FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Toronto International Dance Festival 2016 @ Harbour Front, Fleck Dance Theatre, on December 17, 2016 The Toronto International Dance Festival has grown from humble beginnings to become a repeating and memorable feature of the Toronto’s annual Arts Scene. Due to the energy and vision of its Managing Director, Mary Ashok, all this has happened within three years of the organization’s inception. This year’s December evening of celebatory dance, presented a medley of affirmative multicultural examples, was infused with life-affirming energy. Each of the 15 distinct examples that came to the stage worked with the others to provide an amazing multicultural smorgesboard that was outstanding for its professional choreography and technical execution. But more importantly, each presentation was bouyed by a spirit of joy and uplift. Taken together, all fifteen of these geographically wide-ranging and culturally diverse dance performances seemed to fuse as one to make a unifying statement: “Dance is the hidden language of the human soul.” This amazing TIDF show presented dance as a universal poetic urge through which culturally specific forms of rhythm and movement can be yoked together. Each form expresses a specific pride in local heritage, while at the same time conveying a universal yearing that there be understanding and respect shown for each unique expression within that vast variety. The dancer is an artist, a craftsperson whose message reaches all who care to watch. All the rhythmns and movements of dance share a common voice which cries out: We are diverse and yet we are one! There are a near-infinate number of ways ways the human body form can be linked to diverse beats, jumps, and twists, plus specific styles of adorment. Yet, in this Harbour Front show, all these bodies seemed to speak as one. At this important event dancers from around the world joined to convey a message begging for harmony but also for individual admiration. What better way to spread hope in the face of the dark politics of division that is defining our time? Rise of the Phoenix, by the Chinese Collective Arts Association, Kalbelia, A Cobra Gipsy Dance from Rajasthan, by the Obskurah Dance Company, Gatibilas, An Odissi Dance, by the Mrudanga Dance Academy, A Contemporary Afghan and Indo Central Asian Dance, by Ensemble Topaz, Kathak Duet, by Panwar Music and Dance, SriLankan Raban Dance, by Roosara Dance, Egyptian Belly Dance, by Belly Up & Ala Nar Ensemble, FESTACC African Dance of the Gods, by Ijo Vudu Dance International Oorja – (Bharatanatyam, Kutchipudi, Mohiyaatam & Kathakali) by Regatta Kala Kendra, The Wedding – Hip Hop style by VYBE Dance Company, Long sleeve Dance, by Kaleidoscope Chinese Performing Arts (KCPA), Ecuadorian Cultural Dance, by Huairapungo Ecuadorian Ethnocultural Group of Ontario, Turiya (Kalaripayettu influenced contemporary), by Anandham Dance Theatre, Mayurbhanj Chhau – Indian Warrior Dance, by Madhusmitha Gharai and the Dancing Damsels and Deck The Halls – Jazz, by Momentum Dance Toronto were the performing groups for this International dance Festival. (TIDF 2016).  Altogether performers from 20 professional dance companies joined together to perform 15 productions showcasing  20 international dance styles - all on one stage. There was a unique binding thread that helped to weave all of the above performances together: it was the story of Santa Claus. The audience was easily made to understand, through him, that the performances being watched, as Santa traveled in an instant around the world, was the magic responsible for this re-energizing feat called for by a tired and cynical world. The cast and crew of TIDF 2016 were Elliot Roseburg (Santa Claus), Quinlan Shearer (Elf 1) Julian Dufresne (Sid Blitzen/Super Agent Voice Over), Ria Patangay (Ria) & Dr. Deepa Grewal (Telephone Operator Voice Over), Sabita & Gagan Panigrahi ( Stage Managers)  and Jessica Campbell-Maracle (Lighting Designer) The official inauguration of the wonderful dance festival took place on Saturday December 10th in the presence Federal, Municipal & Community Leaders. The organizers announced that TIDF 2017 will be a 3-day festival open to