Mambo

When the founding Artistic Director of Fall for Dance North,  and of course the co-host of Mambo!, Ilter Ibrahimof  announced that he was leaving the organization after 10 glorious years, one of the most important questions that arose was: Who would take over the reins and drive the mission and vision of the festival forward? A Transition Committee was formed by FFDN's Board of Directors and Martin Bragg & Associates was engaged to help with the international search. What emerged at the end was closer to home than anyone could have imagined. In July 2024,  Lily Sutherland, the festival's current Executive Producer, and Robert Binet, who has had multiple roles with The National Ballet of Canada, were announced as the new co-leaders. Take in this intimate interview that we recorded with Ilter, Lily and Rob discussing FFDN's global connections, what occurred when Ilter decided to step down, and approaches to both individual and collective styles of leadership. Lily Sutherland and Robert Binet will officially start their new roles with FFDN in November 2024.-The 10th anniversary season of Fall for Dance North festival runs September 26th to October 6th 2024, with both free and ticketed in-person events presented in multiple venues through downtown Toronto. Visit ffdnorth.com for more info and to purchase tickets.This episode of Mambo was produced and designed by Amber Downie-Back, with help from Milana Glumicic. Mambo's original theme music and soundscape was created by Johnny Spence.

Imagine exploring gravity, cultures, and the creation of a new world - on Mars. Now imagine gathering some of the world's best tap dancers from Canada, Japan, the United States, and Australia to go on that journey with you. What questions would you ask? Where would the rhythm of collective bodies lead? With the world premiere of  The Mars Project, Toronto based dancemaker Travis Knights has choreographed such an odyssey. He explores community, care, abundance and joy. Gravity, still in play, is in all aspects even lighter. Travis asks, “what would it be like to tap dance on Mars?”. We sat down with Travis in his home studio to discuss how exactly he will be taking us to Mars, the intersection of tap, music and aerial work, and the fabulous music that is being composed and performed live for The Mars Project. The Mars Project by Travis Knights is performed from October 4th to 6th at The Creative School Chrysalis.-The 10th anniversary season of Fall for Dance North festival runs September 26th to October 6th 2024, with both free and ticketed in-person events presented in multiple venues through downtown Toronto. The Mars Project by Travis Knights is performed from October 4th to 6th  at The Creative School Chrysalis. Visit ffdnorth.com for more info and to purchase tickets.This episode of Mambo was produced and designed by Amber Downie-Back, with help from Milana Glumicic. Mambo's original theme music and soundscape was created by Johnny Spence.

Based in Canada's capital city Ottawa, Propeller Dance is a leading company that celebrates Disability Pride, joy, and culture.  At the core of the company's work is the belief that dance is for all people, and as wide a breadth of expression as possible is of value. A ground-breaking moment in the Canadian dance landscape, Propeller Dance's double-bill production ‘Waiting in the Wings No More' will have its Toronto premiere at the 10th annual festival, combining two distinct but connected dance creations. We sat down with Propeller's interim artistic director Amelia Rose Griffin and founding ensemble member Liz Winkelaar to discuss beginnings of the company, what ‘Waiting in the Wings No More' reveals about the complexities of rejection and belonging, and the importance of their upcoming Toronto performances in collaboration with The Disability Collective. Waiting in the Wings No More' by Propeller Dance is performed from October 4th to 6th at the Betty Oliphant Theatre.Visit ffdnorth.com for more info and to purchase tickets.-The 10th anniversary season of Fall for Dance North festival runs September 26th to October 6th 2024, with both free and ticketed in-person events presented in multiple venues through downtown Toronto. Waiting in the Wings No More by Propeller Dance is performed from October 4th to 6th at the Betty Oliphant Theatre.This episode of Mambo was produced and designed by Amber Downie-Back, with help from Milana Glumicic. Mambo's original theme music and soundscape was created by Johnny Spence. Thanks for listening.

In Alyssa Martin's new full-length creation Big Time Miss a group of funny people are forced to dissolve their clownish selves in favour of their lush emotional interiors, as they navigate the turbulence of their real lives. A multi-Dora Award winner, Alyysa is best known for her tongue-in-cheek approach to dance making. She creates stage works that demand that you not look away, despite feeling unsure of what it is you are looking at. She and her ensemble approach all that they do with high-energy mischief and deep consideration for the audiences who come to play. We sat down with Alyssa to discuss the inspirations behind Big Time Miss, history of Rock Bottom Movement and intersections of memory. -The 10th anniversary season of Fall for Dance North festival runs September 26th to October 6th 2024, with both free and ticketed in-person events presented in multiple venues through downtown Toronto. Big Time Miss by Alyssa Martin is performed by Rock Bottom Movement is performed from October 2nd to 5th at the Betty Oliphant Theatre.Visit ffdnorth.com for more info and to purchase tickets.-This episode of Mambo was produced and designed by Amber Downie-Back, with help from Milana Glumicic. Mambo's original theme music and soundscape was created by Johnny Spence. Additional music from Big Time Miss played in this episode was composed by Semiah and Jacob Vanderham.  

Sir Wayne McGregor is a multi-award winning British choreographer and director, internationally renowned for his innovative performance works that have radically redefined dance in the modern era. For Fall for Dance North's 10th anniversary season he brings his renowned work Autobiography to Toronto. Autobiography is dance in the ballet lineage merged with McGregor's genetic code and AI. The 23 sections of movement representing 23 chromosomes of the human genome are fed into an algorithm based on McGregor's DNA data, which randomly selects sections to create a new version of the work each time it's performed. We sat down with Sir Wayne to discuss the inspirations behind Autobiography, how his dancers adapt to the way the piece evolves as it tours and where he thinks the potential of bringing advanced technology and dance together is headed. Autobiography, versions 98 and 99, are performed by Company Wayne McGregor on October 1st and 2nd at The Creative School Chrysalis.Learn more at ffdnorth.com and get tickets. -The 10th anniversary season of Fall for Dance North festival runs September 26th to October 6th 2024, with both free and ticketed in-person events presented in multiple venues through downtown Toronto. Autobiography, versions 98 and 99, are performed by Company Wayne McGregor on October 1st and 2nd at The Creative School Chrysalis.This episode of Mambo was produced and designed by Amber Downie Back, with help from Milana Glumicic. Mambo's original theme music and soundscape was created by Johnny Spence.

The 9th annual Fall for Dance North festival runs September 26th to October 7th 2023, with both free and ticketed in-person and digital events. Catch a sneak peek of Swan Song at Fall for Dance North, on Tuesday October 3rd, at Toronto's Meridian Hall. This special event is co-presented with TO Live, in partnership with CBC Arts and The National Ballet of CanadaVisit  ffdnorth.com for more info and tickets.This episode of Mambo was produced by Johnny Spence and Ben Whiteley, with help from Milana Glumicic. This episode featured music by Katie Stelmanis from the original score for Swan Song. Our theme music is by Johnny Spence.Thanks for listening.

The 9th annual Fall for Dance North festival runs September 26th to October 7th 2023, with both free and ticketed in-person and digital events. Gibney Company performs OH COURAGE! as part of the UNBOWED: Signature Programme 2 on October 6th and 7th, at Toronto's Meridian Hall, co-presented with TO LiveVisit ffdnorth.com for more info and to purchase tickets for the mainstage presentations.This episode of Mambo was produced by Johnny Spence and Ben Whiteley, with help from Milana Glumicic. This episode featured music by The Bengsons from the original score for Oh Courage. Our theme music is by Johnny Spence.Thanks for listening.

The 9th annual Fall for Dance North festival runs September 26th to October 7th 2023, with both free and ticketed in-person and digital events. Tkaronto Open is a free event, co-presented with Union, and will take place on September 30th at Union Station's West Wing. Doors open at 10am with the competition starting at noon. Visit ffdnorth.com for more info.This episode of Mambo was produced by Johnny Spence and Ben Whiteley, with help from Milana Glumicic. Our theme music is by Johnny Spence.Thanks for listening.

The 9th annual Fall for Dance North festival runs September 26th to October 7th 2023, with both free and ticketed in-person and digital events. Pulga Muchochoma will perform as part of the HEARTBEATS: Signature Programme 1 on October 4th and 5th, at Toronto's Meridian Hall, co-presented with TO LiveVisit ffdnorth.com for more info and to purchase tickets for the mainstage presentations.This episode of Mambo was produced by Johnny Spence and Ben Whiteley, with help from Milana Glumicic. Our theme music is by Johnny Spence.Thanks for listening.

 The 9th annual Fall for Dance North festival runs September 26th to October 7th 2023, with both free and ticketed in-person and digital events.Tkaronto Open is a free event, co-presented with Union, and will take place on September 30th at Union Station's West Wing. Doors open at 10am with the competition starting at noon.Visit ffdnorth .com for more info.This episode of Mambo was produced by Johnny Spence and Ben Whiteley, with help from Milana Glumicic.Our theme music is by Johnny Spence.Thanks for listening.

Stanford Makishi, Vice President of Programming at New York City Center for Fall For Dance NY, guides us through an enthralling conversation with one of Hawaii's most esteemed Hula choreographers and educators, Kaleo Trinidad.They talk about the history of Hula, the Merrie Monarch Festival, the sweet smell of sandalwood, and the central importance of story.Kaleo's group from Honolulu, Ka Leo O Laka | Ka Hikina O Ka La, performs as part of a mixed evening in FFDN's ARISE: 2022 Signature Programme at Meridian Hall, on Oct 6-8. -The 8th annual Fall for Dance North festival runs September 17th to October 8th 2022, with both free and ticketed in-person and digital events. Kau Hea A Hiiaka by Kaleo Trinidad, performed by the renown Hula group Ka Leo O Laka is part of our Signature Program at Meridian Hall. These evenings will take dance enthusiasts on a journey through artforms and cultures with four dance pieces by four exciting dancemakers on the festival's largest stage.Visit ffdnorth.com for more info and tickets.This episode of Mambo was produced by Johnny Spence and Kattie Laur, with help from Milana Glumicic.Our theme music is by Johnny Spence.Thanks for listening.

Tap performers and choreographers Dianne Montgomery and Michela Marino Lerman meet virtually for a conversation that begins by discussing each of their latest works, before venturing deeper into the heart of their creative processes.They speak of the challenge of caring for oneself whilst exploring new creative horizons, and the importance of being grounded by ones daily practice and the simple act of dancing.Dianne's FFDN commissioned new work Softly Losing, Softly Gaining as part of a mixed evening in FFDN's ARISE: 2022 Signature Programme at Meridian Hall, on Oct 6-8. -The 8th annual Fall for Dance North festival runs September 17th to October 8th 2022, with both free and ticketed in-person and digital events. Softly Losing, Softly Gaining has its world premiere as part of our ARISE: 2022 Signature Programme at Meridian Hall in downtown Toronto. This exciting new work commissioned by Fall for Dance North and, accompanied by live musicians, will kick off an evening which takes the audience on a journey through artforms and cultures with four dance pieces by four diverse dancemakers on the festival's largest stage.Visit  ffdnorth.com for more info and tickets.This episode of Mambo was produced by Johnny Spence and Kattie Laur, with help from Milana Glumicic.This episode featured music by Dianne Montgomery from the original score for Softly Losing, Softly Gaining. Our theme music is by Johnny Spence.Thanks for listening.

Jera Wolfe and Kenneth Shirley waste no time in this playful and insightful conversation, immediately jumping into talking about all their exciting dance endeavours of late.Kenneth paints a picture of rehearsing with Indigenous Enterprise at an emptied out Jacob's Pillow during the pandemic and Jera discusses his momentous new ballet, Arise, featuring over 100 dance students from Canada's National Ballet School.Indigenous Liberationis presented for two nights only on Oct 7-8 at the Theatre at the Creative School, while Jera's momentus ballet Arise can be seen as part of a mixed evening in FFDN's ARISE: 2022 Signature Programme at Meridian Hall, on Oct 6-8. - 

Kimberley Cooper, the current Artistic Director of Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, sits down with Vicki Adams Willis, one of DJD's three founders, inside one of the studios at their beautiful new permanent building in downtown Calgary.This convivial conversation touches on the history of the company, the history of Jazz dance in Canada more broadly, and Kimberley's new work premiering at this year's festival, Family of Jazz.Family of Jazz is part of a double-bill presentation, alongside Margarita by Holla Jazz, with three in-person performances featuring live music in Toronto at the Theatre at the Creative School on Sep 30, Oct 1 and Oct 2.Global audiences can enjoy the program from home, with a special film version directed by Miha Matevzic, and produced by FFDN. -The 8th annual Fall for Dance North festival runs September 17th to October 8th 2022, with both free and ticketed in-person and digital events. Family Of Jazz is presented at this year's festival on an exciting double-bill alongside the world premiere of Margarita, by Nathasha Powell's Toronto-based company Holla Jazz. Both pieces feature incredible live musicians, and following the performance audience members will be invited to step on the stage and enjoy some social dancing, accompanied by the Decidedly Jazz Danceworks' live band, led by Rubim de ToledoVisit ffdnorth.com for more info and tickets.This episode of Mambo was produced by Johnny Spence and Kattie Laur, with help from Milana Glumicic. This episode featured music by Rubim de Toledo from the original score for Family Of Jazz. Our theme music is by Johnny Spence.Thanks for listening.

