Dusk Dances set for Withrow Park from Aug. 3 to 10

By ABBY RUSSCHEN

Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and get set for the annual outdoor Dusk Dances festival this August in Withrow Park.

Dusk Dances will be taking place in the park, located between Logan and Carlaw Avenues just south of Danforth Avenue, from Sunday, Aug. 3, through to Sunday, Aug. 10.

The first performance is on Aug. 3 starting at 7:30 p.m.

Dusk Dances features a daily series of choreographed pieces inspired by the park’s natural environment, performed in a non-traditional venue. The event aims to make dance more accessible and open to people of all ages.

Admission is on a pay-what-you-wish basis, with a suggested donation of $20.

The festival’s mandate aims to bring accessible dance to the community by standing on three pillars: it’s physically accessible, financially reasonable, and artistically varied. Dusk Dances is one of Canada’s longest-running outdoor dance events, and its rooted history brings audiences back year after year.

This year’s event is hosted by Latin-pop singer Ana Lía, who will lead spectators around the park for four unique performances taking place throughout Withrow Park each evening.

Performances include BABAElan, choreographed by Blessyl Buan, which pays tribute to the Babaylan, the Philippines’ female and non-binary spiritual leaders, through dance, ritual, and sound.

The second performance, Portrait, is choreographed by Lina Cruz and inspired by the poem of the same name by Hector de Saint-Denys Garneau, which explores the beauty and fragility of existence.

Next is Sweet Mother, inspired by the choreographer Kwasi Obeng-Adjei’s experience in Ghana, which combines traditional and modern African dance styles to energize the audience.

Finally, Re-imagining Bhamakalapam, choreographed by Harikishan S. Nair, invites contemplation on performance and breaking down cultural barriers.

Each day of the Dusk Dances begins with a free dabke dance workshop at 7 p.m., hosted by Zaytouna Academy for Cultural Arts, followed by the scheduled dance performances at 7:30 p.m., which last until approximately 9:15 p.m.

While weather cancellations are rare, they do happen. If there is a cancellation, an announcement will be made between 7 and 7:30 p.m., since cancellations before the event’s start time are unlikely.

“Community members can look forward to watching exciting and diverse arts programming happening against the stunning backdrop of dusk transcending over the park,” said Dusk Dances festival director Sofi Gudiño of this year’s performances.

For more information, please visit https://www.duskdances.ca

For volunteer opportunities, please contact toronto.volunteer@duskdances.ca