{"id":115823,"date":"2025-07-08T11:16:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T15:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=115823"},"modified":"2025-07-08T11:16:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T15:16:04","slug":"preview-fall-dance-north-announces-lineup-11th-anniversary-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/07\/08\/preview-fall-dance-north-announces-lineup-11th-anniversary-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Fall For Dance North Announces The Lineup For 11th Anniversary Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Fall
Fall for Dance North: Nad Roop, Chaturang Ki-Chaupal (Photo: Kaustubh Atre)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With The Royal Ballet, Kathak stars Tanveer Alam and Barkha Patel, and a world premiere from Artist-in-Residence Esie Mensah, Fall for Dance North (FFDN) looks to make a splash with the 11th iteration of the festival. The festival takes place from October 15 to 25, 2025, and revolves around the three signature programs.<\/p>\n

FFDN’s new leadership team of Co-CEO\u2019s, Festival Director Lily Sutherland and Artistic Director Robert Binet co-curated the programming with FFDN 2025 Artist-in-Residence Esie Mensah, and renowned Toronto Kathak dancer Tanveer Alam.<\/p>\n

\u201cCurating this festival in collaboration with the FFDN team and co-curators Esie Mensah and Tanveer Alam has been a thrill,\u201d says Robert<\/strong> Binet<\/strong> in a statement. \u201cArtists I admire deeply from Toronto and all over the world will meet on stage in explorations of history, human experience, and the future we create when we move together. Every program is an invitation into the joy and community dance creates.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Fall
Fall for Dance North: Esie Mensah, Creations (Photo: Karolina Kuras)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Festival: Signature Programs<\/h2>\n

AFROFUSION: Signature Program 1, October 15 \u2013 18<\/h3>\n

Elements of Traditional and Contemporary West African Dance, Street Dance, Afro-Latin Dance, Modern, Jazz, and Salsa come together in this program, which incorporates three distinct works: the world premiere of Esie Mensah\u2019s new large scale commission ESHI, and two works by international artists curated by Mensah and Binet \u2014 Dickson Mbi (Cameroon\/UK) and Sekou McMiller (USA).<\/p>\n

HOMEGROWN: Signature Program 2, October 18 & 19<\/h3>\n

This program celebrates the global connectivity of Toronto choreographers and artists by way of four works: Ethan Colangelo\u2019s Reverence for The National Ballet of Canada, the Dora Award-winning solo CYMATIX from international Street Dance star Caroline \u201cLady C\u201d Fraser, Traditional West African Dance from Lua Shayenne Dance Company, and a cross-cultural world premiere from Canadian and Nigerian African Street Dance collaborators Kwasi Obeng Adjei and Ambrose Tjark.<\/p>\n

KATHAK & BALLET: Signature Program 3, October 23 \u2013 25<\/h3>\n

This mixed program will include duets, solos and ensemble works that explore the common ground between two historic dance forms from Eastern and Western traditions: the classical Indian dance form of Kathak and Ballet. The program is co-curated by Tanveer Alam, and features the UK\u2019s The Royal Ballet, who will perform a selection of solos and pas de deux from their repertoire, India\u2019s Nad-Roop and Dheerendra Tiwari, and Alam with Barkha Patel.<\/p>\n

\"Fall
Fall for Dance North: Sekou McMiller and Friends with Marielys Molina (Photo: Elyse Mertz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What’s New?<\/h2>\n

\u201cThis year\u2019s FFDN festival looks to the vibrant future of dance in Toronto with hope and admiration,\u201d adds Lily Sutherland<\/strong>. \u201cWe are thrilled to present our three distinct signature program presentations at the beautiful Bluma Appel Theatre, while simultaneously creating opportunities for uniquely intimate encounters with dance across the city, including a brand new dance series at The Citadel, and an up-close-and-personal dance experience with Toronto\u2019s next generation of dance luminaries at OCAD University.\u201d<\/p>\n

Intimate Pairings is a new dance series of 45-minute pieces, and takes place at the Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance from October 21 \u2013 23. Two distinct programs will be presented over the three nights: Braids & Heritage, featuring Montreal\u2019s Jossua Satin\u00e9e and Stacey D\u00e9silier; and Gutted and Pendulum, showcasing a pairing of solo works created by female artists Katie Adams-Gossage and Priyanka Tope.<\/p>\n

The annual late-night dance series Night Shift returns in a partnership between The Citadel and FFDN, curated by FFDN 2021-2022 Artist-in-Residence Natasha Powell.<\/p>\n

Up Next is another new feature, and it takes place on October 25 and 26 at OCAD University\u2019s The Great Hall. Entry is timed, and audience members will be able to move through the space so they can direct their own dance experience, featuring a rotation of cutting edge works from Esie Mensah with FFDN Scholar-in-Residence Devon Healey, Sekou McMiller, Sydney-based street and club dance choreographer and performer Azzam Mohamed, who will perform GLAD, and champion dancers of FFDN\u2019s 3rd annual Tkaronto Open Indigenous Jingle Dress competition.<\/p>\n

In August, FFDN will announce a range of free in-person workshops and other activities.<\/p>\n