Zack Martel and Santiago Rivera, the dynamic circus duo known professionally as Solo un Duelo, in conversation with Francisco Cruz, a fellow circus performer they both admire.From discovering circus at a young age, to attending the prestigious and singular National Circus School in Montreal, Quebec, and building a fruitful collaborative relationship. This episode of Mambo takes us inside the idiosyncratic world of contemporary circus!Zack Martel and Santiago Rivera's choreography is featured in this year's, Heirloom.-The 8th annual Fall for Dance North festival runs September 17th to October 8th 2022, with both free and ticketed in-person and digital events. You can catch the world premiere of Zack and Santiago's personal, colourful and surreal new work, In Blue Rooms, as part of this year's Heirloom program. These vibrant outdoor performances are all-ages and pay-what-you-can, with performances in Toronto, Orillia, St Catherines and Peterborough. Visit ffdnorth.com for more info and tickets.This episode of Mambo was produced by Johnny Spence and Kattie Laur, with help from Milana Glumicic.Our theme music is by Johnny Spence.Thanks for listening.

Collaborators Karen Kaeja and Roshanak Jaberi take a break from doing the final edits on their new dance film, Slipping, and sit facing each other on a loveseat in Karen's Toronto home.From this intimate setting they discuss their evolving collaboration and the creative process behind this latest work. Buildings burned down, loving matriarchs filled hungry stomachs and hearts, and fog was captured before disappearing into the day.Slipping world premieres as part of FFDN's new short film series 8-Count with live screenings in Toronto on Sep 23 and 24, followed by free streaming on our website.-The 8th annual Fall for Dance North festival runs September 17th to October 8th 2022, with both free and ticketed in-person and digital events. Slipping will have its world premiere as part of 8-Count, a brand new dance cinema program making its debut at this year's festival, with two live screenings in Toronto at Canada's National Ballet School's Betty Oliphant Theatre and York University's Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre . Among others, films having their Canadian and world premieres as part of 8-Count include Loughlan Prior's Inklings, produced by Ballet Unleashed, and …Savannah? by NY-based Gibney Dance Company artist Zui Gomez. Following the live screenings, all films will stream for free until the end of the festival on our website.Visit ffdnorth.com for more info and tickets.This episode of Mambo was produced by Johnny Spence and Kattie Laur, with help from Milana Glumicic.This episode featured music by Edgardo Moreno. Our theme music is by Johnny Spence.Thanks for listening.

One cultural byproduct of the pandemic has been the proliferation of filmed stage performances. The ubiquitous presence of livestream and on-demand digital content makes it easy to overlook the dizzying amount of decisions and expertise that go into bringing the stage to the screen. As an Oscar nominated director and one of Canada's leading film/TV Producers, Barbara Willis Sweete knows a thing or two about capturing magic with a camera. She has also directed more than 30 Live Broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera of New York, and countless dance performances. We sit down with Barbara at her home for an in-depth chat on bringing dance to life on the big (& small) screen, then journey behind the scenes with her on the set of a recent dance film shoot.

In Getting to know your Fruit dancer/choreographer Sara Porter embodies a botany all her own, inviting us to get to know our own internal fruit. Exploding the theatrical moment into movement and monologue that reveals the heart of a woman in conversation with herself about finding the truest ways to self-expression, the new film version of her monumental work, directed by William Yong, examines the fruits of her 30-year career in performing and writing. We sat down with Sara and visited her in the studio to chat about digging deep into memoir and movement to create a new form for Fruit.

For most of us the process of deciding what ends up on stage in front of us is something we have little knowledge of, with the immense care and consideration that goes into curating living behind a veil of unknowns. This episode peels back that veil and offers a window into the art of curation, opening up and exploring the complexities surrounding it. First we caught up with Laurence Lemieux, Artistic Director of Citadel + Compagnie, and she spoke on how she approaches curating her company and theatre space. We then sat down with Dancer and Choreographer Christine Friday who, using her recent experience as ⅓ of the curatorial committee for 2021's Night Shift program as a jumping off point, generously discussed her experience curating, and aspects of her life and artistic practice which have shaped how she inhabits into that role.

