This weekend, dance companies and artists from around the world will call Toronto home as it plays host to this year's International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference and Festival!

In its 24th year, the conference and festival will hold workshops and feature showcases that include New York's Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Philadelphia Dance Company, Montreal's Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata, Toronto's Ballet Creole and much more. 

We had the chance to chat with dance Immersion program director Vivine Scarlet who organized this year’s IABD.

1. What is the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD)?

The organization was founded to nurture, support and provide resources to dance artists of African descent and to those who practice African dance. The group features over 30 dance companies and artists from countries such as Ausralia, Canada, Cuba, Germany, Ghana, Jamaica, UK and USA, among others.

2. How long has it been around for/why was it started?

Founded in 1988 by Joan Myers Brown, founder and artistic director of the Philadelphia Dance Company, IABD provides a network that responds to and initiates dialogue around issues that impact the Black Dance Community as well as the community at large. The conference has been conducted all over the US and had its first international conference in Toronto in 2007. We have been asked to host this year's conference, once again. 

3. This year’s theme is "connecting our diasporas through dance". Can you explain that further?

We thought about what exactly we wanted our objective to be, what is it that we want to do? A large part of continuing who we are and what we do is about linking together. There is strength in numbers and the more we know about each other, the more we connect, the greater it will be. There will be four international collaborations we will be presenting at the festival including an emerging company in Toronto working with a New York-based choreographer.

4. What can we expect from the event, what are some exciting highlights?

Sean Cheesman, choreographer from So You Think You Can Dance, and Garth Vagan, choreographer of Lion King, are coming to sit on panels. There will be a variety of panel discussions, dance workshops and classes running every day of the conference (see registration) and auditions for some of the major companies and dance schools are being held on Sunday. The heart of the conference and festival will be four showcase presentations featuring artists and companies ranging from renowned to up-and-coming (see list of performers). 
 
5. Can you talk a little bit about Thursday night’s showcase?

Thursday's show gives Canadian dancers the opportunity to showcase what we have here at a professional level, that Canadians are fantastic at what they do and can dance in the same platform as professional dancers from all over the world. You'll notice the different types of dance companies and notice the simlarities and differences in dance, it will be a chance find out about each other. Thursdsay will show a breath of dance across the country with companies from Winnipeg, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa and here in Toronto.  Most of the companies have presented in other dance Immersion events and some are new and emerging who need to be introduced to a wider public. 

6. How important is it to showcase Canadian artists?

Growing dance scene and continuing because we are now seeing the sons and daughters of those people who have been doing it for many years and next generation is carrying it on. Plus, companies who have been around, like Creole and COBA, have had twenty-plus years to build their foundations so we can breathe a little bit more and collaborate with each other. 

The 24th Annual International Association of Blacks in Dance runs from Thursday, January 26 to Sunday, January 29. For more information on tickets, packages, workshops and auditions, please visit www.danceimmersion.ca.