Review: Common Ground Dance Festival 2025 (Toes for Dance)

The Common Ground Dance Festival, presented by Toes for Dance, is a free, outdoor, multidisciplinary program now in its fifth season, presented at Toronto’s North York Lee Lifeson Art Park. Bringing diverse professional artists together with community audiences, this festival creates a casual, public setting that is a fun and accessible addition to Toronto’s arts scene. This was my first time in attendance and I was able to catch the Friday night Mainstage Mixed Program, hosted in both English and Farsi.

What stands out right away is the atmosphere: relaxed and communal, with friends, families, kids of all ages, and even dogs stopping by during their evening walks. Audience members gather on wide concrete seating that looks onto a circular stage, framed by a statuesque shell backdrop that shimmers under the festival’s lighting design. The structure becomes a strong focal point while the rest of the park continues to buzz with children playing and locals passing through. The festival uses this outdoor setting to full effect, with lighting that brightens the stage and shifts moods seamlessly for each piece. This is no small feat in the open air but handled impressively. The music is also set at the perfect volume, immersive enough to hold focus while still allowing the natural sounds of the park to come through.

The program opens with one of my favourite works of the evening, Riaquita, a flamenco piece performed by Carmen Romero. She begins alone, castanets in hand, immediately drawing in the audience with crisp rhythms before inviting different sections to clap along in varied patterns. Partway through, a man comes up from the audience, at first seeming like a heckler cheering her on, as flamenco enthusiasts sometimes do. Only later does it become clear that this is part of the act.

The man is revealed to be her musician, Miguel Medina, who brings lots of charisma and playfulness to the stage. Together, they create a magnetic dialogue between dancer and musician. This is characteristic of flamenco, but pushed even further here. At one point, Medina plays the castanets while they rest in Romero’s hands, a clever detail that makes the piece a fun and lively standout of the program.

Next, Shivani Shivakumar performs her own choreography, Sundara Mohana Murali Dhara: Krishna’s Captivating Melody. This Bharatanatyam solo celebrates Lord Krishna, as Shivakumar fills the stage with playful energy, clean lines, and expressive gestures. Her costume, designed by Shivakumar and stitched by Vijay Costumes, adds vibrant orange and purple that complement the energy of the performance.

Costumes remain central in the following work, Fan Dance (Buchaechum), a student piece from the Korean Dance Studies Society of Canada choreographed by Mi Young Kim and danced by HyangOk Kim and Dorothy Leung. Dancers wear traditional long, flowing dresses in pink and blue, using large fans to create elegant images of flowers, butterflies, and flowing waves. The piece is a graceful ode to the natural world, beautifully suited to the outdoor park setting.

The program continues with All You Ever Do Is Rain, a contemporary duet by emerging choreographer and performer Gisele Ardosa, danced with Natasja Jordan. In sleek black dresses, the two move through moments of tension and quiet confrontation, weaving in and out of each other’s space. The piece brings a more stripped-down and reflective tone to the program.

Last but not least is another highlight of the evening, Taan, an ensemble work by Anjali Tanna rooted in Garba, a folk dance style from India. Performed by four dancers, the choreography emphasizes circular patterns and turns, both around themselves and around one another. The formations shift constantly to keep the work lively and full of momentum. The dancers also incorporate tippani (wooden sticks), striking them against the ground, tossing them, and exchanging them in different rhythms. The result is an energetic, visually appealing work that I would happily watch again.

What captures the spirit of the festival most is the way the audience becomes part of the experience. Children dance along during the performances, never distracting, but adding a reminder of the joy and accessibility of the arts. Beyond the mainstage, the festival also includes workshops and site-specific works. It is a highlight within Toronto’s free and diverse arts offerings, rooted in a true sense of community. Make sure to check it out next time it’s in town!

Common Ground Dance Festival, presented by Toes for Dance, ran from September 18th to 20th at Lee Lifeson Art Park (223 Gladys Allison Place, North York, ON M2N 4T5). The festival was free and open to the public.

For more information: ToesForDance.ca
For bios for all those apart of the festival, click here.

Written by Deanne Kearney
DeanneKearney.com @deannekearney