performing artists around the world. "Countless enquiries about the Toronto International Dance Festival from artists in Canada and abroad has encouraged us to expand our festival as a 3-day event in the coming year.” Mary Ashok, Artistic Director of TIDF. This event was ably supported by Museum Dental, Om Sai Physiotherapy Clinic Mississauga Inc., Menon Law Office, Ambika Jewellers, CANFIN Financial Group, Royal Kerala Foods, Naveen Vadlamudi - Royal Canadian Realty Brokerage, Vince Thomas - Royal LePage Realty, Vivek Bhatt - Advisor-Compliance; Risk Management; Insurance; Investments, Eurojets, Amanjit Singh Lalia CPA, CGA, Vijit Vasu - Remax Community and Apeksha Homeopathy Clinic. For more informations, visit their official websitws: www.ddshows.com / www.tidfcanada.com. You can reach Mary Ashok, the Managing Director of Dancing damsels Inc. at: 416.788.6412. Brenda Beck

HARIKISHAN S NAIR Harikishan is a highly accomplished professional dancer, teacher and choreographer, trained in three different styles of Indian classical dance Harikishan S Nair is naturally endowed and with a solid training in Bharathanatyam under the tutelage of renowned Guru Smt. Girija Chandran (who was the disciple of Guru Padmasree Adayar K Lakshmanan. Smt. Girija chandran’s whole perception of aesthetics and perfections in training method and presentation turned out to a new dimension with the association of the Padmabhooshan The Dhananjayan’s) , continues his journey with his medium of expression, trying to explore the inner meaning and happiness from performing and experimenting his first love, DANCE. Harikishan started learning dance at the age of 3. He started learning Bharathanatyam at the age of 5. Harikishan has also learned Kuchipudi under Guru Smt. Geetha Krishnakumar and Guru Smt. Bijula Pramod who were the disciples of Padmabhooshan Guru Sri. Vempatti Chinna Sathyam. He was trained Kathakali under Guru Sri Nelliyodu Appu Nampoothiri . Each performance for him is a tremendous learning experience, filling with a sense of euphoria because dance for him is a celebration of life. He has presented numerous performances till date and has also worked with the productions of the Legends like Dr. Padma Subramanyam, Sri. Madurai R Muralidharan, Dr. Menaka Thakkar,Guru Kohinoor Sen Barat, Sri Janak Khendry, Smt. Uma Murali , Sri Lata Pada and so on. Harikishan has also performed for many major Dance Festivals in India and North America. Regatta Dance and Music Festival- Trivandrum, Swathi Thirunal Dance Festival - Trivandrum, Nattyanjali -Trivandrum, Navarathri Festival -Gujarat to name a few in India and he has also performed for North American Tamil Convention 2013 (FETNA- Sony Ceter) , North American Bengali Convention 2013 in Toronto (NABC- Metro convention center), Panorama India (Indian Consulate ) shows for Indian Independence Day and Republic Day, Navaratri festival- Organised by the Tamil, Bengali and Gujarati Associations of Toronto, Kalanidhi Festival, Inspiration 2014, Horizon series 2014 (Sampradaya ),Harbour Front Next step festival 2013, 2014 and 2015, Navaratri Festival - New York and Cleveland , Can Asian Festival 2015, Dance Ontario festival -Harbour Front 2016 to name a few in North America. His recent contribution to the dance was his new dance production “SAMYOGITA”in association with Nrutha Kala Kendra, in which they incorporated 3 different South Indian Classical Dance Forms with almost 15 dancers. He was awarded the title’ Natya Shiromani for his contribution to the dance. He has also won the the title “Kalaprathibha” during his tender age for the youth festival competitions conducted in kerala. His impressive stage presence and graceful movements have been appreciated by art critics. “In terms of dancing ability, none came close to matching Harikishan S. Nair who played the role of Son (of God). Showing absolute control over every movement and motion, Nair was as light and graceful as a sunbeam one moment, and clomped down to earth the next”. Examiner.com, Review of Paradise Lost, 2013” for the Next Step festival, Toronto Harikishan has taken his Graduation in Physiotherapy from India and is the Artistic Director of Regatta Kala Kendra situated in Toronto.

