একসঙ্গে / Akshongay
Apr
23
to Apr 26

একসঙ্গে / Akshongay

একসঙ্গে - Akshongay (Together)

Created and performed by two of Toronto’s cherished dance artists Akshongay is an evocative journey into the essence of human relationships. Since its debut in 2013, when it was nominated for four Dora Mavor Moore Awards, this duet has captured the hearts of audiences with its unique blend of cultures and dance techniques. The title, meaning “together” in Bengali, perfectly encapsulates the essence of a partnership built on over two decades of collaboration.

Through Akshongay, Bhattacharya and Laberge-Côté weave narrative rich with universal themes—love, friendship, separation, and union—drawing inspiration from their personal journeys and cultural histories (Bengali-Canadian & French-Canadian). The choreography invites viewers into a world where the mythical and the everyday intertwine, emotions are expressed physically through experiences we all share.

As they return to Akshongay, the dancers bring a refined maturity to the work which serves as testament to their enduring chemistry. Their distinct yet harmonious movements create a captivating dialogue, full of spontaneity and synchronicity, showcasing the power of their creative partnership. Akshongay is a celebration of the beauty that can emerge from the fusion of tradition, innovation, and heartfelt collaboration.

WHEN : APRIL 23-26, 2025 @ 8PM

WHERE: The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance

(304 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M5A 3A4, Canada)

 
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Offerings at Ishpadinaa
Aug
29
to Aug 31

Offerings at Ishpadinaa

Offerings at Ishpadinaa, invites you to witness reclamations of resistance and joy. This program will present performance-based site-activations at 285 Spadina Road inspired by the interconnectedness of cultures which have been impacted by colonialism.

Mark your calendars for August 29th through 31st and join us each day starting at 5:30pm, atop a majestic ridge, peering over a breathtaking ravine at Tkaronto and step into a world where cultures intertwine, and narratives are reimagined.

Dates: Aug 29-31
Venue: 285 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2V5
Time: 5:30pm - 6:30pm

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Deep End Week 2024: Rest, Reflect, Repeat
Aug
12
to Aug 17

Deep End Week 2024: Rest, Reflect, Repeat

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Our annual Deep End Week at the Theatre Centre is back!

Join us during the week at 4:15pm for captivating conversations with inspiring guest artists— facilitated by Artistic Director, Nova Bhattacharya. You are also welcome to join us for a public sharing at 4pm on Saturday August 17 at the Franco Boni Theatre.

Dates:
Mon Aug 12 - In conversation with Blessyl Buan
Tues Aug 13 - In conversation with Rebecca Singh
Wed Aug 14 - In conversation with Justine Woods
Thurs Aug 15 - In conversation with Angie Cheng
Fri Aug 16 - In conversation with Yolanda Bonnell (ON ZOOM, projection in Franco Boni)

Public sharing on Saturday, August 17, from 4 pm to 5 pm at the Franco Boni Theatre.

Location:
The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen Street West)

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LES FEMMES FATALES PRESENTS: FEMME AMBASSADOR! STILL MAD!
Jun
20
9:00 PM21:00

LES FEMMES FATALES PRESENTS: FEMME AMBASSADOR! STILL MAD!

We’re excited to share with you the unveiling of a new solo by Artistic Director Nova Bhattacharya at LES FEMMES FATALES PRESENTS: FEMME AMBASSADOR! STILL MAD!

A confluence of Bharatnatyam and Burlesque, Metal Queen is a vignette, providing an evocative portrait of the interplay of erotic and macabre imagery of the Bengali Mother Goddess Kali.

LES FEMMES FATALES PRESENTS: FEMME AMBASSADOR! STILL MAD! is curated, produced and hosted by our Metcalf Intern and founder of Les Femmes Fatales, Dainty Smith. The program will also feature performers Ivory, Kimora Koi, Ravyn Wngz, Suki Tsunami, Belles Jumelles, Dainty Smith and others!

When: Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 9 pm

Where: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

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Discover Dance with Irma Villafuerte
Dec
12
to Dec 13

Discover Dance with Irma Villafuerte

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Join Irma Villafuerte and host, Neena Jayarajan, for an hour filled with dance, discoveries and connection.

Irma Villafuerte is a Tkaronto-based dance artist, educator, emerging choreographer, and first-generation daughter of refugees from Nahuat Territory Kuskatan, post-colonial El Salvador.

