Featuring The Royal Ballet, Tanveer Alam and Barkha Patel, Dheerendra Tiwari and Nad-Roop Curated by Tanveer Alam and Fall for Dance North
October 23, 24 @ 7:30PM October 25 @ 2:00 PM* Bluma Appel Theatre
*Please note that on October 24 there will be a pre-show artist talk with ASL interpretation.
Running Time: 90 minutes
Generously supported by Leading Donors Joan Lozinski, O.C. and Jerry Lozinski, O.C.
Co-presented with
Live Music Partner
Tanveer Alam
Haazri
Haazri —meaning Presence in Urdu— showcases the Kathak form in its traditional repertoire context – fierce, graceful, energizing.
Choreographer & Performer: Tanveer Alam Music: Pandit Atul Desai Live Accompaniment: Mike Lukshis, Gandhaar Amin, Daksh Raj Sharma Dramaturgy: Harikishan S. Nair Lighting Designer: Simon Rossiter
Running Time: 3 minutes
The Royal Ballet
The Dying Swan
This famous solo was choreographed by Mikhail Fokine in 1905 for the legendary ballerina Anna Pavlova. It remains today an exquisite showcase for the expressive power of ballet.
Choreography: Mikhail Fokine Music: Camille Saint-Saëns Dancer: Melissa Hamilton
Cello: Juliana Moroz Piano: Jonathan Mak
FFDN's presentation of The Royal Ballet is generously supported by Noreen Taylor C.M. and David Staines C.M. O.Ont, with additional support from Kathleen Crook and James Penturn.
Running Time: 3 minutes
Under the directorship of Kevin O’Hare, The Royal Ballet unites tradition and innovation in world-class performances and is a driving force in the development of ballet as an art form. Based at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, it brings together today’s most dynamic and versatile dancers with a world-class orchestra and leading choreographers, composers, conductors, directors and creative teams to share awe-inspiring theatrical experiences with
diverse audiences worldwide. The Company’s extensive repertory embraces 19th-century classics, the singular legacy of works by Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton and Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan, a compelling new canon of work by choreographers today including Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon, and the bold and complementary programming in the Linbury Theatre. Guest choreographers Kyle Abraham, Robert Binet, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Cathy Marston, Arthur Pita, Crystal Pite, Hofesh Shechter, Pam Tanowitz, Mthuthuzeli November, Jessica Lang, Gemma Bond and Twyla Tharp have also created work for the Company.
Dheerenda Tiwari
SHIVO-AHAM AN ODE TO THE SOUL
What is that source which can be sensed by the soul but not through the senses? What is the essence of the soul? How is the Knower Itself to be known? Shiva is eternal, formless, independent, omnipresent, one without a second, without a beginning, causeless, taintless, self-existent, ever free, ever pure, He is timeless, Infinite and with infinite intelligence. I am Shiva, I am Shiva Explorations and meditations on life, on Advaita philosophy and on attainment of bliss that is revealed to the seeker of Shiva.
FFDN's presentation of Dheerendra Tiwari is generously supported by Gerry Hannochko and Cecelia Paolucci.
Concept: Amalia Tziotis Choreography: Guru Pt. Rajendra Gangani Music: Ustad Samiullah Khan Tabla and Effects: Mohit Gangani Pakhawaz and Effects: Ashish Gangani Rehearsal Director: Amalia Tziotis Mentor: Aditi Mangaldas
Running Time: 12 minutes
Dheerendra Tiwari's distinguished career owes much to the tutelage of the legendary Pt Rajendra Gangani. His artistry also bears the profound imprint of the internationally acclaimed Guru Aditi Mangaldas, who guided him in embodying the essence of Kathak.
Furthering his training, Dheerendra Tiwari worked with eminent Indian gurus and choreographers including Geetanjali Lal, Aditi Mangaldas, and Leela Samson. His roles as a senior member with Drishtikon Foundation and a rehearsal director with Aakash Odedra Dance Company enriched his understanding of contemporary Kathak. His performances at prestigious festivals in India and abroad have earned him wide recognition as an exceptional Indian Classical Dance artist.
Through his recently formed institution "SamDheer Foundation", he aims to cultivate the next generation of dancers fully dedicated to Kathak.
The Royal Ballet
Dance of the Blessed Spirits
This serene solo created by Royal Ballet Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton in 1978 is set to music from Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice. Ashton’s interpretation takes place within the Elysian Fields where Orpheus encounters the peaceful blessed spirits during his journey to the underworld to retrieve Eurydice.
