Dance Week 2020

Dance Week Virtual Stage Replays

Find descriptions and artist bios below!

WIN with the LDF Dance Mob Video Challenge!
Share a short (5-10 second) video of you doing the Dance Mob choreography with us on Instagram or Facebook for a chance to win a $20 Gift Card from Dancewear Plus and four tickets to the next LDF performance. Post your photo with #LDFdancemob and #LDFDanceWeek20 and tag your friends! You have until May 9th (winner will bechosen at random).

Enter the LDF Dance Week Photo Challenge
The deadline to enter the Dance Week Photo Challenge has been extended til May 9. Share your oldest dance photo with us on Instagram or Facebook for a chance to win a $20 Gift card from London Dance Shoppe and four tickets to the next LDF performance. (The winner will be chosen at random). Post your photo with #LDFdancepic and  #LDFDanceWeek20 and tag your friends.

Artist Bios

“Rockstar” video choreography, performed by Shachi Biswas

“Rockstar” is  a choreography based on 3 dance styles – Bharatanatyam, Kathak (both Indian classical) & contemporary, depicting how a human soul endeavours to become one with the supreme soul and finally unites with Him. Click here to watch

Shachi Biswas is an empath who loves to speak through dance. She’s based in India, and her goals are to reach out to people who are unaware of the existence of dance and to tell stories through dance that can influence people to realise their hidden potentials. Find her on  Instagram – https://instagram.com/shachi_biswas?igshid=1jsdojdixn2rj or at www.nirgunadancecompany.com


Napoleon Dynamite Dance with Bizz Varty
Learn this dance and all your wildest dreams will come true. Let your inner dance nerd loose and go for passion over precision as Bizz teaches you the sweet moves of the iconic Napoleon Dynamite solo. 

Bizz Varty is the founder and Director of the London Dance Festival, a dance artist, choreographer, movement educator, mother of two, and a serious dance nerd.


Video Flamenco Dance Lessons with Patricia Vasconcellos for Beginners and Intermediates on FB

Get all Patricia’s video lessons here on our FB

Friday April 24 – 6pm Live Lesson on Facebook – Watch the replay here

Patricia will teach the theoretical and practical fundamentals of Flamenco Dance. The video classes will be aimed at beginners (in 4 beats in each measure) and intermediate (12 beats in each measure) students in a progressive short sequence in different flamenco rhythms. Patricia will also explore footwork dancing, claps, and arms (the technique of wrist movements) and how to manipulate flamenco accessories: fan (Abanico), and shawl (Manton).

Abbey Richens by Sidney Siu

Wednesday April 29 at 4pm – Instagram live Improv Jam #3 with Abbey Richens

Using various movement prompts, Abbey will guide you through an improv that focuses on breath, elongation, and having fun! This live-stream is open to all ages and any level of training (beginner-advanced.) Abbey wants to provide a way for us to all dance together even while we are apart! 

Abbey Richens was born and raised in London, Ontario. The London Dance Festival has been a major part of Abbey’s journey as a dance artist, from performing to choreographing as well as teaching amongst the London dance community. After graduating from H.B. Beal Secondary school’s dance program, Abbey is a current BFA student in the York Dance program with a concentration in performance and choreography. Abbey also teaches dance at several YMCAs in downtown Toronto.

.


The Art of Injury Prevention, a virtual learning event by Mari Udarbe Han (@519physio) and dance-lovers!

Catch the replay here on Facebook

Mari Udarbe Han is a registered physiotherapist with almost 10 years of experience.  She is an advocate for dance medicine and rehabilitation, and is the official wellness director of 519 School of Hip Hop.Mari has been working on initiatives to provide accessible education and to increase awareness in London’s dance community, including #519moves Project and the Artist Wellness webinar this Saturday.


Performance and Class with Samantha Sendas

Sam Sendas is very excited to be joining London Dance festival yet again, this time from the comfort of her own home. Sam was the 2018 LDF Dance Mob choreographer and is still keeping busy in the London dance community in various ways (prior to the recent turn of events) She can be seen in performances with Breath in MVMT, teaching and taking classes  at O.N.E Dance Studio, Choreographing for the premiere of The Saidat Show LIVE, or just dancing around in any open space she can find. Sam is very grateful for the opportunities London Dance Festival has given her, especially now during this time of social distancing. She hopes everyone is staying safe and can’t wait for the day when we can all dance together again.

Kaleigh Barry has been dancing for 25 years and grew up training and dancing competitively in Orlando, Florida. After graduating she went on to dance professionally at The Walt Disney World Resort in multiple shows at the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom she was also featured on ABC’s Christmas Day Parade 2010 and 2011. After dancing at Disney, Kaleigh went on to dance on three ships with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, one of which she was Dance Captain, performing styles such as, jazz, hip hop, ballroom, partnering, ballet, and lyrical, and has toured over 30 countries around the world. Kaleigh has been teaching dance to students ages 3 to adult since 2010 and she specializes is pre-school dance, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, and Ballet. Her choreography has won numerous technique and choreography awards as well as high overall placements with multiple competitions in the United States and Canada. Kaleigh has recently relocated to the London area with her husband and daughter, and she is looking forward to furthering her dance career as a teacher and choreographer!