Doors Open – Swing Dance Party! Explore local history through dance! Learn basic moves of Swing, then join the dance party featuring live music by The Bettys.
September 20, 2025, 10am-2pm Queens Park (outside Western Fair Market) 925 Dundas St FREE
We’re looking for general volunteers to help with the event. Volunteers will help with set-up/cleanup, moving equipment, assisting staff and participants as needed, and will participate in the dance workshop and party to inspire audiences to join in (no experience needed). All ages and abilities are welcome!
Volunteers under the age of 16 can sign up with a parent/guardian or older sibling. These hours can be used to fulfill the high school volunteer requirements.
Celebrate Doors Open London 2025 with a one-of-a-kind Swing Dance Party! Explore local history through the joy of movement, learn the basics in Lindy Hop and West Coast Swing, then show off your new steps at a live dance party featuring live music by The Bettys.
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Location: Queens Park. 925 Dundas St, London ON (outside Western Fair Market) Admission: FREE Bring: water, sunscreen, a picnic blanket or lawn chair
This exciting event is part of the Audrey (Peck) Varty Legacy Series, honouring the traditions of swing dance and the social dances that brought people together in the 1920s and 30s.
Event Schedule
10:00 AM – Dance Demo & Storytelling 10:30 AM – Swing Workshop 11:00 AM – Dance Party with TheBettys
12:00 PM – Dance Demo & Storytelling 12:30 PM – Swing Workshop 1:00 PM – Dance Party with The Bettys
In the 1930s Audrey Peck and her friends spent many evenings dancing the night away to the sounds of Big Bands. It was on such a night that she was swept off her feet by the dancing skills of her future husband.
Now, her legacy continues with an afternoon of history, movement, and music for the entire community.
“Many people can trace their family history to connections made on a dance floor. Come try the dances that made my grandparents fall in love, and learn how these classic moves shaped the dances of future generations.” -Bizz Varty, Director, Centre of Movement Arts
Audrey Peck and Doug Varty went on their first date to a dance at Wonderland Gardens, in the summer of 1938, when Audrey was 22 and Doug was 28. Some of Audrey’s friends knew some of Doug’s, and so they were introduced. Doug was an excellent dancer and a snappy dresser. It didn’t take long after that first meeting before they were going dancing at Wonderland and the Hotel London, and some other hotspots. They were married in December 27, 1941.
Photo by Mark Spowart Dancers Olivia Zess and Ashley Wheeler
The Centre of Movement Arts is auditioning dancers ages 9-16 for an upcoming choreography project by Bizz Varty. The movement will be contemporary-based, and dancers should have at least 2 years of dance training or self study. Dancers of all styles are welcome. Dress in comfortable dance attire and shoes or bare feet.
8-10 Dancers will be chosen for the core cast of “Ahead by a Century: A London Childhood 100 years ago.” The project will involve a walking tour in Old East Village with pop up performances at specific locations. There will be four performances, two each day on September 21 and 22, at 11am and 1pm. Dancers will learn and perform approximately 15 minutes of dance during each hour-long tour.
Dancers must be available for 2-3 rehearsal sessions in July and August (dates and times TBD, most likely weekends), as well as a dress rehearsal in September (date TBD). This is an unpaid position.
Please note: All audition participants will be invited to perform in the Doors Open project, however 8-10 dancers will be chosen for lead roles. Lead dancers will have a greater time commitment for learning the dance. Later in the summer there will be a community participation workshop for non-lead dancers to learn and perform a smaller section of the choreography. This will be open to anyone with any experience and will require a smaller time commitment.
We will also be looking for parent and teen volunteers to help supervise dancers, guide audiences on the tour and generally help out with the event.
Questions? Email bizzvarty@gmail.com.
More info on the project coming soon…. stay tuned!
We are encouraging all local dance artists to send their submissions for this year’s festival, taking place between June 30-July 2. 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. *Deadline for submissions is June 1st, EXTENDED TO JUNE 5 2023
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!
Forest City Nature Experience & Centre of Movement Arts present
A play-based, child-led, movement-rich, fully-outdoor, fun & educational nature immersion experience led by forest school practitioner and certified naturalist Nina Sampson and movement educator Bizz Varty.
Caregivers will follow their kids on an adventure through the various ecosystems in Gibbons Park. Nina and Bizz will provide invitations, tools and skills to deepen participants’ understanding of the natural world. Aimed at ages 3-9, but all ages are welcome! Pre-registration required, sign up here.
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.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED Please stay tuned for a new date
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!
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
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.
Please note that masks are mandatory in all classes and 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 us for details. Payments can be made by e-transfer or through our website.
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.
A class for experienced dancers to train with professional teachers in a variety of dance styles. Keep your body in tune and learn about dance culture and history with a weekly technique class taught by an expert in their field. You do not need to have training in the style being offered, however it will be assumed that students have advanced-level movement skills and body awareness. Join other experienced movers and learn something new! The classes will be hosted on Zoom each Tuesday from 12:15-1:30pm.
For the month of March, each class is just $5. Sign up for all 5 classes for just $25! Payments are accepted by e-transfer, please email us to register. We do not want to exclude anyone, if you want to participate and this fee is beyond your means, please reach out.
We’re looking for more teachers! Send us a description of your work and the class you would like to teach at info@centreofmovementarts.ca
