TDT Announces 2023/24 Season

Toronto Dance Theatre announces a playful 2023/24 season, throwing open their doors to new artists and audiences in a spirit of discovery and sharing space.

REFRACTING GIANTS curated by Leelee Oluwatoyosi Eko Davis
WINTER DOUBLE BILL – FACE RIDER by Fran Chudnoff & ODD-SENSUAL by Andrew Tay
SPRING DOUBLE BILL – New works by Yuichiro Inoue & KINAJ
The return of SHORT&SWEET!

Toronto, August 10, 2022 – Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) is thrilled to unveil an eclectic and playful season of creative programming for 2023/24 that throws open the historic theatre’s doors to new artists and audiences more than ever before.

Anchored around two mainstage double bills showcasing vanguard new works from thrillingly diverse artists, the 2023/24 season includes curated performance events, an expansive program of artist development initiatives, and fresh invitations to the community to explore the Winchester Street Theatre.

“This season at TDT reflects on the idea of sharing space,” says TDT Artistic Director Andrew Tay. “We are interested in artists working alongside each other, occupying stages together, and considering how the company can foster possibilities for the exchange of knowledge and resources. The season features two eclectic double bills, specially curated performance events, and new initiatives that open up TDT’s physical space to more independent artists and Torontonians than ever before – including our commitment to a sliding scale ticket model, so that everyone can have the opportunity to experience dance and live performance. I invite everyone to come and be in space together with us!”

The season begins in early October with the first of two curated performance events, REFRACTING GIANTS, curated by Leelee Oluwatoyosi Eko Davis. A culmination of Leelee’s expressive residency at TDT, this performance event is inspired by the creative exchanges and discoveries cultivated from Leelee’s research with the TDT ensemble last season and a curated group of artists they worked with in 2021’s Praxis of Possibility micro-residency.

Late in October, TDT will literally throw opens the doors of the Winchester Street Theatre with an invitation to the community to celebrate the 2023/24 season at an Open House on October 21. Guests can explore and learn about TDT’s historic dance hub, enjoy mini-performances, and attend an all-ages movement class.

Mainstage presentations begin in February with a winter double bill featuring FACE RIDER by Fran Chudnoff paired with ODD-SENSUAL by Andrew Tay, both made in collaboration with members of the TDT ensemble. Chudnoff’s first commission for TDT, FACE RIDER will feature styling by costume designer Angela Cabrera, exploring internet aesthetics, gender deviance, and social auras to offer a luminous communal experience. Tay’s ODD-SENSUAL is a unique performance project featuring solos created on members of the TDT ensemble, with a view to create an intimate environment that considers the individualities and artistic interests of each dancer involved. 

In April, TDT offers a second mainstage double bill featuring new works from Yuichiro Inoue and KINAJ. A long-time company dancer, Inoue choreographs his first full piece with members of the ensemble. Artistic duo KINAJ (AJ Velasco and Kin Nguien) will share a piece that incorporates their cross-genre practices in street styles and contemporary dance.

In the summer of 2024, TDT presents a second curated performance event, SHORT&SWEET. Back by popular demand, the iconic live performance party returns to Toronto with a large roster of artists from an eclectic range of styles and aesthetics who have the freedom to create whatever they want. But there’s a catch: each artist will only have three minutes on stage. If they go over the allotted time, a timekeeper will cut them off immediately! A fun way to see artists try something new, take risks, and challenge what can be accomplished in 3 minutes, following the performances, the night will wrap up with everyone on the dance floor!

Throughout the season, TDT will host recreational adult dance classes leading up to company productions – another invitation to audiences to experience TDT anew. Non-dancers are welcomed into the studio to learn, have fun, and enjoy a first-hand look at the artists and contemporary dance practices featured in the season.

RESIDENCY & COLLABORATION

In 2023/24 TDT continues and expands upon their investment in artistic development with a variety of residency offerings and new programs for independent artists. 

In November of 2023 and March of 2024, TDT offers artists the opportunity to showcase 10 minutes of new material with a new works-in-progress series, EYES ON BEGINNINGS. Audiences can play a role in the development process while discovering nascent creative propositions and artists benefit from facilitated audience feedback sessions.

Also new this year, TDT is introducing both a Technical Residency program, offering two 1-week residencies aimed to help artists holistically integrate technical elements of their work with their artistic ideas; and an innovative ARTIST AFFILIATE program where the company will make a 2-year commitment towards the career development of a local choreographer. The ARTIST AFFILIATE program will guarantee a living wage salary to support an artist in the creation of a new project with TDT, while also enabling them to pursue their independent research and work. On top of dedicated hours of studio time and development support, this program offers an independent artist access to the stability, health benefits, and working conditions that are usually only available at large dance companies.

The PILOT EPISODES residency program returns for a fourth iteration, in which six choreographers or creators will have their first experience collaborating with TDT company dancers during an immersive, one-week residency in the spring. TDT also brings back and expands upon their popular PLUG-N-PLAY RESIDENCIES, which consist of week-long, half-day residencies in the studio free-of-charge. Twelve choreographers and creators in body-centred practices will have dedicated time to dig deeper into a current project or idea while having the space to experiment with collaborators.

Ticketing

Tickets for REFRACTING GIANTS are now available and the double bill productions will go on sale at a later date in Fall 2023. For more information, explore www.tdt.org or call 416-967-1365, x123.

Social Handles

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Media Contact

Suzanne Cheriton, Red Eye Media, suzanne@redeyemedia.ca