Common Ground Dance Festival
2021 Edition
A City of Toronto Cultural Hotspot Signature Project and Arts in the Parks event, produced with the support of the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.
October 8-9, 2021 (raindate: October 10)
Lee Lifeson Art Park, North York, Toronto
TOES FOR DANCE presented the inaugural Common Ground Dance Festival on October 8th and 10th at Lee Lifeson Art Park in North York. Conceived and co-curated by TFD Co-Directors David Norsworthy and Kristen Carcone with the support of TFD Artistic Associate Chantelle Good, the festival was a free, outdoor, participatory celebration of movement and community that offered safe in-person dance programming despite the complexities of the Covid-19 pandemic. Onsite capacities were strictly enforced to make social distancing possible, registration was mandatory for contact-tracing purposes, daily rapid testing was provided for artists, and masks were encouraged outdoors. The intercultural programming included a diverse array of dance styles including contemporary/modern dance (Euro-American lineages), improvisation, dance-theatre, hip hop, and Sinhalese traditional and folk dance. Two artists were selected through an Open Call process. Public events in our first year included:
three workshops that brought together community members, students, and professional dance artists from North York and across Toronto;
two site-specific performance events in response to the park’s sculptures, each showcasing the work of two emerging choreographer/performers; and
two mainstage performance programs in the park’s amphitheatre, each showcasing the work of seven choreographers, nine professional performers and ensembles of student performers from CDM Dance & Music, and the School of Toronto Dance Theatre.
Our 2021 festival was funded through the Toronto Arts Council’s Animating Parks Program, and through the City of Toronto’s Cultural Hotspot Program. Partners included Toronto Arts Foundation/Arts in the Parks, North York Arts, YELP Toronto, and the Willowdale Central Ratepayers Association.
Click here to download poster. Poster design and photo by Kendra Epik, featuring dancers Lilly Giroux, Zuri Skeete, David Norsworthy.
2021 Featured Artists
Photos by Aidan Tooth and Kat Rizza
Common Ground Dance Festival
2022 Edition
An Arts in the Parks event funded by the City of Toronto's Cultural Festivals Funding Program, the Toronto Arts Council's Animating Toronto Parks Program, and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Canada Arts Presentation Fund Program.
Workshops/Open Rehearsals: September 24, October 1, 2022
Main Festival Weekend: October 7-8, 2022
Lee Lifeson Art Park, North York, Toronto
TOES FOR DANCE presented the second annual Common Ground Dance Festival on September 24th, October 1st, 7th, and 8th at Lee Lifeson Art Park in North York. The festival was a free, outdoor, participatory celebration of movement and community; building on the success of our first year with deeper artist support, broader outreach, and expanded programming. The events were co-curated by TFD Co-Directors David Norsworthy and Kristen Carcone, with the support of TFD Artistic Associate Chantelle Good. One artist from our 2021 Open Call was included in the programming. The artists involved worked within a wide spectrum of aesthetic and cultural dance practices including contemporary/modern dance (Euro-American lineages), improvisation, dance-theatre, experimental performance, tap dance, bachata, hip hop, house, popping, ballet and lyrical dance. Public events were well-attended despite cold temperatures and some unexpected precipitation on the main festival weekend. We offered:
five workshops that brought together community members, students, and professional dance artists from North York and across Toronto;
six open rehearsals in preparation for the mainstage and site-specific performance programs;
two site-specific pop-up performance programs throughout the park, showcasing 3 works by professional choreographers, and 5 professional dancer/performers;
two mainstage performance programs in the park’s amphitheatre, showcasing 6 works by professional choreographers featuring 7 professional dancers, 3 professional musicians, as well as 10 local student performers from the Bayview School of Ballet and CDM Dance & Music; and
one special musical event featuring sets by 2 professional emerging musicians from Rise Edutainment.
Additionally, students from Earl Haig Secondary School and Cardinal Carter Academy of the Arts attended the tech/dress rehearsal run-throughs of the site-specific pop-up and mainstage performance programs.
Our 2022 festival was funded through the Toronto Arts Council’s Animating Toronto Parks Program, the City of Toronto’s Cultural Festivals Funding Program, and the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Canada Arts Presentation Fund - Development Stream. Partners included Toronto Arts Foundation/Arts in the Parks, Willowdale Central Ratepayers Association, Toronto Dance Salsa, and North York Arts.
Click here to download poster. Poster design and photo by Kendra Epik, featuring dancers Chantelle Good, AJ Velasco and Kin Nguien.
2022 Featured Artists
Common Ground Dance Festival
2023 Edition
An Arts in the Parks event funded by the City of Toronto's Cultural Festivals Funding Program, the Toronto Arts Council's Animating Toronto Parks Program, Canada Council for the Arts, and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Canada Arts Presentation Fund Program.