As a Latin American woman, her passion for social justice and human rights is the driving force for creation in Irma’s choreographic and performance work. She is a dance instructor at Casa Maiz’ Semillas Latinas program for Latin American children; in 2019, she joined the faculty of the theatre department at Randolph College for the Performing Arts.

This is a FREE series presented by TO Live and Nova Dance.

TUES DEC 12 @ 12PM
Greenwin Theatre, Meridian Arts Centre
In-Person

WED DEC 13 @ 3PM
Lower Lobby of Meridian Hall
In-Person and Online Livestream

 
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Discover Dance with Candace Kumar
Nov
21
to Nov 22

Discover Dance with Candace Kumar

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Join Candace Kumar and host, Dainty Smith, for an hour filled with dance, discoveries and connection.

Candace Kumar is a Filipino/Indo-Fijian dance artist based in Toronto. She has trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz-funk, hip hop, folk dance and more. She specializes in contemporizing cultural dance forms to reimagine traditional culture from the diaspora. Candace collaborates with musicians such as A La Una and Han Han as a performer and choreographer, creating Filipino-contemporary works.

Candace will be sharing a series of Pangalay dances. Pangalay is the fingernail dance performed by communities in the Sulu Archipelago in the southern Philippines. The movements are slow and meditative, imitating the ocean currents in the Sulu Sea. Participants are invited to join in and connect with breath, slowly moving through the body as if in the ocean.

This is a FREE series presented by TO Live and Nova Dance.

TUES NOV 21 @ 12PM
Greenwin Theatre, Meridian Arts Centre
In-Person

WED NOV 22 @ 3PM
Lower Lobby of Meridian Hall
In-Person and Online Livestream

 
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Discover Dance with SaMel Tanz
Sep
12
to Sep 13

Discover Dance with SaMel Tanz

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Join Samantha Schleese, Mel Hart and host, Dainty Smith, for an hour filled with dance, discoveries and connection.

SaMel Tanz is a Toronto based dance collective established in 2015. Samantha Schleese and Melissa Hart, both versatile and experienced dance artists, founded SaMel Tanz to share stories through a unique fusion of Contemporary movement and techniques with Street and Latin influences. Mel Hart is also a fellow Svāhā! cast member!

This is a FREE series presented by TO Live and Nova Dance.

TUES SEPT 12 @ 12PM
Studio Theatre of Meridian Arts Centre
In-Person

WED SEPT 13 @ 3PM
Lower Lobby of Meridian Hall
In-Person and Online Livestream

 
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Toronto Book Launch: "We Will Remember This!"
Aug
17
5:00 PM17:00

Toronto Book Launch: "We Will Remember This!"

Written and curated by Brannavy Jeyasundaram, and co-published with Nova Dance, this book holds a moment in the life of a dance company and its artistic work during the global pandemic.

Choreographer Nova Bhattacharya had been poised to begin a 75-dancer work when the pandemic hit. Then, she had to reimagine what was at the heart of dance, of the notion of “company”, “ensemble”, a practice based in the body, bodies, multiplicity, proximity, and touch. Through a series of literary essays, this book delves into a key moment in Canada’s dance-making and the resilience of artists.

Those who attend the launches can purchase a copy of the book for only $20 (No tax. The regular price is $24.95)

Date: August 17, 2023

Time: 5PM-7PM

Location: The Theatre Centre

(1115 Queen Street West)

Email alysha@novadance.ca to RSVP!

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Deep End Week 2023: Rest and Reflection
Aug
15
to Aug 20

Deep End Week 2023: Rest and Reflection

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Dive into Deep End Week: Rest and Reflection at the Theatre Centre! Together, among a community of artists, we will explore various forms of rest and engage in intentional reflection on the recent past. Join us for captivating sessions with Artistic Director Nova Bhattacharya, body care workshops with Neena Jayarajan, enlightening guest speakers, and therapeutic art facilitation with Rachel Robbins. Don't miss this unique opportunity to spend a gentle week in community and nurture your artistic growth.

*60% of registration spots will be held for those who self-identify as Persons of Colour/mixed-race, Black or Indigenous.

DEEP END WEEK LEADERS:

Guest ARTISTS:

Dates:
Tuesday, August 15 - Sunday, August 20, 2023

Location:
The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen Street West)

Times:
Full day option: 10:00am-5:00pm
Half day option: 2:00pm-5:00pm
Morning drop-in option: 10:00am-1:00pm

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Discover Dance with Eilish Shin-Culhane
Jul
19
3:00 PM15:00

Discover Dance with Eilish Shin-Culhane

Join Eilish Shin-Culhane and host, Neena Jayarajan, for an hour filled with dance, discoveries and connection.

