Made possible with funding from the City of Toronto, Toronto Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and the Government of Canada. We gratefully acknowledge additional support from Arts in the Parks, Willowdale Central Ratepayers Association, and North York Arts, as well as venue support through TO Live, GWL Realty Advisors, and the Toronto Transit Commission.

Common Ground Dance Festival 2024

Mainstage Mixed Program

Program NOTES

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Meet the Artists and Team

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  • Damru-Kruti (Creation through Rhythm)

    Choreographer: Prajakta Dravid

    Dancers: Prajakta Dravid, Amruta Nikte, Ishaa Chopra

    Musicians: Parag Dhadphale, Yash Joshi, Madhura Londhe, Rajesh Sant

    Music composition: 1. Traditional 2. Prajakta Dravid 3. Rasika Jog

    It is believed in multiple cultures that the "Damru", a small hand-held drum created the first sound. Its shape symbolizes the union of the feminine and masculine forces, and the rhythm produced by this damru led to all of creation. Damru-Kruti explores this belief in an abstract representation through the technical aspects of Kathak that mirror this unfolding - supported by an underlying traditional Hindustani vocal composition, all accompanied by live music.

  • running from and towards (preview)

    Choreographer and Dancer: Rakeem Hardy

    Music: Samora Pinderhughes, Ana Roxanne

    Costume Design: Rakeem Hardy

    running from and towards is an odyssey into the unknown, a dance with the immaterial, a meditation on fear and aspiration.

    running from and towards is an excerpt of a work-in-process created with the support of the City of Toronto, TOES FOR DANCE, and ĀNANDAṀ, through the Process+Practice Dance Residency Program.

  • Lindance Academy of Performing Arts

    (Student Performance, Friday only)

    Title: Chopstick Dance

    Dancers: Louise Wu, Angela Jiang, Tessa Wu, Nicole Zhang, Zoe Zhang, Sofia Sui, Hannah, Yvonne Yang, Candy

  • Carmen Romero School of Flamenco Dance

    (Student Performance, Saturday only)

    Title: Sevillanas

    Choreographer: Carmen Romero

    Dancers: Keth Johnson, Karla Barrera, Raquel Romero, Ataf Mahdi, Robyn Deschamps, Sue Andrade

    Gracias to TOES FOR DANCE for inviting to share our love for dance, flamenco and community.

  • Anvikṣā

    Choreographers and Dancers: Dr. Sanjukta Banerjee and Harikishan S Nair

    Music composition: 1st piece - Kavalam Narayana Panikkar, 2nd piece - Maharaja Swathi Thirunal

    This work utilizes the repertoire pieces of the Mohiniyattam form to study the concepts of introspection, examination, and inquiry. It celebrates a diversity of aesthetics for two dancing bodies within space and time, uniquely expressed through Mohiniyattam and delicately layered in conversation with each other.

  • FOR THE CULTURE

    Choreographers and dancers: Raoul Wilke and Caroline 'Lady C' Fraser

    Music: Ain’t Nobody - David Morales, Off The Wall - Michael Jackson

    FOR THE CULTURE is an amalgamation of different street styles that pay homage to the pioneers.

    Thank you to Meridian Hall for the space and Tanveer for the support.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CGDF/TFD Staff team

Festival Director, Co-Host:

David Norsworthy

Festival Producer, Co-Host:

Tanveer Alam

Festival Coordinator, Co-Host:

Chantelle Good

Festival Coordinator:

Bri Clarke

Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator:

Keira Forde

Social Media and Digital Content Coordinator:

Shannon Widdis

Technical Director/Lighting Designer:

Gabriel Cropley

Audio Technicians:

Bertan Kazazic, Franco Pang

TFD Board of DIRECTORS

Cory Boyd, Susan Colbert Wright, Miquelon Rodriguez, Ellis Martin-Wylie, Blessyl Buan, Carmelina Martin, Dianne Oliveira

Special Thanks

Toronto Arts Foundation / Arts In The Parks, Toronto Arts Council, City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Canada Summer Jobs Program, Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, TO Live, Willowdale Central Ratepayers Association, and North York Arts.