Today's Program

A short documentary film focusing on Kathak as the life work of Toronto-based dancer, teacher and choreographer, Joanna de Souza.  The film also features tabla player Santosh Naidu and dancers  Amrit Phull, Jane Morris, Aarti Anand and Natasha Manji. 

Directed by Pragati Kaushal, this film premiered at the Toronto Hot Docs Festival in spring 2024.   

Running time: 8 minutes 

Joanna de Souza

Twice Dora Award nominated Joanna de Souza, received a Master’s Degree in kathak dance through Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad, India.  Her study began in 1978, under her guru, the late Pandit Chitresh Das. Joanna is respected internationally as a dancer, choreographer, and is a much sought-after teacher. 

Named one of the "leading Indian classical dancers in Canada" - INDIA TODAY Magazine, she has represented Canada at the World Performing Arts Festival in Lahore, Pakistan, and the Romerias de Mayo festival in Holguin, Cuba.

In Toronto, she co-founded M-DO/KathakToronto which is home to dance classes, master classes and workshops, at the highest artistic level.  Her dance company Chhandam, has  toured nationally and internationally, bringing their innovative approach of Kathak, to a wide audience, and in 2018 Chhandam in collaboration with choreographer/dancer Misty Wensel, toured India with their collaborative work BARDO.

She was a musician and dancer with the acclaimed Toronto Tabla Ensemble from 1993-2010, and has taught across Canada, Trinidad, the US and India. 

She is the recipient of Angikam’s  Dr.Maya Rao Award, for recognition of her body of innovative kathak choreography.

This piece is choreographed to a modern setting of a 1000 year old Chinese poem, written when the famous poet Su Shi was thinking of his brother who lived far away from him.

When did such a brilliant moon appear?

I ask the heavens with wine in hand.

What is it like in the Celestial Palace?

I would fly there for a visit,

But worry that the lofty jade towers

would be lonely and cold.

I'd rather dance with my shadow

Here in the mortal realm.

Moving around the vermilion mansion,

moonlight shines through the ornate window,

And lights the unsleeping.

Is it being spiteful?

Only shining full and bright

when we are apart.

We have sorrows and joys,

Part then reunite,

As the moon dims and brightens,

waxes and wanes,

Things are never perfect

Since the beginning of time.

May we all live long, 

And admire the beautiful moon together

though being thousands of miles apart.

Running Time 3:45

Tippi Chai

One of Joanna's first students, Tippi has participated in virtually all of MDO/KathakToronto performances, including BARDO, a work that was toured around India, and has created solo and group pieces to various genres of music. Tippi also created the costumes and did the video editing for this presentation.

Set in the tranquil Qu'Appelle Valley, 'the weight of our feet' unfolds as a poetic exploration of connection and reconciliation through four distinct chapters amidst the seasons' passings.

Autumn begins with reflection and preparation for the dark, quiet months ahead. Winter brings introspection and isolation, evoking memories and farewells. Spring signals renewal and celebrates friendship and kinship. Summer brings jubilation and serenity, emphasizing trust and ease.

This dance film pays homage to the guardians of the land, their descendants and all who call this valley home; a poignant offering to the interwoven tapestry of right-relationship and the enduring spirit of the Qu'Appelle Valley.

Running time: 36 minutes

FadaDance Troupe:

FadaDance was born on the dance floor in 2002. Heather Cameron, Fran Gilboy, and Misty Wensel came together through a shared desire to create a dance community rooted in dance floor culture. Responsive and collaborative, FadaDance embraced the unexpected as they moved away from classical performance etiquette, and towards a new form of prairie dance.

By presenting contemporary dance in alternative spaces and unconventional work in traditional performance venues, FadaDance Troupe is making dance accessible to a broad audience. This relationship to the audience exists in work that both invites and involves the viewer, breaking down barriers and conjuring excitement about the discipline. 

www.fadadancetroupe.ca

www.fadadance.ca

Graphic Designer: Mihaela Dirlea

Program and Website Development: Mihaela Dirlea and Tippi Chai

Theatre Tech Support: Will Morris

Toronto Public Library staff, Amanda Luisa Sampaio & Diana Espinosa.

Anuja and al at Thindi Indian Café for support, All todays volunteers, we couldn’t do it without you!