Letter from Ilter Ibrahimof

The 2024 festival feels very personal to me and bittersweet. Our curation welcomes back familiar festival faces, such as FFDN’s first ever Artist-in-Residence Anne Plamondon, and presents companies new to the festival, such as Cuba’s Malpaso Dance Company, with whom I have had a close relationship for a long time. It will be a joy to share these dance experiences with you. This decade of my life with FFDN is one I will always treasure. 

I am forever grateful to the FFDN Board and Chair Valerie Wilder for understanding my desire to be closer to home and supporting my decision to step away. Their generous energy and attention toward securing the next leadership is assuring that this festival will be in good hands. As founding artistic director, that means a tremendous amount.

I am truly honoured that Joan and Jerry Lozinski have stepped forward as Season Sponsors in 2024 and are leading the Dancing Forward campaign that will support the festival’s future. Joan and Jerry immediately embraced my vision in 2015. They have helped nurture FFDN as a celebration of dance, one that has impacted Toronto’s arts and culture scene. I hope that everyone who loves dance will join them in keeping FFDN Dancing Forward.

I also want to take a moment to recognize the FFDN year-round and seasonal staff. The festival is possible because of their ceaseless drive and desire to live in a world that values the performing arts. This belief is supported by a dedicated community of wonderful festival volunteers, many of whom have been with us from the beginning. Each of you means so much to me. Each of you is creating the intangible something that makes a city hum.

Finally, thank you to our audience. By attending FFDN, you are a part of this festival. Your excitement and passion for dance infuses the programming and inspires the future. We would not be here in our 10th anniversary without you. 

Looking back on FFDN, I am moved in countless ways. There are so many more dance memories to be made this year. Plan your 2024 festival, buy your tickets now, and join me in immersing yourself in dance!

Ilter Ibrahimof

Artistic Director
Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic