About Us
MISSION STATEMENT
FFDN is Toronto’s premier professional international dance festival that exists to break boundaries and remove barriers.
With pluralism and affordability at its core, FFDN celebrates, nurtures and amplifies established and emerging Canadian dance artists, creates global connections, and inspires future audiences to sustain the artform.
VALUES
PLURALISM & EQUITY
FFDN is committed to advancing pluralism* in the artform by building authentic, trust-based relationships with the broadly diverse artists and curatorial voices that shape our future. We are guided by the conviction that dance is for everyone and that the FFDN festival can offer affordable, inclusive and accessible entertainment. By bringing international dance to Toronto and Canadian dance to the world, we transcend borders, and create dialogue through this universal form of expression.
NURTURE & AMPLIFY
FFDN believes in the future of dance and the potential of artists. We nurture artists by commissioning original works, presenting emerging and established artists together on the same program, and establishing year-round residency and mentorship opportunities. We nurture audiences through our educational programming, including artists talks and podcasts, feature articles, and school programs. Our international connections and professional development programs amplify Canadian talent globally, while our festival experience generates audiences for professional dance throughout the year.
CELEBRATE & SUSTAIN
The FFDN festival is anticipated by audiences annually as an intergenerational, intercultural celebration of movement that brings down the house. By cultivating diverse partnerships with dance organizations and presenters, curatorial voices, venues, art service organizations and educational institutions we strengthen, enrich and celebrate the vibrant dance ecology of Toronto and of Canada.
*What is Pluralism?
"Diversity in society is a universal fact; how societies respond to diversity is a choice. Pluralism is a positive response to diversity. Pluralism involves taking decisions and actions, as individuals and societies, that are grounded in respect for diversity." (definition taken from Global Centre for Pluralism https://www.pluralism.ca/ )
When Artistic Director Ilter Ibrahimof first pitched the idea of Fall for Dance North to presenter Mark Hammond it was unimaginable that dance programming could fill the 3,200 seats at the Sony Centre (now Meridian Hall). Toronto audiences had forgotten what it is to be moved by physical expression. But the FFDN concept - mixed bills that include large-scale international companies for a supremely affordable ticket price, as a way to grow the audience for dance in Toronto - captured Mark’s imagination. He committed the Sony Centre as a co-presenting partner, providing venue, production and marketing support, so long as Ilter could create an organization, formalize a board, generate the funds and program the event.
Ilter quickly gathered his core team. Madeleine Skoggard, then Sony Centre Program Manager, enthusiastically joined Ilter as co-founder and Executive Director, and Michael Caldwell, acclaimed Toronto dance artist and choreographer, came on as Artistic Producer.
Modeled on the New York festival, running at New York City Center since 2004 – and with the blessing of then City Center President and CEO Arlene Shuler – Fall for Dance North (FFDN) launched in 2015 on passion and faith.
Aligned with the start of the fall performance season, FFDN aims to whet Toronto’s dance appetite and inspire audiences to seek out more dance throughout the year. Capturing Toronto’s attention as a sold out, three night, gala-style phenomenon in 2015, FFDN grew by its 5th anniversary in 2019 to encompass two venues - Meridian Hall and The Theatre @The Creative School (formerly Ryerson Theatre) - for 6 mainstage performances, with additional public engagement in Union Station’s heritage West Wing.
Audiences returned ecstatic ovations annually for performances by major international companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Grupo Corpo; high profile commissions by Peggy Baker (fractured black) and Rob Binet (Children of Chaos); emerging dancemakers Sandra Laronde and Jera Wolfe (Adizokan), Natasha Bakht (786), Alysa Pires (MAMBO); and unexpected treasures by Wang Ramirez (AP15), Crystal Pite (A Picture of You Falling), Ukrainian Shumka Dancers (Classic Hopak), Charles Moulton (72-Person Ball Passing), Michelle Dorrance (SOUNDspace), Ohad Naharin (Minus 16, Atlanta Ballet), and Compagnie Hervé KOUBI (What the Day Owes to the Night). In just five years, FFDN had restored Toronto’s place on the international dance scene.
