2022 LDF Call to Artists

Photo by Jason Sunio. LDF 2021 Windows of Time

The London Dance Festival is pleased to announce a call to local artists for the 2022 Festival, taking place between June 30-July 3.

Dance artists of all ages, career stages and styles are welcome to apply. 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 any questions. The deadline for submissions is June 1st, 2022

APPLY HERE: https://forms.gle/m9VwrkJbdh9pNJGb8

This Saturday April 30!

The Centre of Movement Arts is proud to present the premiere screening of:

Cleanse, Heal, Bookend. by La Compagnie de Danse
“The Beach Show” Film Screening
Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 7:00 PM
Wolf Performance Hall
Tickets $15 www.onstagedirect.com/lacompagniededanse
Followed by a Q&A with the artists, facilitated by Bizz Varty

Filmed on location at Port Stanley beach in 2021, this full-length dance work explores the elements of grief and growth through storytelling. All of the artists involved were provided the opportunity to share personal stories from their perspective in a safe space that welcomed dancers to be raw vulnerability without fear of judgment. The result is a deeply moving piece that will take audiences on an emotional journey.

“Collectively, we created a show exploring the Grieving process. Based on everyone’s individual stories, this experience allowed us to see others, witness their stories, and be seen.”

Dancers: Alicia Raphael, Allan Pao, Alli Robb, Christina Tsaltas, Clara Gharibo, Dana Hambly, Jordan Lenz, Julie Mytka, Justine Strokan, Karishma Hosein, Kevin Clements, Michelle Kim, Nicola Popp, Shannon Filson, Stephanie Marentette,Yuan Sui

Artistic Director & Choreographer: Cynthia Aguiar

Learn More!

Call for Dance Month Proposals

Los Aires by Jason Sunio, Dancer: Larissa Medeiros

Call for Dance Month Proposals

Want to offer a workshop, performance, artist talk, or other event for Dance Month? 

We’ll be presenting pop-up events throughout April, and are looking for ideas with a budget of $50-$250.

Got an idea? Send us the following in an email:

  • Biography of artist/company (100 words max)
  • Budget (tell us who you’re paying and for what)
  • Description of event:
    • What will you do?
    • Where will it happen?
    • For how long?
    • Who will watch and/or participate (age, experience)?
    • Why will people love it?

February Community Check-In & Restorative Class


School of Hip Hop, 760 Little Simcoe St. (Free Parking, wheelchair inaccessible)

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED Please stay tuned for a new date

Join us for a casual chat about the state of dance in London. We’ll start with a movement session to get grounded and in sync (approx 45 mins). Then you’re invited to share your thoughts, feelings, ideas, and feedback, and connect with other local dance artists. FREE and open to everyone.

We’re taking the Check-In & Class on tour this year, stopping at dance studios all around town. Get in touch if you’d like us to come to your organization!

PLUS Make Your Mark to End Racism
In partnership with 519 School of Hip Hop, we invite members of the London dance community to brainstorm a collaborative art project to present at the awards ceremony of LUSO’s  “Make Your Mark to End Racism” annual video contest. The ceremony will take place on March 21 to commemorate The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and will be hosted by Leroy Hibbert of LUSO Community Services. The filming will take place in early March but all are welcome to contribute their ideas and be part of the conversation during the Community Check-In.

December 19: Event Cancelled

We regret to inform that due to the new COVID-19 restrictions we will be postponing tomorrow’s workshop and community check-in event at O.N.E. Stay tuned for new dates coming in the new year. Thank you for supporting dance in the city. Take care and stay safe 🩰

Fall 2021 Classes & Workshops

We’re excited to launch a series of workshops exploring different ways dancing bodies can move. We’ve deconstructed the “typical” dance class into three components: Tuning In, Tuning Up, and Restorative Movement. All classes are open to all levels, but some experience is recommended for the Tune Up sessions. These classes will temporarily replace the Technique Tuesday series while we work out what classes and workshops to offer in 2022.

Masks are mandatory in all classes.
Pre-registration is required. 
Pricing: $20/class or 10 for $150 (HST included). (Passes must be used within 1 year of purchase.) Sliding scale pricing available – please email for details.
Payments: can be made by etransfer or through our website.

