More than 25 World Dance Styles-all on one stage, to make Toronto International Dance Festival vibrant and colourful!
Toronto (30 September, 2018): When more than 25 diverse dance styles from different parts of the world showcased all on one stage, the 5th Toronto International Dance Festival (TIDF 2018) became literally a multicultural, vibrant and colourful confluence of world dance forms, on Sunday September 30, 2018 at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto in Scarborough.
The magnanimous event commenced with a warm welcome by Managing Director Mary Ashok followed by the inauguration ceremony (lighting the lamp) led by the patrons Hon. Dr. Asha Seth and Mrs. Sosamma Rengarajan.The stage came alive with TIDF’s logo featured in colourful mirage to replica its diverse purpose to provide a platform for new and recognized performing artists from all cultural backgrounds. More than 25 dance companies comprising of 25 different dance styles and over 250 dancers participated in the resplendent event exhibiting “World Dance Forms – All on One Stage”. The event attracted around 500 attendees from all across the GTA and vendors offering delightful culinary dishes, designer clothing and exquisite jewelry making TIDF 2018 an outstanding success.
The Chinese Cultural Centre stage was bursting with energy as artists thrilled the audience with captivating performances from traditional dance themes to modern contemporary hip hop. There were a variety of dance genres presented through Mrudanga Centre for Performing Arts (Odissi), Nirkoda Israeli Dancers of Toronto (Jewish), Portuguese Cultural Club of Vaughan (Portuguese), Kaleidoscope Chinese Performing Arts (Chinese), LLASAS & Melodia de Bolivia (Bolivia), The Mexicans Folk Ballet (Mexican), Ensemble Topaz (Afghani an), Ritmosy Danzas del Peru (Argentina, Peru), Mexico – Michoacan Pasion y Folklore (Mexican), Academy of Serbian Folk Dancing Association (Serbian), The Canadian Centre for Capoeira (Capoeira), Egyptian Dance Academy (Egyptian), Miss Coco Murray & Coco Collective (African), Kala’s Kalalaya (Indian Semi-Classical/Contemporary), Canada’s Ballet Jorgen (Ballet), Regatta Kala Kendra (Bharathanatyam, Kutchipudi & Mohiniyaatam), Puro Mexico Ballet (Mexican), Shhhhh Designz Entertainment (African), Roosara Dance (Sri Lankan), Aroon Academy of Irish Dance (Irish), Bucc n Flvr Dance (American), Sakuramai Toronto (Japanese), and Shaan Punjab Dee (Bhangra in the 6ix).
“Bucc N Flvr” wowed the audience with their mind-blowing swagg combination of freestyle Krump and Toronto Hip Hop Flavor amplifying the stage with electric vibes.
The excitement intensified with the presentation of“Leela”, a collaborative masterpiece choreographed by three highly acclaimed professional dancers, Harikishan Nair, Kalaimathy Vageesan and Sanjukta Banerjee. This item portrayed the versatility of Kuchipudi, Bhrathanatyam and Mohiniyattam in a dynamic fusion of artistic technique and classical talent.
Sakurami Torontolit up the stage with lavish multicolour traditional costumes as they delivered an exhilarating theatrical performance in Yosakoi dance. Kala’s Kalalaya, a group of youngsters inspired by world renowned Kala Master fascinated the audience with a high-spirited energized performance in Indian Classical and Bollywood Dance. The momentum was high and the Egyptian Dance Academy mesmerized viewers with an intoxicating belly dance item depicting authentic Egyptian Folklore leaving the audience thirsty for more.
Shaan Punjab Deetook the stage by storm to conclude the dance festival with a scintillating performance of“Bhangra in the 6ix”showcasing Punjabi Folk art form and sequential dance style of Bhangra and Malwai Giddah dance. Each dance item was exhilarating in its own rhythmic pattern and style creating a mosaic framework of our multicultural diversity, the very essence that highlights the objectives of Dancing Damsels Inc.
Greetings and congratulations to commemorate TIDF’s 5thanniversary and success were received from the Right Honorable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Hon. Bill Blair MP, Salma Zahid MP, Iqra Khalid MP, Shaun Chen MP, Ruby Sahota M P and Minister for Seniors Raymond Cho MPP who acknowledged each dance company with a certificate of participation for their valued contribution to the award-winning dance festival.
This highly acclaimed dance festival could not have been possible without the support and patronage of our Grand Sponsor Manoj Karatha of ReMax Realty Inc. The concert was emceed by Mitul Kadakia. The event management company PGA International, CMN network, and Scarborough Arts helped to market and manage this flagship event. The distinguished dance festival was well supported by numerous ethnic television and print media and several online media sponsors. TIDF photo booth and photographer were on site capturing the abstract dance performances and kaleidoscope artistry portrayed by all dance participants.
Dancing Damsels Inc. the event organizer of TIDF is a Toronto based non profit multicultural organization for Arts promotion and Women Empowerment. Embodying diverse cultural backgrounds in abstract expressions through the performing arts is what makes TIDF unique and unparalleled. Under the leadership of Managing Director Mary Ashok, Directors Gita Sankaran and Soni Marcus, a big line up of volunteers worked hard spending their family time, for the success of Toronto International Dance Festival.
For more information, visit | contact:
Website: www.tidfcanada.com / www.ddshows.com
Facebook: @DancingDamsels
E-mail: contactdancingdamsels@gmail.com
Twitter: @dancingdamsels
Phone: 416.788.6412
Report by: Salome Paryag | CMN News