Buoyed by the 5th anniversary celebrations and ambitiously working toward future expansion, we were all shocked by the force with which the COVID pandemic slammed the door on our plans. But perhaps it is no coincidence that 2020’s word of the year, “pivot”, is also a dance term. The dance community, including FFDN, stepped into digital creation and offered hope and inspiration, at a time when it was needed most. The FFDN 2020 digital festival, The Flip Side, positioned itself as the cool alternative to a #1 hit, delivering a more personal view of the art form through new, original content and, in particular, highlighting Toronto-based artists. FFDN paid over 80 artists for their work at a time when most performance gigs were lost. We commissioned 6 new pieces for livestream; entered the world of podcasts with Mambo, co-hosted by Nicole Inica Hamilton; created original content such as in[verse], poetry readings by internationally renowned dancers with music by Canadian cellist Arlen Hlusko, and A Gathering, a new film by dance artist/filmmaker Bobbi Jene Smith with dance students from TMU’s Creative School. FFDN also proactively expanded partnerships with our colleague organizations to share resources and expertise.
By 2021, the adventure and experimentation necessitated by the pandemic’s early days laid the foundation for FFDN’s expanding reach. FFDN harnessed new possibilities for digital content in June 2021 with the film release of TESSEL, a national initiative conceptualized by Dora-nominated choreographer and dancemaker Esie Mensah that features the stories of 14 pioneering Black artists from across Canada and explores the complexities of diverse movement and voice as a form of resilience. As lead commissioners and co-executive producers, FFDN brought together Harbourfront Centre and an unprecedented 19 national co-presenters to support Esie’s curation and creation, giving the film a cross-Canada digital audience.
A new hybrid vision - digital and in-person - began to emerge by fall 2021. The 7th FFDN festival featured five mainstage digital performances that established a cross-Canada and international following - viewers from 32 countries in 2021! And returned to in-person programming by boldly launching an outdoor performance series, Heirloom, beyond the GTA. Acclaimed Canadian film director Barbara Wills Sweete expertly captured the essence of live performance for marquee livestreams. Vikram Dasgupta joined FFDN as Renette and David Berman Filmmaker-in-Residence and brought his exceptional cinematic eye to FFDN’s international 2021 Signature Program, shot on location in India, Cuba and the UK, as well as to our season-opening livestream of Côté Danse’s X(Dix). John and Claudine Bailey Artists-in-Residence Natasha Powell (Holla Jazz, Toronto) and Kimberley Cooper (Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Calgary) collaborated on a public photo exhibition with augmented reality features that returned FFDN to Union Station and began developing new commissions for in-person performance in 2022. Season Two of Mambo went behind the scenes with festival artists. FFDN helped revitalize Toronto’s streets with free performances of Together Again, a Natasha Powell original developed through FFDN’s continuing partnership with The Creative School at TMU. In all, FFDN created paid work in 2021 for 275 artists and behind the scenes arts workers.
Despite adversity, FFDN never lost the passion and faith that made the first festival a reality. In 2022, we returned to theatres full-scale, presenting the work of John and Claudine Bailey Artists-in-Residence Natasha Powell, Margarita, and Kimberley Cooper, Family of Jazz, together on a double bill tribute to jazz, followed by a big band dance party on the TMU stage under the musical direction of Rubim de Toledo. The 2022 Signature Programme opened with the long-awaited 2020 FFDN original tap commission by Diane Montgomery, Softly Losing, Softly Gaining, and concluded with Jera Wolfe’s monumental work, Arise, performed by 144 professional students from Canada’s National Ballet School. FFDN launched a new dance short film series, 8-Count, with two in-person screenings followed by free release on our website. The Canada-USA dance collective Indigenous Enterprise brought their contemporary take on traditional Indigenous dances, in full regalia, to the TMU stage and the Canadian Opera Company lunch series at the Four Seasons Centre with Indigenous Liberation. Night Shift, a pre-pandemic off-festival program of original works returned in-person again as part of the festival in partnership with Citadel + Compagnie. FFDN presented the Toronto premiere of the documentary Crystal Pite: Angels’ Atlas in partnership with the National Ballet of Canada.