Choreography: Frederick Ashton Music: Christoph Willibald Gluck Dancer: Marco Masciari
Piano: Jonathan Mak Flute: Feiran Bi
Running Time: 3 minutes
Tanveer Alam and Barkha Patel
Shanaasai • شناسائی
Shanaasai •شناسائی—meaning familiarity in Persian—is a new Kathak duet choreographed by Tanveer Alam. Rooted in the vocabulary and aesthetics of Kathak, the piece explores the deliberate composition of two bodies in shared space. As the dancers move in time and melody, Shanasaai reflects on the intimacy of co-presence and how acquaintance is built and deepened.
FFDN's presentation of Tanveer Alam and Barkha Patel is generously supported by the Lindy Green Family Foundation and Margaret & Nancy McNee.
Choreographer: Tanveer Alam
Choreographic contributions by Harikishan S. Nair and Barkha Patel Performers: Barkha Patel, Tanveer Alam Music: Sapna Udara Rajapaksha, Roshin Shabu Live Accompaniment: Mike Lukshis, Gandhaar Amin, Daksh Raj Sharma Dramaturgy: Harikishan S. Nair Costumes: Aditya Garud Lighting: Simon Rossiter
Running Time: 12 minutes
Toronto-based Tanveer Alam started his Kathak training with Sudeshna Maulik and continued further nuanced studies with guru Sandhya Desai. Alam is a 2019 graduate of western contemporary dance from Dance Arts Institute of Canada (DAI). Across the 24/25 season, Alam performed solo presentations at Vilaya Festival (Pittsburgh), The New York Kathak Festival (New York), and Navatman Black Box Baithak (New York). He was a commissioned choreographer for Sampradaya Dance Creation’s 35th year anniversary work, Salaam Rahman, featuring AR Rahman’s oeuvre performed by the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, he premiered his collaborative work Ibaadat with co-choreographer Barkha Patel, at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (Mumbai).
barkha patel is a touring kathak artist, choreographer, and educator. She has trained in kathak with Guru Rachna Sarang and continues her training with Swati Sinha and Dheerendra Tiwari.
barkha’s work has been presented at venues such as Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, Little Island, 92NY, and Chelsea Factory among others. She recently premiered a collaborative work Ibaadat with co-choreographer Tanveer Alam, which toured India. barkha has been a recipient of awards such as Juried Bessie Artist Award (‘23), National Dance Project Finalist (‘24), Princess Grace Dance (‘24) and Special Projects Grant (‘25) through which she is developing a new evening-length work, Ramti Aave - Her Playful Arrival set to premiere in 2026.
The Royal Ballet
Infra
Wayne McGregor, The Royal Ballet’s Resident Choreographer, created Infra in 2008 set to an elegiac score by Max Richter. The title comes from the Latin word for ‘below’ and explores the emotions beneath the surface of human interaction.
Choreography: Wayne McGregor Music: Max Richter Costume Designer: Moritz Junge Dancers: Viola Pantuso, Marco Masciari Répétiteur: Mikaela Polley
Violin I: Astrid Nakamura Violin II: Julie Lin Viola: Grace Lau Cello: Juliana Moroz
Running Time: 4 minutes
The Royal Ballet
Winter Dreams
Former Director and Principal Choreographer of The Royal Ballet Kenneth MacMillan created Winter Dreams in 1991, taking inspiration from Chekhov’s play Three Sisters. In the farewell between Masha and Vershinin, he attempted to ‘capture the atmosphere and melancholy of Chekhov’s masterpiece’. The pas de deux was originally created for Darcey Bussell and Irek Mukhamedov.
The Royal Ballet Director: Kevin O’Hare CBE Principal Coaching: Dame Darcey Bussell DBE
Running Time: 7 minutes
INTERMISSION
Nad-Roop
Chaturang ki Chaupal
Chaturang ki Chaupal draws inspiration from the colourful game board of Chaupal - an ancient game of dice, across which dancers move guided by four majestic ragas, or melodic frameworks, from the Hindustani classical repertoire: Yaman, Bhairavi, Jaijaiwanti, and Adana. The ragas converse, tease, and reveal their inner temperaments—sometimes in contrast, sometimes in harmony!
The choreography is energetic, intricate, and deeply nuanced, showcasing Kathak in its full glory. A confluence of tradition, classicism and creativity, Chaturang ki Chaupal is more than a performance - it is a celebration of classical arts, where the dancers and ragas merge into a powerful, unified aesthetic experience.
FFDN's presentation of Nad-Roop is generously supported by Nancy and Matt Holland and Julie Medland.
For over three decades, Nad-Roop Company from Pune, India has been a vibrant force in the world of Indian classical dance founded and led by renowned Kathak exponent Guru Smt. Shama Bhate. A training destination for over 1000+ students, Nad-Roop is dedicated to holistic artistic development.
Nad-Roop has 50 original dance ballets to its credit, each rooted in Kathak yet fresh in vision. The Company has graced prestigious stages like the Sawai Gandharva Festival, Khajuraho, Kala Ghoda, Purana Qila, etc and international platforms in the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Austria, Malaysia, etc.
