Ahead by a Century: Sept 21 & 22

Ahead by a Century: a London childhood 100 years ago
A historical OEV walking tour with pop-up dance performances
presented by the Centre of Movement Arts and the London Heritage Council

Doors Open Weekend
September 21 & 22, 2024
Tours from 11am-12:10pm
and 1-2:10pm
Meet at Queens Park!
925 Dundas St East (beside the Western Fair Market)

Tour Route Begin at Queen’s Park, walk to Carson Library, Lorne Ave Park, and return to Queen’s Park.

It’s 1924 when 7-year-old Audrey gets her first library card and opens a book to embark on a high seas adventure with her neighbourhood friends. As they sail around the world they encounter dances from far-away places and fight pirates before returning home in time for tea. 

Take a trip back in time on a historical walking tour animated with dance performances. This project tells a travelling story about the childhood of Audrey Varty (Bizz’s grandmother), who in 1924 got her first library card and embarked on a book-inspired adventure through the Old East Village with her neighbourhood friends. Directed by Bizz Varty, this site-specific dance theatre experience will feature contemporary, Flamenco and Bellydance by London artists and be performed by multi-generational dance artists alongside community volunteers.

Meet the Cast and Download the Programme

Production Team
Director and Choreographer: Bizz Varty
Production Manager: Laura Sepulveda
Flamenco Choreography & Performance: Flamenco del Sur
Bellydance Choreography & Performance: Rising Moon Bellydance
Core Cast: Samantha Sendas, Haylee Kizito, Florence Brown, Ainsley MacDonald, Millie MacDonald

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?

2020 Festival Update

Dear Dancers and Dance Fans,

Thank you for your patience while we navigate this strange new world. I’m sure you will share in our sadness, but expect you will not be surprised to hear that the 2020 London Dance Festival will not happen as planned from June 26-28.

We had hoped to announce some alternative plans for the summer, but unfortunately we must put all activities on hold at this time due to a lack of funding. Once funding is restored we intend to move forward with some great ideas that will allow us to celebrate dance within the current pandemic framework. 

If you have submitted an application for the summer festival, we will keep your submission on file and review it once we are able to start making plans again. We will be leaving all application forms open, so if you have an idea for a dance piece you are welcome to share it with us. Our social media channels will be quiet for a while, but we look forward to sharing and connecting with you again soon!

Stay safe and keep dancing,
Bizz & the LDF/CMA team

Chair Yoga Volunteers Needed

Volunteers Needed! 

The Centre of Movement Arts is looking for volunteer assistants to help Bizz teach Chair Yoga for individuals with special needs. This is a unique opportunity for yoga teachers in training and other movement/body workers to learn ways of adapting yoga for students with a wide variety of abilities.

This is an unpaid position, but there is potential for some paid work later on as a sub teacher. Interested teachers are invited to sit in on a class.

Interested? Contact Bizz directly at 226-919-8969 or email centreofmovementarts@gmail.com 

Chair Yoga for Individuals with Special Needs

Fridays 10-11am

Located at Project Hope, 1796 Adelaide St North

Class Description: This is a unique class that welcomes students with a variety of physical and mental abilities. We begin with a gentle warmup to mobilize the joints, followed by basic seated yoga poses. The class ends with meditation and massage. Solo and partner poses are done with the help of the instructor and the students’ attendant staff, and are adapted to each individual’s range of motion, strength and preferences. Bizz brings her love of music to the class by singing songs that inspire students’ movement.

This is a unique and very fun class to teach. It requires patience, compassion and a sense of humour. It is an engaging challenge to adapt poses to a variety of bodies and movement abilities. Most students are in wheelchairs or use walkers, but not all. The class includes individuals who are verbal, non-verbal, blind, with limited sight, have cerebral palsy, and other physical, mental, and developmental challenges.

Watch, Donate, Share!

Celebrate National Dance Week 2019 from April 22-29 with the London Dance Festival presented by the Centre of Movement Arts

Watch videos of amazing dances from past performances
Donate to help us bring more great dance to London this year – and earn great rewards!
Share our videos with your network and help us spread the word

Help us raise money to:

  • Bring more dance to Festival stages in 2019
  • Deliver more Dance Mob and movement workshops to the community
  • Pay professional wages to professional artists

Visit our home page or Youtube channel to see all our videos from past performances.

Click here to donate now
Donor Rewards
$10+ Your name will be listed in our programs and website for one year
$25+ Festival Temporary tattoo
$50+ Festival poster signed by all participating artists
$100 Festival T-shirt
$150 Ticket to the Awaken Summer performance with VIP seating
(choose picnic blanket or chair)
$200 A personalized Dance Mob workshop for you and up to 20 friends*
$250+ All of the above!

You can pick up your rewards at all festival events or make arrangements to pick up at a local studio.
*Available in London area. Outside of London, skype lesson can be arranged.

Videos

2017 Spring Showcase March 10, 2017 at Wolf Performance Hall https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1tQ3T8fEFRLVbPLK5hP6gc5mWLfBOLOL

2017 Community Showcase June 30, 2017 at Ivey Park featuring Spotlight Artist Tentacle Tribe https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1tQ3T8fEFRLFhH8o25BHvfzNGp4FigWI

2017 Canada Day Celebration July 1, 2017 at Harris Park featuring Spotlight Artists Ill At Will & Breath in Mvmt. Presented in partnership with London Celebrates Canada https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1tQ3T8fEFRIqtZrfS2AnW5TwOLdaTTUe

2017 Emerging Artists July 2, 2017 at Wolf Performance Hall featuring Spotlight Artist Sharon B. Moore https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1tQ3T8fEFRI5Bly7m_2v3frBUaCwcrD5

2018 Spring Showcase March 24, 2018 at Ivey Park featuring PointeTango https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1tQ3T8fEFRJSD-PMpsoqEBUEyQGVQfat

2018 Emerging Artists June 29, 2018 at Eldon House featuring Spotlight Artist Breath in Mvmt.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1tQ3T8fEFRJq_pOQfX79nljNN2VzDtRC

2018 Community Showcase June 30, 2018 at Ivey Park featuring Spotlight Artist Sound in Motion https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1tQ3T8fEFRL2eHReK-nmbO83mpqug4FA

2018 Canada Day Celebration July 1, 2018 featuring Spotlight Artists Tori Kuhn & Anahata Acro. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1tQ3T8fEFRIJpAHRP-_A7RgLCyo6s5tU

FAQs

  • Where does the money go?

The money goes directly to the Centre of Movement Arts, presenter of the London Dance Festival, and a registered non-profit (#1969121) that supports dance and movement in London. Money raised will be used to pay artists who perform in the festival and other performance events.

  • I don’t have a credit card or Paypal account, can I still donate?

Yes! We accept donations by cash, cheque, and e-transfer. Email us at info@londondancefestival.ca for more information.

  • Are there other ways to help?

Yes! You can support us by volunteering at festival events, by sharing our promotions on social media, become a sponsor, or donate in-kind goods and services. Email us at info@londondancefestival.ca for more information.

  • How can I participate in the festival?

You can apply to perform your dance work at the festival, participate in the Dance Mob workshops and performance, attend as an audience member, and more! Learn more on our website.

  • Will I get a tax receipt?

No. Unfortunately we are unable to provide tax receipts, as we are a non profit (but not a charity).