Eilish 미정 Shin-Culhane is a Tkaronto-based queer artist of Korean and European descent. Her work plays with theatricality, rigour, and humour in order to highlight human connection and adversity. Eilish feels equal parts dancer and choreographer - both mover and maker.

In Eilish's work "Peel Me", the dancers use grapefruits and fortune cookies to sensorially develop the narrative. With grapefruits acting as a personal allegory for queerness, and fortune cookies for an Asian identity - this work will explore the abundance, tenderness, vulnerability, and freedom these identities may hold. Using theatricality, physicality, and humour to express both shame and joy - the dancers try to understand what happens when something you break open cannot be put back together. Imagine, a Paxton-esque contact improvisation, but with the added challenge of balancing an egg between the two of you. Or a floorwork sequence navigating oranges as your floor.

This is a FREE series presented by TO Live and Nova Dance.

JULY 19 @ 3PM
Lower Lobby, Meridian Hall
Online and In-Person

 
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Svāhā! (Vancouver)
Jul
14
to Jul 15

Svāhā! (Vancouver)

Nova Dance's latest production, Svāhā!, is headed to Vancouver! Catch the show at Vancouver Playhouse this summer!

Co-presented with DanceHouse, Indian Summer Festival and SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs

Inspired by women building community through acts of celebration, mourning and worship, Nova Dance uses the universal language of movement to gather people together in synchronous experience.

In addition to a cast of more than 20 performers from almost 30 different dance traditions – everything from Bharatnatyam to Butoh, as well as ballet, jazz and salsa, Svāhā! features local artists in an opening invocation that accompanies the performances. From this experience of communion and solidarity comes a work brimming with life, colour, and revelry of every hue.

Svāhā!
July 14 & 15, 2023 | 8pm
Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton Street)
Running time: 55 minutes (no intermission)

 
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Svāhā! in the Park
May
26
to May 28

Svāhā! in the Park

Nova Dance is excited to be performing an excerpt of Svāhā! at David Crombie Park presented in collaboration with Jamii. Join us at from May 26-28 at 7pm at 131 The Esplanade, Toronto, ON.

You can also catch, Svāhā! cast member, Mel Hart, leading Cypher Jam Workshops every Wednesday at 7pm this month! A cypher is freestyle dance jam where an open circle is created and people take turns dancing in the center. The cypher (or cipher) has deep, long-standing cultural roots in hip hop culture, African tradition and even religious beliefs. This might be something that most of us haven’t experienced yet, so why not giving it a try? Experienced dancers can also join the Intermediate Cypher Jam at 8pm every Wednesday. Register below!

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Discover Dance with Dainty Smith
Apr
4
to Apr 5

Discover Dance with Dainty Smith

Join Dainty Smith and host, Nova Bhattacharya, for an hour filled with dance, discoveries and connection.

Discover Dance is an hour-long tour into the creative minds of highly skilled movement makers – you can ask questions, share your responses, or simply observe. Whether you join us in person or on-line, Discover Dance is free and fun for all ages.

We’re kicking things off by putting the spotlight on burlesque queen extraordinaire Dainty Smith. Dainty’s been a featured artist and she’s been hosting Discover Dance, so we wanted to take this opportunity to get to know her as a mover and maker. Nova Bhattacharya will be hosting and trust us, you’re in for a treat. Dainty and Nova, and Tina Turner cover tunes of Led Zeppelin and The Beatles! A rock’n’roll good time for all.

This is a FREE series presented by TO Live and Nova Dance.

APRIL 4 @ 12PM
Studio Theatre, Meridian Arts Centre
In-Person

APRIL 5 @ 12PM
Lower Lobby of Meridian Hall
In-Person and Online

 
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Les Femme Fatales: Watching God
Jan
13
9:00 PM21:00

Les Femme Fatales: Watching God

Nova Dance is kicking off 2023 with a performance at Watching God, on January 13th at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, presented by Dainty Smith and Les Femme Fatales:

Inspired by the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God written by Zora Neale Hurston, it is the final installment of the sensual Storytime series.

Watching God is about love, loneliness, heartbreak and being true to yourself.
This show is a sensual examination is a journey of self-love and self-actualization and following your heart.

*Masks are encouraged.

Starring...

