Lee lifeson Park, North York
2026-27 Season
Deepening Intercultural Connections:
A New Chapter for Common Ground Dance Festival
After five years of uplifting diverse artistic practices and movement styles through annual events, Common Ground Dance Festival is transforming its presentation model to deepen our intercultural mission. With a continued focus on free community engagement in public spaces, we’re focusing on education, co-creation, and artistic research activities in 2026 that will energize us towards a celebratory performance-focused festival in 2027; all in collaboration with Flight Festival of Contemporary Dance and North York Arts.
This year we’re asking: How do we build a truly intercultural festival that is unique to our Willowdale neighbourhood, responsive to the land, and globally resonant?
All events are free and unticketed, although attendees are encouraged to RSVP to receive weather-related updates directly in their inbox.
The heart of our 2026 programming includes four Common Ground Dance Days at our beloved Lee Lifeson Art Park as a part of North York Arts’ September Dance Month initiative. More intimate and learning-oriented than our previous festivals, these events offer fun and family-friendly opportunities to experience dance and cultural exchange.
Common Ground Dance Days
Common Ground Dance Days (CGDD) is a series of free, outdoor, intercultural, and participatory events that celebrate movement and community! Co-presented by TOES FOR DANCE, Flight Festival, and North York Arts, the program includes welcoming Beginner Level Dance Classes in a variety of styles, Bimaadiziwin Learning Walks that share and uplift Indigenous knowledge, insightful Artist Talks, as well as creatively-vibrant Intercultural Performances featuring evocative dances and compelling works-in-process by professional and student artists.
Through our offerings this year, you will be able to witness and experience Indigenous movement traditions, Bollywood, Kathak, Contemporary, Bharatanatyam, Iranian dance, Classical Han dance, and more.
September 11-12, 2026 (rain date: Sept 13) / Mandarin translation available*
September 25-26, 2026 (rain date: Sept 27) / Farsi translation available**
Lee Lifeson Art Park, North York
*Mandarin translation will be available for a class on Sept 11 and the performance on Sept 12.
**Farsi translation will be available for a class on Sept 25 and the performance on Sept 26.
events at a glance
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Beginner Dance Class: Dance the Bollywood Way with Rajvi Dedhia
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Beginner Dance Class: Classical Han Dance (古典舞) with Jasmine Huang, instruction provided in English and Mandarin
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2026
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Beginner Dance Class: Rhythms of the Heart with Montana Summers
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM - Beginner Dance Class: Step into Kathak with Sukriti Sharma
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Artist Talk with Montana Summers and Sukriti Sharma
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM - Bimaadiziwin Learning Walk with Charlene Grandmaison and Gorge Michael
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Intercultural Performances featuring Montana Summers, Sukriti Sharma, and students from TFD’s Fresh Dance Intensive program; co-hosted in English and Mandarin
Stay tuned for September 25-26 schedule and artist announcement!
Beginner DANCE CLASSES
Dance the Bollywood Way. with Rajjvi Dedhia
Photo by Mirna Chacin
Friday, September 11, 2026 | 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Step into the vibrant world of Bollywood dance in this high-energy outdoor workshop that celebrates movement, music, and community. Set to popular Bollywood music, this engaging session invites participants to explore the expressive storytelling and infectious rhythms that make Bollywood dance so joyful and accessible. Open to all ages and abilities, this workshop is an invitation to connect through dance, and experience the power of movement to bring people together. No previous dance experience is required—just wear comfortable clothing, bring your enthusiasm, and get ready to dance!
Dance the Bollywood Way with Rajvi Dedhia
-
Step into the vibrant world of Bollywood dance in this high-energy outdoor workshop that celebrates movement, music, and community. Set to popular Bollywood music, this engaging session invites participants to explore the expressive storytelling and infectious rhythms that make Bollywood dance so joyful and accessible.
The workshop begins with a dynamic warm-up before introducing easy-to-follow movement combinations inspired by Bollywood choreography. Participants will also discover how Bollywood draws from India's rich tapestry of regional dance traditions, learning movements influenced by styles such as Kashmiri Rouf, Rajasthani Ghoomar, Punjabi Bhangra and Giddha, Maharashtrian Lavani and Lezim, Gujarati Garba, and South Indian dance forms. Along the way, participants will gain insight into the cultural roots of these dance forms while experiencing the energy, expression, and celebration that define Bollywood.
Designed for an outdoor festival setting, the workshop emphasizes participation over perfection. Whether you're dancing for the first time or have years of experience, everyone is encouraged to join in, move at their own pace, and celebrate together.
The session culminates in an open community dance cypher, where participants are invited to step into the circle, dance in whatever way feels authentic to them, share their favourite moves, and cheer one another. It's a chance to celebrate individuality, build confidence, and experience the joy, connection, and sense of community that Bollywood dance inspires.
