London Dance Festival

Celebrate the art of dance with the London Dance Festival. We’ve got something for everyone! See London’s talented dance artists perform in two locations, plus workshops for all levels, and opportunities for the public to perform in our Dance Mob!

This year we are proud to celebrate our 10th annual festival!

Sept 14: COMMUNITY SHOWCASE in Ivey Park 2-5pm

FREE Performances & Workshops in Ivey Park 331 Thames St

Performances by BRDRless, Young Company of NLDC, Aiyana Ruel + Shannon Pybus, BrickHouse Productions, Young Company of NLDC, Flamenco del Sur, Forest City Hawaiian Dance Co, Sound in Motion, and the 2024 LDF Dance Mob.

Workshops in Salsa Dance, Hawaiian Dance, and your chance to join our community Dance Mob!

Sept 15: MOVING IN EARNEST at XUUX 4-7pm

FREE Workshops & Ticketed Performance at XUUX 455 Horton St East
Purchase tickets online through our Zeffy portal!

4-4:45pm Join Newton Moraes for a FREE Afro-Brazilian Dance workshop! 

5-6:30pm Watch London Dance Festival: Moving in Earnest

Learn more at www.londondancefestival.ca or @ldndancefest

The London Dance Festival is supported by the London Arts Council through the City of London’s Community Arts Investment Program.

Hey dancers! The London Dance Festival is excited to announce that we’re looking for local talent for our 2024 Festival, happening on September 14-15.

We’re open to dance artists of all ages, career stages, and styles. Tell us all about your proposed dance performance or workshop when you apply on our website!

We’ll be receiving submissions until TOMORROW, so don’t miss out the chance to be part of this year’s event! Apply today

Photo: Syncopate Tap Co. by Jason Sunio

Join us for a fun Festival Preview at the London Heritage Council’s Night Market event and get a taste of what’s to come at the September Festival! Try an Intro to Argentine Tango workshop at 7 (no partner required!) and see a performance at 8:30m.

LDF Preview at the Night Market
Sunday, June 30 @ Dundas Place
All events are free, but donations are gratefully accepted!

7PM Intro to Argentine Tango Workshop
8:30-9PM Preview Performance
LEARN MORE

Download the digital program HERE

We are pleased to be partnering with the London Heritage Council to present Ahead by A Century: a London Childhood 100 Years Ago, an exciting, family-friendly walking tour and dance performance.

Travel back in time to 1924 and experience a childhood long ago brought to life through stories and dance. This project celebrates the history of Old East Village and shares the story of young Audrey Varty who gets her first library card, opens a book, and embarks on a round-the-world dance adventure with her neighbourhood friends!

Doors Open Weekend
September 21 & 22, 2024
Tours from 11am-12pm and 1-2pm
Old East Village (departing from Queens Park)
Tour Route Begin at Queen’s Park, walk to Carson Library, Lorne Ave Park, Banting House, and finish at East Village Market

There are lots of ways to get involved! Click the links below to learn more:

Auditions for dancers ages 9-16 June 23, 12-2pm

Learn more about the tour/performance and it’s inspiration

Learn more about Doors Open

Workshop for community participants: Super Simple Book Dance (coming soon)

Workshop for community participants: Pirate Battle choreography for kids and families (coming soon)

Donate to support the artists involved

Sponsor the project through your business

Volunteers needed for Sept 21 & 22– Email us if you’re interested!

Help spread the word!
Tell your friends & neighbours, and share our social posts and newsletters 🙂

Production Team
Director and Choreographer: Bizz Varty
Production Manager: Laura Sepulveda
Flamenco Choreography & Performance: Flamenco del Sur
Bellydance Choreography & Performance: Rising Moon Bellydance

Special Thanks to:
OEV BIA, Western Fair Market, London Public Library (Carson Branch), City of London, Banting House, East Village Market

Our friends PointeTango are presenting a full-length show at the Grand Theatre this summer. Get your tickets now before they sell out!

Direct from Buenos Aires, award-winning Argentine tango show “Tango in the Dark” comes to London, Ontario!

A cast of seven world-class artists take the stage in this thrilling production featuring PointeTango Dance Company’s breathtaking tango-ballet duo. Live music by the acclaimed Payadora Tango Ensemble blends traditional and original pieces, while captivating video projections and the haunting cry of the bandoneón transport you to the vibrant streets of Argentina.

“Tango in the Dark” follows two lovers as they journey through a city transformed by the shadows of nightfall weaving a story of love, loss, and connection fuelled by the rhythms of the city night.

The sensuality of Argentine tango, elegant classical ballet and dramatic acrobatic feats create a stunning tapestry of movement leaving audiences raving about this unforgettable tango experience.