Ravyn Wngz
Sweet Delilah
Violet Vixen
ImogenQuest
Suki Tsunami


Guest starring: Nova Dance
Nova Bhattacharya, Neena Jayarajan & Sukruti Tirupattur

Music by Dj Relentless
Curated and produced by Dainty Smith

Date: January 13, 2023

Doors: 8:30 PM
Show starts: 9 PM

Venue: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1B4

Ticket Price: $30

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Dec
13
to Dec 14

Discover Dance with Ravyn Wngz

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Join Ravyn Wngz and host, Dainty Smith, for an hour filled with dance, discoveries and connection.

Ravyn Wngz “The Black Widow of Burlesque” is a Tanzanian, Bermudian, Mohawk, 2Spirit, Queer and Transcendent empowerment storyteller. Ravyn is an abolitionist and co-founder of ILL NANA/DiverseCity Dance Company. She is a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Canada, A co-founder of the Wildseed Centre for Arts & Activism, A Canadian Best Selling Author, Top 25 Women of Influence in Canada recipient of 2021, Ravyn is committed to eradicating all forms of anti-Black racism, settler colonialism systems of oppression while nurturing Black and Indigenous healing in communities.

This is a FREE series presented by TO Live and Nova Dance.

DECEMBER 13 @ 12PM
Greenwin Theatre, Meridian Arts Centre
In-Person

DECEMBER 14 @ 12PM
Lower Lobby of Meridian Hall
In-Person and Online

 
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Nov
15
to Nov 16

Discover Dance with Belle Jumelles

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Join Belle Jumelles and host, Kieran Herallal, for an hour filled with dance, discoveries and connection.

Belle Jumelles is one of Toronto’s most popular burlesque performers. She's a fierce, fabulous, fat, queer femme who instantly commands the room. She's a talented singer, emcee, burlesque performer, producer and teacher. She has produced countless shows, providing space for people to share their art on stage, and she's been teaching regular burlesque and body confidence workshops in Toronto as well as all over North America for the last 12 years. Imparting her confidence and self-love to students and audiences alike - she loves encouraging people to love themselves inside and out.

This is a FREE series presented by TO Live and Nova Dance.

NOVEMBER 15 @ 12PM
Greenwin Theatre, Meridian Arts Centre
In-Person

NOVEMBER 16 @ 12PM
Lower Lobby of Meridian Hall
In-Person and Online

 
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Nov
4
to Nov 5

Older & Reckless

Catch Nova Bhattacharya performing Calm Abiding by José Navas at MOonhORsE Dance Theatre's nationally acclaimed performance series Older & Reckless. The series is back on the Harbourfront Centre stage with a very special program featuring 24 celebrated dance artists!

Older & Reckless, conceived by Claudia Moore in 2000, is MOonhORsE Dance Theatre's acclaimed performance series for mature dance artists from diverse backgrounds who have pursued their passion over a lifetime. Older & Reckless, held annually at Harbourfront Centre Theatre, features an audience warm-up, a programme of distinctive dance works, a community performance project and a post-show reception. Older & Reckless 2022 includes Workshops, a Circle Dance Talk, and the biennial Older & Reckless Mentorship program.

NOVEMBER 4 @ 8PM
NOVEMBER 5 @ 2PM & 8PM
Harbourfront Centre Theatre
231 Queens Quay West, Toronto

 
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Oct
18
to Oct 19

Discover Dance with SaMel Tanz

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Join SaMel Tanz and host, Susie Burpee, for an hour filled with dance, discoveries and connection.

SaMel Tanz is a Toronto based dance collective established in 2015. Samantha Schleese (M.A, BFA) and Melissa Hart (BFA), both versatile and experienced dance artists, founded SaMel Tanz to share stories through a unique fusion of Contemporary movement and techniques with Street and Latin influences. SaMel Tanz facilitates and adjudicates countless youth initiatives and continues to highlight the importance of community in all their endeavors.

This is a FREE series presented by TO Live and Nova Dance.

OCTOBER 18 @ 12PM
Greenwin Theatre, Meridian Arts Centre
In-Person

OCTOBER 19 @ 12PM
Lower Lobby of Meridian Hall
In-Person and Online

 
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Sep
20
12:00 PM12:00

Discover Dance with Dhruv Naik

Join Dhruv Naik and host, Dainty Smith, for an hour filled with dance, discoveries and connection.