Shama Bhate is the Founder and Director of Nad-Roop. With over 50 years in the field, she is a celebrated Kathak performer, choreographer, scholar, and educator. A disciple of Guru Rohini Bhate and Pt. Suresh Talwalkar, Shama has performed at renowned festivals globally, and is known for her ability to blend classical tradition with contemporary sensibility. Her choreographic work is widely acclaimed, earning her honors like the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Maharashtra Rajya Puraskar. Shama Bhate continues to be a powerful force in Indian classical dance, shaping its future with vision, passion, and unwavering dedication.
I had the great pleasure of curating this program in collaboration with Tanveer Alam, one of our country’s greatest Kathak dancers and choreographers. Tanveer and I both grew up training in classical traditions, Tanveer in Kathak and myself in Ballet. We are both equally passionate about the history and future of these dance forms. This program is a love letter to the artists who came before us, a celebration of the artists of today, and aims to lay the ground work for a future where dance forms step beyond silos and into conversation.
This whole evening is a conversation between Kathak and Ballet and we have some of the world’s best dancers here for this conversation. We have Kathak artists from Pune and New Delhi in India, from New York and from Toronto. We have four dancers from London’s The Royal Ballet, but as individuals they are from Ireland, Japan, Italy and America. This is a truly international evening of dance, and exactly what our great city of Toronto deserves.
- Robert Binet, Artistic Director & Co-CEO
One of the first performances I experienced after moving to Toronto was the 2016 edition of Fall for Dance North. Since then, it has been a dream to be part of this festival, and I am honored to now co-curate a program that centres Kathak, a form that has too often existed at the margins.
Just a month ago, we lost Rina Singha, the first Kathak dancer to arrive in Canada in the late 1960s. Her life’s work was devoted to building understanding and literacy around Kathak within the Canadian dance landscape. I carry her vision forward through this program, which celebrates Kathak in its many contexts: diasporic voices, distinct gharanas (aesthetic lineages), and an array of formats from solos and duets to ensemble works, spanning classical repertoire, traditional reimaginings, and contemporary expansions.
The aim is not to justify Kathak’s existence within the Canadian dance ecology by placing it alongside the country’s most heavily funded art form, ballet, but to assert its rightful place. This is a living, breathing community of practice, working with a fraction of the resources allocated to ballet, whose artistry is every bit as rigorous, nuanced, and profound.
I hope this program invites you to encounter Kathak in a new light and allows its rhythm, depth, and excellence to win your heart.
- Tanveer Alam, Co-Curator
Fall for Dance North Festival Production Credits
Director of Design:Simon Rossiter Director of Production:Barney Bayliss Production Manager:Brianne Gwartz Associate Lighting Designer:Noah Feaver Stage Manager: Troy Taylor* Assistant Stage Manager: Liliane Stilwell* Assistant Lighting Designers:Sruthi Suresan,Mathilda Kane
Bluma Appel Theatre: Senior Producer: Ariana Shaw Production Manager: Chris Carlton Head Electrician: Giulia D’Amanzo Head Carpenter: Jay Blencowe Head of Audio: Keijo Makela Head of Props: Wes Allen Head of Wardrobe: Susan Batchelor
*The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy (DOT).
Fall for Dance North Team
Leadership
Robert Binet - Artistic Director & Co-CEO
Lily Sutherland - Festival Director & Co-CEO
Aviva Fleising - General Manager
Melissa Forstner - Director of Advancement and Communications
Milana Glumicic - Director of Marketing
Melina Osorio - Finance Officer
Simon Rossiter - Director of Design
Barney Bayliss - Director of Production
Felicia Myronyk - Manager of Advancement
Markéta Tokova - Senior Producer
Julia Mak - Festival and Volunteer Coordinator
Seasonal Staff
Zita Nyarady - Company Manager
Angela Xu - Company Manager
Charlotte Cain - Content Creator
Lucy Rupert - Education and Engagement Coordinator
Cass Cabral Pucci - Community Arts Coordinator
Noah Feaver - Associate Lighting Designer
Jon Reid - Marketing Coordinator
Maria Al Sa'di - Patrons Services and Administrative Coordinator
Year-Round Collaborators
Web Development & Graphic Design Team -Mouth Media
Publicity & Communications -Murray Patterson Marketing Group
Financial Services -Robert Gore and Associates
To read more about our team and their bios, please visit theOur Team page on the FFDN website.
Celebrate our 11th festival with us at Up Next, our closing festival program, Oct 25-26 at OCAD U!
FFDN is Toronto’s premier professional international dance festival that exists to break boundaries and remove barriers.
With pluralism and affordability at its core, FFDN celebrates, nurtures and amplifies established and emerging Canadian dance artists, creates global connections, and inspires future audiences to sustain the artform.