Open to all ages and abilities, this workshop is an invitation to connect through dance, discover the diversity of Indian culture, and experience the power of movement to bring people together. No previous dance experience is required—just wear comfortable clothing, bring your enthusiasm, and get ready to dance!
-
Rajvi Dedhia is a Toronto-based dance artist, choreographer, and educator. Moved from India in 2021, she is trained in a range of styles, including ballet, Bollywood, contemporary, modern, Indian folk, hip-hop, jazz, and salsa. A graduate of the Dance Arts Institute (formerly The School of Toronto Dance Theatre), she has performed works by Nova Bhattacharya, Laurence Lemieux, Alyssa Martin and more. As an educator, she teaches both Indian and Western dance styles across community, educational, and professional settings, fostering inclusivity and cultural exchange. A digital content creator, she shares her passion for dance through online platforms and offers Bollywood workshops and social media management services for dancers, collectives, and arts organizations, bridging the gap between performance and digital platforms to reach broader audiences.
Jasmine Huang. Photo by Yuna Kim
Friday, September 11, 2026 | 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Instruction provided in English and Mandarin
This open level Chinese Dance workshop will give you a glimpse into an art form that originated thousands of years ago and continues to be widely practised today. In addition to learning about Chinese dance’s many forms and rich history, we will dive into some fundamental movements, postures, and sequences of one of the many styles of Chinese dance - Classical Han dance (古典舞). You can look forward to storytelling through movement, being enriched by history, beautiful music, and learning a dance piece that you can enjoy well after the workshop ends!
Classical Han Dance (古典舞) with Jasmine Huang
-
Jasmine Huang is a performer and choreographer, born and raised in Vaughan, Ontario. She was most recently a MainStage Performer with Disney Cruise Line, and prior to that she was a swing in the Toronto production of The Lion King. Jasmine graduated from the Earl Haig Secondary School's Dance Program and Broadway Dance Center's Professional Semester Program in New York City. She received the highest score in Canada for the Beijing Dance Academy's Chinese dance examinations in 2008 and 2009, and she proudly continues to practise and teach Chinese dance. Her artistic mission is to inspire the younger generation, especially those that look like her, to chase their dreams.
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Rhythms of the Heart is a movement and somatic workshop about reconnecting with your heartbeat. Through breathing, listening, and guided body awareness practices, participants are invited to notice how the rhythm of the heart can influence the way we move. Participants will experiment with traveling across the floor, shifting pace, and responding to changes in breath and sensation; exploring how speeding up breath or calming the nervous system can change the rhythm of the heart. Rather than focusing on performance, Rhythms of the Heart offers a space for curiosity, presence, and embodied exploration. No dance experience needed!
Rhythms of the Heart with Montana Summers
-
Rhythms of the Heart is a movement and somatic workshop that begins by reconnecting with the rhythm that always beats which is the heartbeat. Through breathing, listening, and guided body awareness practices, participants are invited to notice how the rhythm of the heart exists throughout the body and influences the way we move.
From this connection, the workshop explores how the heartbeat can guide movement through space. Participants will experiment with traveling across the floor, shifting pace, and responding to changes in breath and sensation. Going from repeated gestures, steps, or rhythms to using movement improvisation and somatic practices, we'll also explore how speeding up or slowing the breath and calming the nervous system can change the rhythm of the heart, creating new ways of paying attention to the body and the spaces around us.
Rather than focusing on performance, Rhythms of the Heart offers a space for curiosity, presence, and embodied exploration, encouraging participants to move from an internal rhythm and discover how the heart can become a guide for movement. No dance experience needed!
-
Montana Summers, from the Oneida Nation of the Thames, is a choreographer, dance artist and theatre performer. Actively creating his own work “Conditions to Strike.” Summers regularly performs choreography by Santee Smith, the artistic director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre. Notable performances include “The Mush Hole” (2016-2025), and “SKeN:NEN” (2021-2026). Other citable collaborations are with Nicole Beutler Projects (“Room In Our House” – 2025-2026) Sweet Labour Art Collective (“Compost-Recomposing Relations”– 2022, and “Wakh^tahslu:nihe: — Dressing Up the Garden”– 2024-2026) and Dusk Dances (“Kan^stote” – 2021). Summers was credited as choreographer for “The Secret to Good Tea” – 2024 (The Grand Theatre/NAC) and “Canoe” – 2023 (Unsettled Score). Music video credits include Lido Pimienta’s “Toxica” – 2026 and Semiah’s “Withdrawals”– 2024
Photo by Duani Yano
Sukriti Sharma & Students. Photo by Rajneesh Kalla
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Step into Kathak offers participants a hands-on experience of one of the eight classical dance forms of India. Open to all ages and experience levels, the session begins with a brief introduction to the history and cultural significance of Kathak. Participants will then be guided through foundational elements, including basic posture, rhythmic footwork (tatkar), and spins (chakkars). The workshop is interactive, encouraging participants to build confidence in a supportive environment, regardless of prior dance experience. Step into Kathak offers more than just a dance lesson—it is an opportunity to experience the richness of Indian classical dance, and connect with its cultural heritage.
