Celebrating Canadian Dance - ​​A Biennial Ode to Canadian Choreography through the dance: made In canada/fait au canada Festival

dance: made in canada/fait au canada (d:mic/fac) isn't just a dance festival—it's an important tribute to the Canadian dance community, showcasing choreographers, dancers and creators from all across the country. The d:mic/fac is back for its 2023 festival from August 16th to 20th this summer.

The festival's programming this year will feature many different performances over five days, from the MainStage curated series to the lottery-drawn What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) series. An Arts Encounters program will also highlight many multi-faceted dance artists in Canada through various mediums such as photography, film, podcasts, and education through workshops and talks. Next week, I will break down all the festival’s programming, yet right now, I want to focus on d:mic/fac history and how I am involved this year.

The mission of d:mic/fac is to showcase the vibrant and diverse voices of Canadian contemporary choreographers. The festival involves and supports artists in all different stages of their careers (including myself as a dance writer). It focuses on experimentation, collaboration and the breaking down of barriers of different Canadian geographies.

The d:mic/fac festival's inception dates back to 2001, with its very first editions taking place at the old Dancemakers' Studio from 2001 to 2004. It then moved to the Winchester Street Theatre until 2008, finally settling at its current home, the Betty Oliphant Theatre, in 2009 where it will be held again this year. It was initially a dance series that moved into a repertory festival format to include guest curators and to platform more artists. Since its early days, the festival has grown exponentially. It has seen twenty-four Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations, and seven Dora Award wins. It was also voted the Top Best Dance Series by NOW magazine and is seen as a staple of the Toronto and Canadian dance scene.

The festival is led by Artistic Director Yvonne Ng, a Singapore-born, Canada-based artist. Yvonne is a dancer, choreographer, presenter, producer, curator and arts educator. She is the Artistic Director of tiger princess dance projects, which has been in operation since 1996. Yvonne founded the presentation series dance: made in canada / fait au canada Festival in 2001. She was joined by festival co-directors Janelle Rainville and Jeff Morris in 2011 and continues to be today. The expansion of d:mic/fac was initially suggested by the late David Morrison, who was a lighting designer, production manager, technical director and friend of Rainville, Morris and Ng. Now the mainstage series, curated by Ng is named after him. 

The Arts Encounters program was initiated at the start of the festival as, as Ng would invite select artists to suggest other artists' works that influenced their dance-making. This continued for years, eventually becoming more of a blind date between artists as Ng would pair mainstage dance artists with an artist of another form. I.e. dance artist Hanna Kiel with textile artist Susan Kendal or dance artist Sashar Zarif with writer Lindsay Zier-Vogel.

Within each festival, eight emerging artists are selected to be Dance Stewards. These emerging artists delve into all aspects of the festival, and are provided with an array of incredible learning and networking experiences as supported by the festival. The program also culminates in the creation and performance of a new choreographic work offering these emerging artists a paid opportunity to showcase their talents on a national stage. As part of the 2023 festival, the Dance Stewards will co-create and perform a three-to-four-minute choreographic work as part of the WYSIWYG program and be aided by rehearsal director and outside eye, Bonnie Kim.

As representatives of d:mic/fac, Dance Stewards also engage with audiences and interact with festival artists alongside dance ambassadors (past festival artists). Keep an eye out in the lobby for dance stewards, as they are there to talk with and interact with the audience on all things dance.

When I saw the call for Dance Stewards, I reached out to Yvonne to ask if there was any room to create a different kind of opportunity missing from the Canadian dance community - a focus on dance writing and chronicling for the festival as a mid-career dance writer in Canada. I wanted to be as involved in the festival as the Stewards, but long ago hung up my dancing shoes and switched to a dance writing role. 

So this year, I will be joining the Stewards as the Dance Chronicler and will be covering all events and their process throughout the festival. I am incredibly excited about this festival and have attended many in the past, as an audience member and as a volunteer (which you can still do, check out this call for volunteers here).

dance: made in canada/fait au canada Festival is not merely a showcase of dance; it's an essential platform for artists and audiences in Canada alike to engage with and celebrate the diversity of contemporary dance. This festival truly breathes life into the Canadian dance scene! Next Wednesday, July 26th, 2023, I will break down this year’s programming and what I am looking forward to!

For more information: 

Check out: www.dancemadeincanada.ca/festival/2023-dmic

The festival will take place from August 16th to 20th, 2023, at the Betty Oliphant Theatre (404 Jarvis St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2G6). Tickets are available online here.

@dancemadeincanada @dmicfac

Written by Deanne Kearney. DeanneKearney.com