Outside the festival and in spring 2023, FFDN launched its first commercial audio album with a newly recorded and expanded in[verse], produced by Bright Shiny Things (NYC). As of spring 2024, the album had 3.5M streams on Spotify. FFDN also supported the Toronto premiere of Wen Wei Wang’s Ballet Edmonton presented by DanceWorks. Marquee TV is now the official streaming partner of FFDN with a growing catalog of FFDN creations available on its renowned international streaming service.
The 2023 festival presented two Signature Programmes; the work of dancemakers from 8 countries; FFDN’s first full-evening presentation, Kamuyot, by Ohad Naharin performed by Charlotte Ballet (USA); and the inaugural Tkaronto Open, an Indigenous dance competition, at Union Station. Mthuthuzeli November (UK and South Africa) and Siphesihle November made their live premiere performance of their 2021 FFDN original commission, My Mother’s Son, as part of the Signature Programme: UNBOWED. Gibney Company, NYC’s rising contemporary ensemble, presented two works, Bliss by Johan Inger (Sweden) and Oh Courage! by Tony-award winning Sonya Tayeh. Ballet BC made their festival return after 8 years with Heart Drive from Dutch artist duo and siblings Imre and Marne van Opstal. Pulga Muchochoma performed his Dora Award winning Mascara. Ballet Black (UK) brought the house down with NINA: By Whatever Means to close the festival.
As we prepare our 2024 season, we look to the future with optimism and a dedication to further innovation. The 2022-2024 Strategic Roadmap has guided FFDN towards the upcoming 10th anniversary celebrations in 2024 made stronger by new partnerships, new curatorial voices, and a dance audience that grows with us. We continue to nurture emerging artists, spark new collaborations, commission new work, deepen our education program, and develop our international presenters network. And throughout, we work to demonstrate our foundational belief in the absolute beauty of pluralism in our art form.
Our first festival was praised for its energy: “It felt like the audience’s collective enthusiasm and joy would blow the roof off the Sony Centre.” We have been twice named by the Globe and Mail as a cultural event of the year. And in 2021, a dance critic remarked, “As this festival inevitably always does, it gave us new perspectives and cracked open the world of dance a little more.” Existing to break boundaries and remove barriers, FFDN is proud to be Toronto’s premier professional international dance festival.
Fall for Dance North is a year-round village, strengthened and supported by a bright constellation of accomplished seasonal additions. The expertise, creativity, passion and hard work of our permanent and seasonal staff, partners, collaborators, dedicated board and volunteers combine to nurture and realize festivals of astounding beauty, annually.
Year-Round Staff
In 2022 I had the opportunity to work on the Fall For Dance North seasonal team as a Community Arts Coordinator. Creating accessible opportunities for anyone to experience the arts is something I am deeply passionate about. It was incredibly fulfilling to work alongside like-minded individuals, working toward one common goal. Following the 2022 festival, I desired to work with FFDN in a greater capacity and given my passion for arts education, the Education and Residency Coordinator felt more than right. It is a privilege to be working with such an incredible organization that is dedicated to serving and being leaders in the community.
- Faith Buchanan
Education & Residency Coordinator
2024 Seasonal Staff
My experience with FFDN over the course of the last few years has been incredibly enriching. My relationship with the organization began through an internship that turned into an official role as Festival Coordinator. The team welcomed me with open arms, and being surrounded by such dedicated and inspiring individuals makes the experience so much more meaningful. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to facilitate impactful and accessible artistic experiences through dance, and to be part of an organization that aligns with my personal values and passions.
- Leah Totten
Festival Coordinator
Year Round Collaborators
Web Development and Graphic Design Team Mouth Media
Publicity & Communications Murray Patterson Marketing Group
Financial Services Robert Gore and Associates
Board of Directors
Chair Valerie Wilder
Past Chair Joan Lozinski, O.C.
Philanthropist
Treasurer Gerry Hannochko
Advising Representative (Portfolio Manager), Dealing Representative - Qwest Investment Fund Management Ltd.
