This year marks the ninth annual Fall for Dance North Festival; a celebration and exploration of contemporary dance. The 2023 programme highlights several companies from all over the globe who are coming to Toronto to present their works. I was fortunate to get to ask Ilter Ibrahimof, the Artistic Director of this year’s festival, some questions about Fall for Dance North and the programming they’re offering this year.

1. Tell me about the Fall for Dance North Festival!

Fall for Dance North became a dream when I was living in Montreal and curating for Fall For Dance in NYC in 2012-2013. I dreamt of bringing the concept and model which I always loved to Canada. Toronto felt like the best place because for all the arts and culture you can find in Toronto, there was a white space when it came to large scale dance. This void in the city meant that many well-known artists from around the world weren’t visiting Toronto. In 2013 I approached what was at the time, Sony Centre, now TO Live with my idea to bring Fall for Dance to the North. I was delighted to find that they were very receptive and became the first of many festival partners. In 2015, our first season sold out three nights of programming, which opened the door for future editions. We continued to grow and succeed for five years, however when the pandemic hit, our festival had to think differently as a young organization. With innovative programming such as digital streaming that could be viewed around the world and a new outdoor series, Heirloom that took our festival outside of Toronto for the first time, we not only survived, but thrived. For 2023 we are excited to return to our pre-pandemic form, being able to present large-scale national and international work. This year and our return to our roots sets the stage for our 10th anniversary next year, stay tuned!

2. How did you get started in the world of dance?

As a young adult I moved from my native Istanbul to Boston to study theatre and dance at Emerson College, which led me to a career as a producer and agent in NYC. After a few years in The Big Apple I relocated to Montreal, where I made a career transition into curating for a few festivals, including NYC’s Fall For Dance. Though I didn’t know it at the time, this would eventually plant the seed for what would become Fall for Dance North. As someone who has always been involved in theatre and dance, I have been fascinated by the movement of the human body and how it can capture emotions, tell stories and create connections. Throughout my career I have had the privilege of working with some of the most talented artists from all over the world. I have represented classic Indian dance, Whirling Dervishes of Turkey, hip hop companies from France to contemporary and modern companies around the world and just about everything in between. The opportunities I have had throughout my career have helped to develop my artistic taste and build a strong network that spans the globe. These connections and experiences provided a strong foundation for FFDN’s programming possibilities, which continue to grow and expand with each year.

3. What was the most interesting part of creating this years FFDN programme?

In 2023 we continue to play with the balance of in-person vs. digital programming as we return post-pandemic. Though we were able to return to indoor programming at our treasured festival venues in 2022, it was very much a transitional year, not only for our festival, but for our audience and other organizations who produce live, in-person programming. The pandemic opened doors for us we didn’t previously think to look behind, as we were forced into innovative and creative thinking to continue our work for those unprecedented years. Through these innovations, including more digital programming and stepping outside of the city, our festival garnered a broader reach, gaining audiences from around the world that we had yet to engage with. For this year we are excited to bring several companies that we have not only never worked with before, but who will be presenting in Toronto for their first time ever. We are also welcoming back some artists who have graced the FFDN stage before to continue to grow and nurture our existing relationships with artists and companies, both local and global.

4. What are you looking forward to most at this year’s festival?

Returning to a 12-day model is exciting. It really creates the sense of a festival – this powerful entity that erupts almost out of nowhere, steeping the city in dance and then before you know it, it disappears. That very abrupt arrival and departure, which includes flying in artists from all over the world to come together and bring our audience together to eat, sleep and breathe dance for 12 days straight is a truly energizing experience that all dance lovers should have the opportunity to relish. In 2023 that feels possible once again.

5. What are your hopes for the future of contemporary dance?

I think contemporary dance is becoming more and more open to diversity and incorporating traditional dance into the language. We see that at this year’s festival with choreographic voices such as Pulga Muchochoma (Mozambique-born and Toronto-based) and Mthuthuzeli November (South African-born and London-based) who’s diverse upbringings create new ways of thinking about the world. They also bring diverse movement styles from their heritage, which seems to be more welcome and accepted by the community. My hope is that the genre will continue to evolve on this path as we look towards the future of contemporary dance.

I want to thank Ilter for taking the time out of their busy schedule to answer my questions about this exciting venture. I’m definitely looking forward to checking out some of the performances myself during the festival! For more information, visit: https://www.ffdnorth.com/2023-ticketing-options