Born in Zolani, South Africa, brothers Mthuthuzeli & Siphe November have danced together since before either of them can remember, until their passion for dance grew into two accomplished careers and sent them to two different continents. Siphe has been an undeniable force and integral part of the National Ballet of Canada; and Mthuthuzeli's work as a dancer and choreographer in London, England with Ballet Black continues to dazzle and win prestigious awards. We caught up with both brothers in the midst of their creation process in London to chat about how they were getting along. Their highly-anticipated work, titled My Mother's Son, was filmed by Canadian director Vikram Dasgupta at the palatial Battersea Arts Centre in London, and premieres on Oct. 13 as part of Fall for Dance North's digital event 2021 Signature Program, co-presented by TO Live.

In the landscape of Canadian dance few names are as instantly recognizable as Guillaume Côté. Whether embodying the eternal Romeo, or conjuring Norman McLaren in his work Frame by Frame, Guillaume has captured our collective imagination and brought us with him through countless journeys as both a dancer and choreographer. But where does he return to after the curtain falls? Where, or what, or who is home? We traveled to Le Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur for the world premiere of Guillaume's new full-length work + (dix), in which he beautifully explores and expands on these questions. We take you backstage and on stage; and then sit down for an intimate chat with Guillaume on this new work, his life, and so much more.

In a medium so often centered on the depth and dazzling qualities of its sights, it's easy to overlook the sound of dance. And yet, all movement makes sound – if you know how to listen. We invite you to open your ears and take a trip inside the auditory world of two performers pushing the boundaries of percussive dance. We traveled to New York and Michigan to chat with American dance artists Caleb Teicher and Nic Gareiss. You can see them perform in Heirloom - a new series of outdoor presentations by FFDN in collaborations with regional partners in Peterborough (Sept. 11), Hamilton (Sept. 16), and Niagara (Sept. 18).

The story of objects coming to life is no stretch for a ballet audience familiar with narratives of dolls (Coppélia) and toys (The Nutcracker) magically transformed. In FFDN’s the flip side festival, the physical objects of the theatre, studio and backstage lie dormant. Or do they? With a sense of humour, a dose of imagination – and some help from Second City Toronto actors – Ilter and Nicole converse with the festival’s lost objects in a group counselling session. You can meet the individual objects at ffdnorth.com.

For dancers, mirrors are an important tool for self-reflection and assessment. For an organization like Fall for Dance North, the process involves a different kind of mirror. Enter CPAMO, Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario, a Toronto-based group that works with arts organizations to build constructive relationships with Indigenous and racialized artists. Hear from CPAMO Executive Director, Charles C. Smith, on the organization’s work. Sit in on FFDN staff conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion in the arts landscape.

Expressive intent. Meaningful music. Crafted choreography. Performer connection. These are essential ingredients in a dance production; bringing them together requires discipline and commitment. Rehearsal after rehearsal eventually brings synchrony and flow. For professional dancers, it’s just part of the job. But for couples rehearsing a dance for their wedding night, it’s a whole new experience. Follow Toyin and Joshua as they prepare for the dance of a lifetime. A world premiere – no matter the setting – involves much the same process.

Can you experience dance just by listening? Find out in this audio production of the dance-theatre performance Talent/Show by Canadian-born, Germany-based choreographer Sabina Perry. The work takes a tragicomic look at the question “What are you good at?” After its German premiere, Talent/Show was about to run in Toronto when the city went into COVID-19 lockdown. In collaboration with FFDN, the artists experiment with new modes of access for dance audiences in this reinvention of the work. Photo by Michael Maurissens

A collaboration is born of many conversations. We paid a visit to Lake Temagami, home of the Teme-Augama-Anishniaabe people in Northern Ontario, and chatted with the creators behind FLOW (while we dipped in the beautiful lake and sang by the fire). Featured in the 2020 Signature Program, this FFDN commission by Red Sky Performance addresses our relationship with the natural environment and, especially, with water. Hear from Executive and Artistic Director Sandra Laronde, Artistic Associate and choreographer Jera Wolfe on the inspirations behind this new creation. Photo by Johnny Spence

Hey sports fans … come attend a dance show! Always keen to share his love for dance, Artistic Director Ilter Ibrahimof invited his neighbour Eric to Fall for Dance North in 2018, culminating in a backstage tour. In exchange, Eric took Ilter to his first baseball game. Hear about their first encounters, what they found in common and what they learned about these seemingly different spectator events. Of course, they both got t-shirts. Photo by Nicole Hamilton

Mambo, the new podcast series from Fall for Dance North premieres Sept. 30, 2020