Engaging with Dance Offered by Black Artists

As Black History Month comes to an end, we reflect upon the how essential the contributions of Black artists are to the arts sector and community. We aim to honor Black history beyond this month and support the stories and work of Black artists every day. We have compiled a list of events, classes, conversations and more offered by some of the Black artists in the Toronto dance community.

West Afro Dance Workshop

Feb 25th, 7:00 – 8:30pm EST

City Dance Corps shares a new workshop led by Zahra Badua and Kwasi Obeng. This workshop is a fusion of Traditional West African and African Street Styles. This workshop will have you doing drills focusing on body and waist isolations, quick and attractive footwork and swinging arms movements to the sounds of traditional drums. Register for this one-time workshop here.

Movement CheckIn

Every Sunday, 5:00pm EST on IG Live

Join dancer Aisha Ahya every Sunday evening for enaging and important conversations featuring a different artist each week. On her Instagram page @ahya.dancer, Aisha creates a welcoming and warm space for artists to come together, be themselves, check and move with one another. Don’t miss her next CheckIn here.

Take Me From My Roots: Dynesti & Esie Mensah

In celebration of Black excellence and creativity, Holts has partnered with R.I.S.E. and Randell Adjei, Ontario’s first Poet Laureate, to showcase pieces that speak to the Black experience from unique perspectives. Explore this page to watch the performances by Randell, Dynesti & Esie Mensah, and Tracey Kayy, learn more about each artist, discover R.I.S.E. Edutainment’s mission, and find a list of resources that you can support and engage with.

Kashe Dance: Re:Imaginings

Mar 3 – 5th , 8:00pm EST

Re:Imaginings (time, place, movement -TPM) is rooted in the re-investigation of contemporary Caribbean dance language, like bpm (beats per minute); the work explores Caribbean rhythms, cultural practices and the influence they have had on the Canadian cultural landscape. Re:Imaginings (time, place, movement -TPM) unearths historical/cultural connections of the Caribbean in Canada. Get tickets for Re:Imaginings, live or livestreamed, here.

TESSEL: A Year Later

It has been one year since the inception of TESSEL, a film featuring the stories of 14 pioneering Black artists from across Canada, exploring the complexities of diverse movement and voice as a form of resilience. Watch TESSEL and learn more about the project as well as each featured artist here.

House Foundations & Choreography Classes

Wednesdays, 8:30 – 9:55pm EST

Join Raoul Wilke at Studio North every Wednesday and learn the basics of house dance! Register for his classes here.