and passionate duet showcasing their incredible technique and speed. Live musicians will accompany the couple.
Inspired by the internationally acclaimed Fall for Dance™ festival, created and established in 2004 by New York City Center, this year’s festival will include three evening performances and a new matinee performance. Once again promising a dynamic and diverse mix of dance forms, audiences will enjoy classical and modern ballet, contemporary hip hop, ballroom, folkloric and more for just $10 a seat, anywhere in the house. Fall for Dance North once again will offer free master classes throughout the city by each participating artist, and two pre-show Artist Talks for Festival ticket holders and a wider audience via a live stream.
The festival will also play host to Canada’s National Ballet School’s Sharing Dance, 2016 routine. Sharing Dance is an initiative motivating Canadians of all ages to participate in free, healthy, fun and creative dance activities. The 2016 routine was choreographed by Kevin Ormsby to Jully Black’s Sweat of Your Brow, and will be performed first at Yonge-Dundas Square on Friday, June 3rd before coming to Fall for Dance North in October. More details to be announced.
Fall for Dance North gratefully acknowledges the generous support and vision of the following individuals, corporations and government partners:
Board of Directors: Stephen Delaney, Barbara Frum (chair), Rob Lawrie, Heather Ogden, Sonia Rodriguez, Gretchen Ross
Major Partners: Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, Hal Jackman Foundation, TD Bank
About Ilter Ibrahimof, Artistic Director
Ilter Ibrahimof served as an Artistic Advisor for Fall for Dance festival at New York City Center (2013/2014). Through his artist management company, Sunny Artist Management Inc., Ibrahimof books, consults and provides production services for Canadian and international dance companies. He is also the curator of the biannual Off the Edge dance festival at The Rialto Center in Atlanta. Ibrahimof now resides in Toronto to focus and grow Fall For Dance North.
About Fall for Dance North
Fall for Dance North is an exciting complement to Toronto’s fall dance season. Its inclusive atmosphere, international scope and commitment to accessibility and engagement will energize audiences, and whet the public’s appetite for Toronto’s entire dance season by building a new audience for dance, and making quality arts accessible for all. Fall for Dance North takes place October 5 to 7, 2016 with a program of 11 dance companies from Canada and around the world.
Photo: Alon Gilin and Maria Shalvarova. ©2015 Ed Ng.
2016-05-11
Toronto: "Fall for Dance North" returns to the Sony Centre October 5-7