Anthony Marcusa –
For over 30 years, dance Immersion has mentored, cultivated and promoted dancers from the African diaspora across Canada. This November, for the first time, dance Immersion will launch a festival to showcase Black Canadian artists and facilitate community.
“We are the sole full-time year-round presenter of Black dance,” Timea Wharton-Suri, dance Immersion curator and creative director, said at a media preview. “We remain essential as the key investor of dance by the African diaspora of Canadians. We understand, believe in and support dancers in the diaspora.”
The Immersion Festival runs from November 8 to 22 at the Betty Oliphant Theatre, 404 Jarvis Street. The festival features three distinct stage performances: a national presentation of dance groups from around Canada, a vanguard presentation pairing dance artists with musicians and a Next-Gen Presentation showcasing Black-led youth groups.
The vanguard presentation will feature unique pairings for works created for the festival. “There will be snippets of things that will never be seen again,” said Wharton-Suri. “Where people are coming together, generations are coming together.”
Montreal-born tap dancer Travis Knights, who will perform in the vanguard presentation, says the event can foster community and impart knowledge.
“Tap dancing is a very specific culture,” he said. “I’ve traveled around the world and met some of my favourite people, but it was only after working with dance Immersion that I felt seen. Tap dancing is an African American art form, but I’m one of a handful of Black tap dancers in this country.”
Knights also talked about learning from teachers before him, and imparting that wisdom to younger dancers. Knights was inspired by Gregory Hines at a young age, later learning from and working alongside him. He was also mentored by Ethel Bruneau, who died in 2023.
“I find myself hyper aware of the older generation and desperate to glean anything I can from them, ” he told the bridge. “I’m also delivering workshops, choreographing with youth dancers, Tap dancing is an oral tradition. It doesn’t survive without the stories.”
Immersion Festival will feature 12 workshops, including options for both beginner dancers and professionals, as well as gathering events that allow for networking. One event will focus on connecting generations of dancers to give younger dancers guidance for entering the professional world.
“I’ve been dancing since I was six,” said Nathara, 21, a member of the youth dance group Diversity that will take part in the Next-Gen presentation. “Mentorship and community are so important. Lessons can be taken with you wherever you go and you pass them on to others.”
Knights is motivated by the ways in which the festival uplifts dancers while enlightening and engaging audiences. It’s a serious responsibility as well to impart history and sustain stories.
“What dance Immersion does is give us the chance to be able to do what we do in our own context. It’s a great opportunity, especially for an original commission. It’s something I will take with me everywhere I can.”
A closing celebration will be held on November 22. Tickets are available now.
