Harbourfront Dance Weekend 2008
Two Days Full of Fascinating Performances from Toronto’s Dance World
Dance Ontario's Dance Weekend from January 19 to the 20 was the opening event for Harbourfront's Next Steps dance series for the winter/spring edition of 2008
Returning for its second year, Next Steps will run till May 2008 presenting magnificent performers from Toronto. A variety of cultures and styles will be represented throughout the season.
Dance Cramming 101
Dance weekend was a bit of a preview to some of these performances. The weekend went on from about one in the afternoon to eight in the evening on Saturday, and six on Sunday, showcasing about 25 different companies for half-hour shows.
Although it may be a downside to some that the shows were quite short, it really was enough to savour the piece and get a taste of a style of dancing you might not be so familiar with. The performances ranged from jazz/hip hop, modern, South Asian, African/ Caribbean, Latin, ballet, Middle Eastern, Spanish, and Korean.
The diverse schedule made it easy to enjoy with friends and family, even young children were quietly enjoying the shows. It was also very affordable with only a $10 donation at the door each day, and you could come in and out as you pleased to watch the acts you wanted. There was a bit of line up for some of the pieces, so it would be advisable to get there early, next time, since it was ‘first come first sit basis.’
Captivating Performances
Some well known acts around Toronto were present, along with new performers. The Aya Dance Collective, Arabesque Dance Co., Ballet Jörgen Canada, Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre, Arte Flamenco, Menaka Thakkar Dance Company, and Ballet Creole amongst many others.
All the performances were enchanting and distinct, from the very exotic to the more familiar ones; it was a great opportunity to explore this art form. Ballet Jörgen Canada did a beautifully emotional excerpt from Anastasia, a memorable piece to introduce you to see their full-length production showing in February in Guelph. Polar opposite Arte Flamenco‘s full strong rhythms were captivating, with four ladies stomping their feet to the sounds of the Spanish guitar, clapping of hands and an entrancing singing voice.
The Menaka Thakkar dance company’s rich performance of Classical Indian Dance was filled with innovative and superb choreography. Known in Canada for introducing Indian culture and performance art, Menaka Thakkar founded the first Indian dance company in the country. The company will show ‘Moving to the Rhythm’, a weekend long presentation from February 15-17 at the Harbourfront’s Premiere Dance Theater, as part of the Next Steps programming.
If you missed any of the performances or would like to enjoy a full length program, many of the Dance Weekend companies will also be showcasing later throughout the Season. COBA will be one of them, performing at the end of February, The Chimera Project and Ballet Creole will present in April. For more information on performances and tickets visit Harbourfront Centre website.