Step into Kathak with Sukriti Sharma
-
Step into Kathak is a 60-minute introductory workshop designed to offer participants a hands-on experience of Kathak, one of the eight classical dance forms of India. Open to all ages and experience levels, the workshop provides an engaging and accessible introduction to the fundamental techniques that define this vibrant art form.
The session begins with a brief introduction to the history and evolution of Kathak, highlighting its origins, cultural significance, and distinctive characteristics. Participants will then be guided through the foundational elements of the dance form, including basic posture, rhythmic footwork (tatkar), and graceful body movements. The workshop will also introduce participants to the fundamentals of Kathak spins (chakkars), with an emphasis on balance, alignment, and technique.
Throughout the session, participants will develop an understanding of rhythm, coordination, and movement while experiencing the precision and elegance that are central to Kathak. The workshop is designed to be interactive, encouraging participants to build confidence in a supportive and inclusive environment, regardless of prior dance experience.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have learned the essential building blocks of Kathak and will be able to perform a short movement sequence incorporating footwork, body movements, and introductory spins. Step into Kathak offers more than just a dance lesson—it is an opportunity to experience the richness of Indian classical dance, connect with its cultural heritage, and discover the joy of movement through one of India's most celebrated artistic traditions.
-
Sukriti Sharma is a Kathak dancer, choreographer, and educator specializing in the Lucknow Gharana, recognized for her strong traditional foundation and evolving artistic voice. She trained under Guru Shri Ashok Chakraborty and completed a decade of intensive study with Guru Shri Krishan Mohan Mishra at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. She later performed as a repertory artist with Padma Vibhushan Smt. Shovana Narayan and is a Delhi Doordarshan Graded Artist. Sukriti has performed at renowned festivals across India and Canada, including Konark Festival, Surya Festival, Kathak Mahotsava Canada, Momentum Festival, and ArohaFest, and participated in the Asia Pacific Dance Festival (2025). A recipient of mentorship grants from the Toronto Arts Council and Sampradaya Dance Creations, she is the founder of Sukriti Kathakaar, where she promotes Kathak through performance, education, and community initiatives, including the annual Holi festival Hori Dhoom Machori.
Bimaadiziwin Learning Walk. Photo by Kendra Epik
Bimaadiziwin Learning walk
Saturday, September 12, 2026 + Saturday September 26, 2026 | 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Cree Land Keeper Charlene Grandmaison will lead a 30-minute "learning walk" on the land of Lee Lifeson Art Park and over the buried waterways beneath. We will be guided by teachings of Aki (Earth) and Nibi (Water), and principles of respect, reciprocity, and relational accountability.
Treaty partner, Gorge Michael will support and provide occasional movement prompts allowing participants experiential connection to the ground, the wind, the sky and the natural elements of the park (all our relations). You might find yourself swaying like the grasses in the breeze or reaching and billowing like the branches of a willow.
-
Charlene Grandmaison is a proud Cree woman from Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan and a member of the Wolf Clan. A lifelong advocate, knowledge keeper, and matriarch, she has dedicated her life to uplifting Indigenous communities through leadership and grassroots action. Her career includes work with Indigenous‑led organizations such as Catalyste+ (formerly CESO) and the City of Toronto, advancing Indigenous engagement and community well‑being. Now retired, Charlene remains deeply active in Parkdale, supporting cultural restoration and land‑based learning. She is the Cree Elder Lead Land Steward of Anishinaabe Nibi Gitigaan, Parkdale’s Indigenous Water Garden on Dunn, with future plans for expanded ceremonial and teaching spaces.
-
Gorge Michael (he/him) uses a decolonized approach to writing, art making and teaching. He lives and works gratefully as a Treaty Partner on Treaty 13. He is a skilled educator, earning an Arts Educator of the Year award in 2017 from the Elementary Teachers of Toronto during his 15 years with the Toronto District School Board. Since 2023 he has been building a following as a boylesque performer, and also working on a memoir about transitioning from woman to man in the dance world. Together with Carol Anderson, he founded the Flight Festival of Contemporary Dance in 2021 and he is thrilled to partner with TFD for Common Ground 2026, bringing Flight's dedication to deep connection with the land that we dance on.