DateTimeEventLocationNotes
Sun November 2111am-1pmTune In &
Dance Community Check-In
SHHFREE today!
Sat November 2711am-12pmJoy of MovementSIM
Sat November 2712:30-2pmTune InSIM
Fri December 34:30-6pmTune InSHH
Sat December 411am-12pmJoy of MovementSIM
Sat December 412:30-2pmTune Up SIM
Fri December 104:30-6pmTune Up SHH
Sat December 1111am-12pmJoy of MovementSIM
Sat December 1112:30-2pmRestorativeSIM
Sat December 1811am-12pmJoy of MovementSIM
Sat December 1812:30-2pmTune InSIM
Sun December 1911am-1pmRestorative &
Dance Community Check-In
O.N.E.CANCELLED

Locations
Sound in Motion (SIM), 1444 Glenora Drive
Free Parking, Wheelchair accessible

519 School of Hip Hop (SHH), 760 Little Simcoe Street
Free Parking, not wheelchair accessible

Class Descriptions 

Tune In
Get to know your body. Tune in and become grounded, centered, aware.
No experience necessary. Open to all levels, aimed at adults, ages 14+ welcome.

Tune Up
Make friends with your body. Tune up your instrument’s strength and range of motion.
Some dance experience would be helpful (see full description). 
Open to all movement backgrounds, aimed at adults, ages 14+ welcome.

Restorative Movement
Self-care for dancers, dance teachers, movement and bodywork practitioners. 
Bring your sore, tired body and make it feel better.
Open to all levels, aimed at adults, ages 14+ welcome.

Joy of Movement
Have fun and get a little silly as you stretch, sweat, dance & sing!
No experience necessary. Open to all ages and abilities. 
Studio is wheelchair-accessible, and all movements can be done seated. 

Dance Community Check-In
Join us for a casual chat about the state of dance in London. We’ll start with a gentle movement session to get grounded and in sync (approx 45 mins). Then you’re invited to share your thoughts, feelings, ideas, and feedback, and connect with other local dance artists. Free and open to everyone.

Register Now!

Meet the Teacher

Photo by Jason Sunio

*Bizz will teach all the pre-holiday workshops, and if they are successful we’ll add new teachers to the roster in January.

Elizabeth “Bizz” Varty is a dance artist, educator and arts manager. Her signature blend of movement education draws from ballet, modern, and contemporary dance forms, somatic practices, yoga, pilates. Her classes typically include big laughs and great music. She invites you to discover the joy of moving with awareness and ease. Bizz is the founder and director of the Centre of Movement Arts, presenter of the London Dance Festival. She’s been teaching dance and other moves for more than 20 years. She holds a BFA in dance from York U, and is a certified Yoga and Pilates teacher. 

Annual London Dance Festival is Back!

Join us for an exciting, free, LIVE dance event in Ivey Park. Learn new moves in all-levels workshops, then see London’s talented dance artists perform on nature’s stage. We’re also looking for volunteers to help out at the event. Connect with us on our social media channels @ldndancefest so you don’t miss a thing! 

This year registration is required: http://londondancefestival.ca/ldf-2021-festival. Masks must be worn to enter the event site, but may be taken off once you are safely two meters from others in a designated audience or participant space. London Dance Festival is brought to you by the Centre of Movement Arts, a non-profit celebrating dance and movement in the Forest City.

This event is FREE but donations are gratefully accepted!

LDF 2021 Call to Artists Deadline

The London Dance Festival is pleased to announce we have a date and venue for an outdoor performance and workshops: September 18 in Ivey Park. The workshops will happen in the late afternoon (approx. 4-6pm) and the performance in the early evening (approx. 6pm). There will be a technical rehearsal in the early afternoon (approx. 1-4pm). The film screening date has not been set, it will be announced shortly.

Dance artists of all ages, career stages, and styles are welcome to apply (we will be in touch with all previous applicants, there is no need to re-apply)Please tell us as much as you can about your proposed dance performance, film or workshop, and get in touch at info@londondancefestival.ca if you have questions.

*Deadline for submissions is September 1, 2021*

Read More about the requirements Here
Questions? Email us at info@londondancefestival.ca

Apply Here: https://forms.gle/5pS5aiSQrKLiVKen6