Click the link below to access the photos of our previous events: 1. https://www.facebook.com/pg/TIDFCanada/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2223444254437360" target="_blank">PHOTO GALLERY FOR PUBLICATIONS (TIDF OUTDOOR 2019) 2.https://www.facebook.com/pg/TIDFCanada/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2226535344128251" target="_blank"> CANDID PHOTOS TIDF OUTDOOR 3https://www.facebook.com/pg/TIDFCanada/photos/?tab=album&album_id=784240395024427" target="_blank">. INDOOR AND OUTDOOR FLYERS PHOTOS AND POSTERS 4https://www.facebook.com/ken.dobb/media_set?set=a.10154751534697062&type=3" target="_blank">.TIDF PHOTOS 5.https://www.facebook.com/ken.dobb/media_set?set=a.10154746727427062&type=3" target="_blank">TIDF PHOTOGALLERY 6. https://www.facebook.com/DancingDamselsMaryAshok/media_set?set=a.10154238933665865&type=3" target="_blank">TIDF OLD PHOTOS

FULL HOUSE SHOW! Another Festival to Be Proud Of!! Toronto International Dance Festival TiDf 2017, unites the colors of dance in all their vividness, radiance and uniqueness. TORONTO: On 7th October, 2017 at Lyric Theatre �?? Toronto Center for the Arts (5040 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 6R8 ) Dancing Damsels Inc. brought together more than 20 International dance companies showcasing their dance styles all on one stage at the 4th Annual Toronto International Dance Festival (TiDf 2017).  This is the International dance festival�??s 4th year running from the house of Dancing Damsels Inc., whose goal is to promote cultural integration by showcasing various International dance forms demonstrating their rich cultural heritage; which helps foster a bonding among Toronto�??s diverse communities from around the world. This cultural night, with its shimmering attires, various performances and beaming smiles, riveted the audience and kept their spirits high. This festival brought the audience together to share common cultural experiences and see the arts as integral to their lives and communities, providing access to a breadth of dance forms that stimulate the imagination and provide an experience that inspires people. This dance festival provided a common platform to all artists (to display their talents) and the dance connoisseurs (to appreciate the performing arts by masters as well as novices). It proved to be a lavish feast for the eyes and ears for all International dance lovers. Flawless performance by all the renowned artists captivated the audience heart and made them �??spellbound�?�! The quality of dance performed here was unmatched in terms of presentation and quality. TIDF 2017 participants were Sakuramai TO, Druid Academy Irish Dancers Inc, he Rhythm Ensemble, SLOGA Dance Company, Mexican Folkloric Group "Tonatiuh", Kaleidoscope Chinese Performing Arts (KCPA), Nirkoda Israeli Dancers of Toronto, Sampradaya Dance Creations, Shhhhh Designz Entertainment, Panwar Music & Dance, Adishankara Academy of performing Arts (ASAPA),Dancing Damsels Inc, Roosara Dance, Samba Jess Academy, Belly Up Belly Dance studio, Melodia de Bolivia Dance Academy, Filippino Fiesta, Ensemle Topaz, Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company, Kahawi Dance Theatre and Melodia de Bolivia Dance Group. The brightly lit shimmering Toronto Center for the Arts made the performances beautiful and mesmerizing. It was indeed a wonderful evening of art and culture, an evening to learn and be inspired from. This spectacular event was made possible by Grand Sponsor - Manoj Karatha of Remax Realty Inc., Gold Sponsor - Trios College, Ambika Jewellers (Jeyaseeli Inpanyagam), Lata Menon (Menon Law Office), Kerala Ayurveda (Binoy Chacko), Royal Kerala Foods (Saji Mangalathu), Riya Travels (Saji Thomas), Chaithanya Ayurveda and Vijayan Krishnan (Royal Lepage). Production Crew: Gita Shankaran (Production Manager); Mary Ashok (Festival Director), Jaison Mathew (PRO), Sudharshan MeenakshiSundaram (Ticketing Manager), Jayamohan Menon, Gary Gu  & Lata Menon (VIP & Media), Birendra Rajapreyar (Marketing), ArunKumar Chokkappa, Salome Nalini Paryag, Vishnuvardhan Subramanian, Balaji Ramachandran, Tamilselvan Raju, Yuvarani Kamalamoorthy, Neha Ashani, Kushalini Kumar, Asha Vishwanath, Smriti Dash, Swati Tripati (Media ), Elliot Rosenburg (Script), and Marcela Aranda Urueña (Emcee). Picture Courtesy: Ken Dobb.