Dhruv Naik is a Toronto-based Bollywood fusion dancer and has been dancing for 15 years. He is a professional dancer, choreographer, teacher and Artistic Director of Jadoo Entertainment - GTA's Premiere Bollywood Fusion Dance Company. Moreover, his dance experience centers around Bollywood, hip hop, jazz, and Indian classical, but his aim has always been to expand his skill set to ensure that he is able to explore the realm of dance in its entirety.

This is a FREE series presented by TO Live and Nova Dance.

SEPTEMBER 20 @ 12PM
Greenwin Theatre, Meridian Arts Centre
In-Person

 
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Svāhā!
Sep
16
to Sep 18

Svāhā!

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TORONTO, WORLD PREMIERE

September 16 & 17, 2022
Show Time : 8:00pm
Lobby Opens : 7:00pm

September 18, 2022
Show Time : 2:00pm
Lobby Opens : 1:00pm

Bluma Appel Theatre St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
Address: 27 Front Street E, Toronto, Ontario, ON, M5E 1B4
Phone: (416) 366-7723 | 1-800-708-6754
Email: boxoffice@tolive.com

Svāhā! is a celebration of dance as a revitalizing ritual that brings us closer together. It is an offering of movement, music, colours and sensations.

Created by award-winning Nova Bhattacharya, Svāhā! embodies the transformative power of dance, expressing the uniqueness of the individual and the value of community. Dancers surrender themselves, sparking the imagination, conveying a range of thoughts and sensations through movement and creating rhythm with their entire beings.

With a cast of over 20 performers selected from a diversity of dance forms and cultural backgrounds, Svāhā! brings differences together in a collage of moving images, offering metaphors, recitation, pulsating rhythms and intense emotions, revelling in simplicity and embracing complexity, Svāhā! asks, how can we be better together?

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Discover Dance with Irma Villafuerte
Aug
16
to Aug 17

Discover Dance with Irma Villafuerte

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Join Irma Villafuerte and host, Dainty Smith, for an hour filled with dance, discoveries and connection.

Irma Villafuerte is a Tkaronto based dance artist, educator, emerging choreographer and first-generation daughter of refugees from Nahuat Territory Kuskatan, post-colonial El Salvador. She is vibrant, thoughtful and thoroughly engaging!

This is a FREE series presented by TO Live and Nova Dance.

AUGUST 16 @ 12PM
Greenwin Theatre, Meridian Arts Centre
In-Person

AUGUST 17 @ 12PM
Lower Lobby of Meridian Hall
In-Person and Online

 
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Discover Dance with Jamii
Jul
15
to Jul 16

Discover Dance with Jamii

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NOVA DANCE X JAMII, LIVE OUTSIDE!

July 15 & 16 - 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM EST

Join us at David Crombie Park for a special edition of Discover Dance presented in partnership with Jamii and TO Live. There will be music, dance, conversation, henna and much more. Nova, will discuss the process of artistic creation, with a focus on her new work Svāhā!, set to premiere September 16, 2022. Together, we will explore the themes of intersection, identity and hybridity.

This is a Free Event Presented by TO Live, Nova Dance and Jamii.

 
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Apr
12
to Dec 14

Discover Dance 2022

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NEW ARTISTS, NEW HOSTS, NEW CONVERSATIONS.

In Person and ONLINE - 12PM EST

Presented by TO Live and Nova Dance.

Enjoy our free, all ages program sharing the artistry of superlative dancers. Performing live from Greenwin Theatre - Meridian Arts Centre, Meridian Hall and streaming directly to you – Discover Dance is an hour-long expedition into a performer’s life onstage and behind the scenes – and there’s always a chance to try out a move or two.

Hosted by Travis Knights, Dainty Smith and Kieran Heralall .

 
 
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Celebrating Menaka Thakkar
Mar
3
8:00 PM20:00

Celebrating Menaka Thakkar

Menaka's fearless creativity and uncompromising standard of excellence, forever changed the dance scene in Canada. We will gather with students, colleagues, friends and dance lovers to pay our respects.

Please join us for a virtual Ritual of Gathering celebrating the legendary life of Dr. Menaka Thakkar (March 3, 1942 – February 5, 2022) on Thursday, March 3rd, at 8pm EST.

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May
21
to Dec 31

COVID-19

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In the midst of a global pandemic we, like many others, are pressing pause on activities that would endanger public health.

Although there are many unknowns, there is one thing that none of us should have any doubts about - dance, ritual, rhythm and performance will withstand the test of these times.

They are how we tell our stories, they are how we heal, they have the power to reach beyond ourselves and touch the lives of those for whom we are dancing.

Keep dance in your heart, we are keeping you in ours.

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