Aleksandar Antonijevic
Fine Art Photographer, Teacher, Coach and Stager of Ballets
Peggy Baker, C.M., O.Ont, L.L.D, D.Litt
Dancer, Choreographer, Educator, Artist-in-Residence, Canada's National Ballet School
Marah Braye
Arts Executive
Erin Eizenman
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, MaRS Discovery District
Tanya Howard
Former First Soloist, The National Ballet of Canada
Jim Hwang
Chief Operating Officer, Firinne Capital
Emma Sako
Senior Associate, Torys LLP
Amanda Song
The Globe and Mail, Brand Partnership Manager
Karen Sparks
Director, Philanthropic Advisory Services BMO Private Wealth
Zdenko Teply
Director, Strategic Transactions & Review, Scotiabank
As FFDN begins the next exciting phase of its development, it is important that we continue to be guided by a Board-approved plan that supports the artistic vision and course for the festival; however, FFDN acknowledges the ever-changing landscape as the pandemic’s impact continues to unfold. We are therefore pursuing a Strategic Roadmap 2022-2024 that will keep us focused on the destination while allowing for alternate routes.
Often, it is those you meet along the way that enhance the journey. Individuals and organizations inspired to partner with us are invited to open a conversation by submitting an inquiry to info@ffdnorth.com.
PROCESS
FFDN Board Member Julia Blackburn led a review of the Strategic Plan 2019 - 2021 and the development of the Strategic Roadmap 2022 - 2024, with input from:
- The Strategic Planning Committee: Valerie Wilder, Gerry Hannochko, Ilter Ibrahimof, Aviva Fleising and Melissa Forstner
- Full FFDN staff
- Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario
- Rotman OnBoard Fellow, Camilla Zhou
- FFDN Finance Committee, and
- FFDN auditors, Adams & Miles LLP
The Roadmap’s development drew upon FFDN’s founding mandate and history, the emerging importance of hybrid presentation, and FFDN’s recognized responsibility to include and amplify diverse voices in the dance artform. The Strategic Roadmap 2022 - 2024, along with an updated Mission Statement and Values received Board approval on June 27, 2022.
GOALS
The Roadmap sets forth five goals in support of our mission:
- Develop a hybrid festival model: Find the balance between in-person and digital delivery.
- Integrate core values of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility into all parts of the organization - audience, board, committees, staff, curatorial voices & programming.
- Continue to build organizational capacity, including information technology.
- Expand national reach and place by investing in a robust associate artist/residency program (launching in 2022 or 2023) and a national showcase platform.
- Advance the organization’s profile and financial stability.
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
The Roadmap will be supported by a disciplined budget with conservative growth through 2024:
Progress towards the Roadmap’s goals will be systematically evaluated by the FFDN Board annually and any necessary adjustments made.
Are you looking for fulfilling work in the arts? Want to meaningfully help enhance the profile of Toronto’s Premier International Dance Festival?
We hire a number of seasonal staff for our festival each fall, as well as offer other paid opportunities throughout the year. As we grow, we seek creative, collaborative, and hard-working individuals with unique skills and experiences to strengthen our small but mighty team.
Are you a dance-lover, arts advocate, adventure seeker, community builder, or simply looking to meet new people and connect meaningfully with the arts in Toronto?
As a not-for-profit charitable organization, Fall for Dance North depends on the enthusiastic support of volunteers to help make the festival happen! We provide opportunities for volunteers (age 18+) to gain new skills, develop a social network, and represent the FFDN brand while directly engaging with our audiences.
Thank you to our 2024 Volunteers!
Applications are now closed, please sign up for our newsletter by emailing volunteers@ffdnorth.com to be notified about future opportunities to volunteer in 2025
Although the majority of volunteer opportunities take place during the festival, we have additional opportunities to get involved throughout the year.
Volunteer Benefits
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Are you a student currently or planning to become enrolled in post-secondary studies in either Fine Arts, Arts Administration, Business, Communications, Marketing or a similar field?
Internship opportunities with FFDN provide a hands-on introduction to the inner workings of a tightly knit performing arts organization. We are committed to providing interns with one-on-one guidance and mentorship in exchange for course credit. Generally, internships run during the spring semester March-June. Internships that fall outside of this period may be considered on a case by case basis. Please contact us at least one month prior to your expected internship start date to ensure we are able to accommodate.
If you are passionate about the arts and eager to be part of a fun and dynamic team, we encourage you to reach out to us. Alternatively, please consult with your student advisor or internship coordinator, as an internship opportunity with FFDN may already be available directly through your study program. To inquire about internship opportunities, please email FFDN General Manager, Aviva Fleising at gm@ffdnorth.com.