DANCE IMMERSION ONTARIO

Dance Immersion produces promotes and supports dancers and dances of the African Diaspora. We offer presentation skill development and networking opportunities for Blacks in dance serving artists who practice contemporary and traditional movement forms. We have simplified our vision and mission statements and expanded programming through three interconnected platforms: Presentation Incubation and Education. We provided opportunities for artists throughout the pandemic while working to improve our branding and stabilize operations with a fairly new staff. We expanded our incubation support to provide artists with resources fees and experienced mentorship to develop stronger work for audiences.

On-Line Activities: - Created and produced our new Instagram Live Discussion Series which includes a written blog and online discussions with artists about topics that have so far focused on education in African Diasporic dances. This engages the public beyond dancers in conversation about dance and brings in new followers to dance Immersion. - Ran an online Bantaba discussion dance battle (Krump vs. Hip Hop) and Artists of the Diaspora meetings with artists in Alberta to the same results listed in the point above. - Instituted monthly Artist Profiles in our newsletters that now also serve as an archive of Canadian Black artists on our website. This program is researched and executed by Jillian. - We also secured over 150 new newsletter sign-ups gained after each recent presentation and the online initiatives. MUKUTHÔ: This incubated and co-presented commissioned dance and music work by Casimiro Nhussi of NAfro Dance in Winnipeg Pulga Muchchoma and Kobena Aquaa-Harrison Toronto created a new work centered around Mozambican dance and ceremony. This work garnered 5 Dora Award nominations. IN MY BODY: This collaborative presentation with CanStage TO Live and creative partners from the Candance Creation Fund saw the Toronto-premier presentation of IN MY BODY by Crazy Smooth performed by Bboyizm and special guests in a dynamic interdisciplinary piece. The presentation garnered 7 Dora Award nominations and 4 wins. Legacy Series Tap Symposium: The inaugural Legacy Series was all about Tap Dance combing a symposium incubation and presentation. This series was developed and produced to provide education on the history culture and future possibilities of Tap Dance. This initiative brought a new corporate financial partner in TD Bank Group and a new venue partner in Hart House. Sessions were led and designed under internationally-renowned Canadian Tap artists Travis Knights and Lisa La Touche along with international artist connections with Brinae Ali and Brill Barrett. Legacy Series Tap Presentation: Incubated and Presented the Legacy Tap Dance concert in High Park which garnered 6 Dora Award nominations and one win for Travis Knights. This work included two youth performers who participated in the Legacy Tap Dance Symposium. Legacy Series Jazz Symposium: Pre-planning for year two of Legacy Series featuring Jazz Dance under artist Natasha Powell.