Tango in the Dark 
presented by PointeTango Dance Company
Thursday, August 1st, 2024 at 7:30pm
The Grand Theatre: Spriet Stage
Tickets: Online: https://www.grandtheatre.com/event/tango-in-the-dark
Box Office: 519-672-8800

“A romantic spectacle of high lifts, high drama, and high elegance.” – Montreal Rampage

“Tango in the Dark is a beautifully woven array of expert craft and care.”
“Sultry. Intimate. Completely innovative.” – Forget the Box

PointeTango is an award-winning dance company known for their unique blend of Argentine tango and classical ballet. They have gained recognition internationally for their innovative style as the only dance company in the world to dance authentic Argentine tango on pointe shoes creating a captivating movement vocabulary “unlike anything you’ve ever seen.” – The Vancouver Arts Review

“They dance as one body, with grace and precision” ★★★★★ – Monday Magazine
www.pointetango.com

The London Dance Festival is pleased to announce the first call to local artists for the 2024 Festival preview on June 30th at the Night Market on Dundas Place, an event organized by the London Heritage Council. The 2024 Festival will take place September 14-15. Exact times, and event details are yet to be determined. Get the latest updates here on our website.

Dance artists of all ages, career stages, and styles are welcome to apply for the June 30 Festival Preview. Please tell us as much as you can about your proposed dance performance or workshop, and get in touch at info@londondancefestival.ca if you have questions.

*Deadline for submissions is MAY 12, 2024
*Please note your date, location, and surface preferences below.
*Artists from equity-deserving groups are encouraged to apply, including Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA2S+, Low-income, Newcomers, People of Colour, People with Disabilities, Older Adults 65+, Youth 18-24
*Movement and music content must be appropriate for a family audience.
*Preference will be given to artists hailing from or currently living in London, Ontario.
*Artists selected to present work will be awarded an honorarium.
*Applicants will be contacted regarding acceptance by June 10, 2024.

**APPPLY HERE** (google forms doc.)

Questions? Email us at info@londondancefestival.ca 

PLEASE NOTE: We have a smaller budget again this year and are unable to offer full CADA rates for pieces with more than two professional artists. We are also unable to provide travel or accommodation for artists outside of London this year. If this is a barrier for you, please check back next year!

UPDATED April 2024

A message from Bizz Varty, London Dance Festival Founder & Director:

The 2024 festival will be my 10th since co-founding FLUX festival in 2014. It has been a true joy for me to bring so much great dance to London! In envisioning the future of the festival, I feel it’s time to bring fresh perspectives to the tasks of producing and artistically directing the annual event. Over the next couple years I am planning to step back from the hands-on job of festival manager and focus on the bigger picture of growing the Centre of Movement Arts. 

This is why I’m calling for expressions of interest from artists and arts managers interested in learning more about the role of festival manager. I want to hire someone with their own vibrant vision for the local dance community and the passion and perseverance to make it happen. I can provide training in the basics of the job and the ways things have previously been done, but I am also very open to new possibilities. This is a unique role that can vary greatly from year to year, and its size, timing, and salary is dependent on successfully obtaining annual arts funding. It is not for the faint of heart, but can be quite flexible to fit amongst the other demands of an artist’s life and career. It can be a very rewarding gig for a creative and resourceful individual with a great love for London’s dance community. 

With the 2024 Festival happening September 14-15, we would liket o hire someone who can job shadow Bizz from June to September, with the intention of taking on the full role for 2025. The full job typically takes about 100 hours over 4-5 months, with a salary of $20-25/hr, BUT this is all subject to grant results.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, or you have questions, please reach out to me at londondancefestival@gmail.com. Interested applicants will be invited to meet with Bizz virtually to discuss the job.

JULY 15 UPDATE:
We are very sad to inform you that due to rain and thunderstorms, today’s event is cancelled and we won’t be rescheduling again. 

We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and support. We would LOVE if you could make a donation to help keep us going until next year, as we weren’t able to collect donations in the park as usual. 

Another great way to support our work is to order your LDF T-shirt – you have until tomorrow to get your order in!

UPDATE – Unfortunately rain has once again cancelled this event. We’ll see you next year!

July 2 festival events have been rescheduled for July 15, 2023, form 5-7pm in Ivey Park.

July 15, 2023
5-7pm, Ivey Park, 331 Thames St

FREE! but donations are gratefully accepted

5-7pm Featuring: Dance Mob WORKSHOP & Performance, Flamenco del Sur & Los Aires, Forest City Hawaiian Dance Co., Meghan Byloo + Gwen Logan + Jenna Hills, Rising Moon Bellydance, BRDRless Dance WORKSHOP

Learn more here