Conditions to Strike. Photo by Kate Dalton
Vrishti. Photo by Kendra Epik
Intercultural performances
The Intercultural Performances at Common Ground Dance Days bring together professional artists and student groups for a welcoming and relaxed program that centres our commitment to intercultural exchange. The events include two compelling solo works by featured artists as well as a work-in-process developed during an Intercultural Collaboration Residency. In this unique creation, two artists, their histories, cultural traditions, and artistic practices come together in a shared work. Rather than simply blending styles, the artists explore what can emerge when different approaches to dance enter into conversation. Student groups join this exchange by sharing their dedication to their respective crafts, creating a space where emerging and established artists are relational to one another.
The program on September 12, 2026 will feature a collaboration between Sukriti Sharma and Montana Summers as well as their solo works outlined below:
-
Vrishti by Sukriti Sharma explores the essence of rain through the intricate artistry of Kathak and involves a profound journey into the dance's expansive repertoire. With a delicate interplay of intricate footwork, graceful hand gestures, and emotive facial expressions, Kathak transforms into a canvas to abstract and evoke the spirit of rainfall. Beyond mere physicality, these compositions delve into the emotional resonance of rainfall. By channeling the rain's essence through the Kathak form, the performance showcases an interplay between the technical and storytelling aspects of the form. Set to the rhythmic structure of Taal Jhaptaal, a 10-beat cycle, and composed in Raag Megh Malhar, this piece showcases the fluid qualities of the Kathak form.
-
Montana Summers’, Conditions to Strike, offers a personal interpretation of the Thunder Boy from Unkwehu:we storytelling. Drawing on the character's duality of living as half human and half Thunder Being - a spirit of the natural world - Summers parallels this dichotomy with the modern queer experience, navigating the interplay between the masculine and feminine. Thunder Boy dances in the storm of life, bridging the relational balance between the binaries of sky and earth. Summers explores profound themes of intergenerational lessons of love, protection, sacrifice, and the quest to rediscover ancient knowledge of living in equilibrium with the natural world.
TOES FOR DANCE is grateful to be working in collaboration with
North York Arts and Flight Festival of Contemporary Dance to co-present
Common Ground Dance Days!
Click on their logos below to learn more about them!
ACCESS INFORMATION
Lee Lifeson Art Park features gently sloping ramps and paved pathways suitable for mobility devices. Most activities will take place in proximity to paved pathways, although some activities may take place on grassy areas within the park. Seating will be available on the wooden benches of the amphitheatre with additional chairs and blankets also available. Attendees are welcome to bring their own camping stools, lawn chairs, or blankets. Accessible viewing will be available on paved pathways around the site. All announcements and dance class instructions will be amplified.
A fully accessible washroom is available on-site. If you need a moment to step away, a Quiet Area is available in the south east corner of the park.
Beginner dance classes will be taught with options for participation depending on your mobility. You are welcome to engage in the event while sitting (chairs provided), standing stationary, or simply by observing and/or feeling the music!
Mandarin translation will be available for a class on Sept 11 and the performance on Sept 12.
Farsi translation will be available for a class on Sept 25 and the performance on Sept 26.
If you have any specific access needs or questions, please reach out to our Access Coordinator, Cass (cass@toesfordance.ca) ahead of time - we’re here to help ensure a smooth and inclusive experience for you!
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Lee Lifeson Art Park is our main festival venue, located at 223 Gladys Allison Pl, North York, ON M2N 3R5. Click here for a Google Map.
It’s only a hop, skip, and jump away from North York Centre subway station; so it’s easy to join in the fun! While you’re in the area, we encourage you to check out the neighbourhood’s fantastic selection of restaurants and bars.
-
1. Take Line 1 Yonge-University to North York Centre Station
2. Walk through the RioCan Empress Shopping Mall and exit near the Second Cup at Doris Avenue
3. Cross the street (Doris Avenue) to enter the Lee Lifeson Art Park on Gladys Allison Place
-
North York Centre Shopping Mall (west side of Yonge St) has a variety of food options including Starbucks, ze-teca Mexican Eatery, and La Prep Sandwich
RioCan Empress Shopping Mall (east side of Yonge St) offers Petit Potato, Marble Slab Creamery, and Shinta Japanese BBQ
-
A. Green P Parking Lot - $6.00/hr (entrance on Empress Ave)
B. RioCan Empress Parking $5.00/hr (entrance on Hillcrest Ave)
C. North York Centre Parking $8.00/hr (entrance on Park Home Ave)
D. Free Street Parking after 6pm on some local streets including Hillcrest Ave (indicated in red on the map)
*limited free street parking after 6pm on other nearby streets
Presented in partnership with Flight Festival of Contemporary Dance and North York Arts. 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 Toronto Arts Foundation/Arts in the Parks, Willowdale Central Ratepayers Association, TO Live, and Empress Orthodontics.
Photo credits on this page: Circular photos and banner photos by Shannon Widdis, Swirl graphic by Kendra Epik.