July 1: Canada Day Celebration

In partnership with London Celebrates Canada
Saturday July 1 – Harris Park
3pm & 4:30pm Flash Mob and Multi-Cultural Performances

Celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday through dance with a showcase our city’s multi-cultural heritage. Catch two half hour performances featuring local artists, plus appearances by London’s Ill at Will breakdance crew and Breath in Mvmt. dance company. You’ll also have two chances to dance alongside your fellow Londoners in our annual Flash Mob (see side panel for participation details).

Featured Artists: The Young Company of North London Dance Centre (Canadian contemporary), Flash Mob by Ken Pham & Greg Thane, Yamini Kalluri (Indian Kuchipudi), London Salsa Dance Company (Salsa/Bachata) (and more to be confirmed soon!)

Spotlights by: Ill at Will Crew and Breath in Mvmt.

Spotlight Performance: The Art of Breaking by Ill At Will Crew

Photo by Jesse Craig

Choreographer: Jim Han
Dancers: Joseph Yao, David Ortiz, Rob Loebach, Jim Han

B-boys and friends of Ill At Will Crew will put on an upbeat, dynamic performance bringing back all kinds of old school dance moves.
Taking inspiration from films such as Beat Street and Netflix series, The Get Down, the audience will have a chance to witness a live breakdance battle on stage with a mix of choreography and freestyle solos.

Spotlight Performance: Conversations Never Had by Breath in Mvmt.

Photo by Alvin Collantes

Choreographer: Melisa Boose
Breath in Mvmt. Company Dancers
For when we lose people and don’t have the chance – for when we are misunderstood or unheard – our words can be so lost on you, so let us express through movement.

This is What we Believe
Photo by Mark Spowart

Choreographer: Megan Alfano
Dancers: Stefani Doris, Regan Martin, MacKenzie Mercer, Victoria Monyard, Shannon Palmer, Isabella Russell & amp Reese Yue.

This piece is a celebration of dance. For every age, for every ability…. whether you take formal dance class every day or if you choose to dance in rubber boots outside in the rain….it’s for those of us who love to dance, who love to watch others dance, and for those who support our passion! The dancers share their own thoughts of what dance means to them.

Under the Direction of Kelly Hajar, The Young Company of North London Dance Centre, now in its third season, is establishing itself as an organization which provides an innovative environment where talented, young concert dancers can further expand their technical dance training with performance-oriented training and experience given by some of the most respected teachers and choreographers in our community and beyond. The Young Company aims to provide essential performance training and experience that strengthens our individual dancer’s talents, while enhancing their understanding of the performance process and its demands.

Padmavathi Pravesa Daruvu
Photo by Manivannan

Choreographer: Padmasri Dr. Sobha Naidu
Dancer: Yamini Kalluri

Young princess Padmavathi is with friends in her garden. She is yet to fall in love and describes her dream lover who is supposed to be Lord Vishnu. She talks about how her youth is increasing her desire to join her potential lover. She fantasizes to be beside lord Vishnu enjoying the luxury of riding on Garuda Vahana (Eagle).

Yamini Kalluri is a young upcoming Kuchipudi dancer based in Hyderabad, India. She has been practicing this dance form for more than ten years now. She has been under the tutelage of the legendary guru, Padmasri Dr. Sobha Naidu. Yamini is known for her grace, agility and uncompromising perfection. She has evolved into a fine dancer and created a fresh style of technique for herself. She has been teaching Kuchipudi for over 7 years now. Although young in age, her ambition and passion towards this dance form is immense. She aims to bring a new face to Kuchipudi. Her guru strongly believes that Yamini will be continuing her legacy and bring further glory to Kuchipudi. With all her support and blessings. Yamini has performed in various prestigious festivals and venues across India and internationally. Performances: Konark Dance Festival, Konark. Khajuraho Dance Festival, Khajuraho. Cuttack International Dance Festival, Cuttack. Margazhi Season, Chennai. Natyanjali Festival, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Chennai. Indradhanush Dilli Festival, Delhi. Nrittaradhana Dance festival, Kochi. Naadaneerajanam, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam. Tanisha Yuva Natyotsav, Kuchipudi Village.Siliconandhra International Kuchipudi Dance Convention, Hyderabad etc. Footprint Dance Festival, University of Roehampton, London. Birmingham Balaji Temple, Birmingham, May 2016. Drive East Dance Festival, New York City, August 2016. ISKON TEMPLE, Raleigh, North Carolina, September, 2016. Balaji Temple, San Antonio, Texas, September 2016. St Petersburg, Russia, May 2017.

Despacito
Photo by Mark Spowart

Choreographer: Tatiana Pardo
Dancers: Eryka Puzio and Kit Borres.

Sultry salsa moves that will have you wanting to get up and dance to the rhythm of the music.

At London Salsa Dance Company (LSDC), we strive to develop four fundamental attributes – creativity, passion, confidence, and the building of community. We use Latin dance and music to develop our students’ full potential as great, confident dancers and individuals. We are more than a dance studio. We are an open community that encourages, communicates, and supports one another through the vibrant sounds and movements of Latin music. We become a family; a family that has a love for dance, meeting new people, and leaving our hearts on the dance floor.

Fight Night

Choreographer: Christine Stebel
Dancers: Sydney Schwandt, Presley MacDonald, Alliyah Damude, Chase Martin-Lee, Katie Mutter, Thalia Port, Olivia Metron

Competitive small hip-hop group, Age 10-11

Absolute Dance is a not-for-profit organization run by parents and volunteers whose goal is to make quality dance instruction at a reasonable cost. We offer recreational and competitive dance, as well as summer dance camp to both boys and girls in a variety of dance and performance disciplines, ages 4 and up.

Breakable

Choreographer: Katrina Cavaliere
Dancers: Shannon Dean, Isabella Brown, Olivia Morris

These three young dancers will be performing an acro dance titled ‘Breakable’. We are excited to be performing in The London Dance Festival.

We are very proud of our Internationally and Nationally recognized Competitive Team! Our competitive dancers are well trained in all dance disciplines, and take great pride in being part of such a successful dance team. Our dancers recognize that it takes a lot of hard work, commitment and dedication to be a competitive dancer. Our Competitive dance program is for selected dancers ages 4-19yrs in Lyrical, Contemporary, Open, Acro, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Ballet and Musical Theatre. Our students have received numerous scholarships, overalls, and dance off championships, and are known for their passion and own individual artistry.

Jo read dancers continue to be featured in stage productions, as well as movies, and TV shows such as Disney Channels Backstage. Our incredible faculty is of the highest talent with success and recognition for their innovative choreography all over the world. Our teachers participate in remarkable training programs such as Ottawas SpringBoard, are members of companies such as the Canadian company RubberbandDANCE which is currently touring Europe, as well as main faculty on the American touring dance convention INTRIGUE. We ensure our dancers receive the highest level of training in a loving, supportive, family atmosphere.