Workshops/Open Rehearsals: September 16-17, 2023
Main Festival Weekend: September 21-23, 2023
Lee Lifeson Art Park, North York Central Library
North York, Toronto
TOES FOR DANCE (TFD) presented the third annual Common Ground Dance Festival (CGDF) on September 15th-23rd at various locations within North York's Willowdale neighbourhood. The festival was a free, participatory celebration of movement and community within highly-visible and accessible public spaces. The intercultural mission outlined in our application was achieved through programming curated by TFD Co-Director David Norsworthy and TFD Artistic Associate Chantelle Good. The festival gathered a diverse constellation of Toronto’s artists and community members for the purpose of fostering new relationships, exchanging cultural knowledge, and cultivating a sense of belonging. The artists involved worked within a wide spectrum of aesthetic and cultural dance practices including Tap, Hip Hop, Kathak, Contemporary/Modern (Euro-American lineages), Improvisation, Dance Theatre, West African, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Ballet.
five open rehearsals in preparation for the mainstage and site-specific performance programs;
two TTC subway station activations with dance class/training demos and outreach;
one digital instagram work-in-progress activation, small 13, created and performed by Fran Chudnoff and Siwar;
Grow North Industry Connections: a networking, professional development, and community-building event for artists in partnership with North York Arts;
Music x Movement: a 1-night-only festival launch program at Lee Lifeson Art Park, co-presented by the Willowdale Central Ratepayers Association;
three dance workshops (African Music/Dance, Kathak, and Hip Hop) that brought together community members, students, and professional dance artists from North York and across Toronto;
Dance @ the Library: 6 performance activations at North York Central Library, including an interactive performance;
two site performances of a solo work titled Stars by emerging choreographer Zoe Kwan, supported by mentorship from Ame Henderson
two mainstage performance programs in the park’s amphitheatre, showcasing 4 works by professional choreographers featuring 10 professional dancers, 3 professional musicians, as well as 26 local student performers from the Bayview School of Ballet, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Regatta Kala Kendra;
two artist chat circles that gathered audience members, performers, and choreographers to discuss the choreographic works presented;
Additionally, students from Earl Haig Secondary School, Cawthra Park Secondary School, Cardinal Carter Academy of the Arts, Claude Watson School for the Arts attended the tech/dress rehearsal run-throughs of the site-specific pop-up and mainstage performance programs.
Our 2023 festival was funded through the Toronto Arts Council’s Animating Toronto Parks Program, the City of Toronto’s Cultural Festivals Funding Program, and the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Canada Arts Presentation Fund - Development Stream. Partners included Toronto Arts Foundation/Arts in the Parks, Willowdale Central Ratepayers Association, Bayview School of Ballet, TO Live, and North York Arts.
2023 Featured Artists
Click here to download poster. Poster design and photo by Kendra Epik, featuring dancers Zoe Kwan, Monique Pascall, Priya Doobay, Genevieve John.
Photos by Aidan Tooth, Drew Berry, and Kendra Epik
TOES FOR DANCE presented the fourth annual Common Ground Dance Festival (CGDF) on September 14-21st across public spaces including Lee Lifeson Art Park, Princess Park, and North York Centre Mall Atrium. The festival was a free, outdoor, participatory celebration of movement and community. Our intercultural programming was curated by TFD Co-Directors David Norsworthy and Chantelle Good, as well as CGDF Producer Tanveer Alam, and gathered a diverse constellation of Toronto’s artists and community members for the purpose of creating connection. The artists involved worked within a wide spectrum of aesthetic and cultural dance practices including Kathak, Mohiniyattam, Western Contemporary (Euro-American lineages), House, Hip Hop, Popping, Locking, and Vernacular Jazz.
six open rehearsals in preparation for the mainstage and site performance programs;
two community workshops taught by Groove Collective’s Queenie Seguban ("It’s a Party" Hip Hop Workshop) and Keth Johnson ("Flamenco Foundations") that brought together community members, students, and professional dance artists from North York and across the City of Toronto;
one intercultural community workshop with Harikishan S. Nair (fundamentals of Mohiniyattam) and Sarah Ching U (Hip Hop grooves) followed by an artist talk facilitated by Tanveer Alam;
one Mainstage Festival Launch event including a site performance of Barbara Simms’ work entitled "iii", a one-time only series of improvised duets featuring various festival artists titled "Meeting in the Moment", and "why she moves", a Hip-Hop based performance performed by Groove Collective’s Katelyn Bernard, Nia, and Emma Rosborough with mentorship by Queenie Seguban and Kelly Gammie;
three tech/dress rehearsals attended by students from Cardinal Carter Academy, Earl Haig Secondary School, and Claude Watson School for the Arts;
two site performances of a site specific dance installation titled "Cuerpas Enlazadas", performed and choreographed by Diana López Soto and Victòria Mata;
three performances of Liminal Bodies at the North York Centre Mall atrium, created by Sarah Hin Ching U;
two Mainstage Mixed Programs, showcasing 4 works by professional choreographers featuring 12 professional performers and two student performances featuring a total of 12 student performers from the Lindance Academy of Performing Arts and the Carmen Romero School of Flamenco Dance Arts
Our 2024 festival was 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.
2024 Featured Artists
Click here to download poster. Poster design by Shannon Widdis
Photos by Shannon Widdis
Common Ground Dance Festival
2024 Edition
An Arts in the Parks event funded by the City of Toronto's Cultural Festivals Funding Program, the Toronto Arts Council's Animating Toronto Parks Program, Canada Council for the Arts, and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Canada Arts Presentation Fund Program.
Open Rehearsals: September 14-16, 2024
Main Festival Weekend: September 19-21, 2024
Lee Lifeson Art Park, Princess Park, North York Centre Mall
North York, Toronto
