Future Leadership of FFDN
The Board of Directors of Fall for Dance North is excited to announce the appointment of an exceptional co-directorship, Lily Sutherland as FFDN’s Festival Director & Co-CEO and Robert Binet as Artistic Director & Co-CEO, to lead the organization forward into its next decade. With discerning eyes, vast international networks and strong ties across the Toronto dance community, this co-leadership team rose to the top in an extensive and competitive international search led by Martin Bragg and Associates.
We are extremely excited to work together in this new co-leadership model to shape the next chapter of Fall for Dance North and build on Ilter’s extraordinary decade of leadership.The festival is a crucial part of Toronto’s cultural sector, and we are committed to continuing to grow audiences for dance through bold and accessible programming. We look forward to placing Toronto and Canada’s most exciting dance artists in their rightful international context through programming that illuminates connections between dance happening here and around the world. This is an exceptional opportunity to design innovative and wide-ranging dance experiences that will inspire audiences and enrich the cultural life of this city. FFDN has an exceptional staff and Board with whom we look forward to working in pursuit of the organization's mission and values; together, we will ensure long-term success for the organization.
Photo by Bruce Zinger
Lily Sutherland began her career with the festival in 2018, excelling in every position she held. As FFDN’s current Executive Producer, her production skills are unsurpassed. She is known throughout the Toronto dance community for the care and attention with which she partners and collaborates, and she possesses a rich global dance network.
Robert Binet comes to FFDN from The National Ballet of Canada where he has held many significant roles, most recently as Director, Artist Development Programmes and Choreographic Associate. He is a choreographer of international renown, creating works for The National Ballet of Canada, The Royal Ballet (London), New York City Ballet, and others.
“We are thrilled to announce new leadership for the Fall for Dance North Festival” says Valerie Wilder, FFDN Board Chair. “Lily Sutherland, Festival Director & Co-CEO, and Robert Binet, Artistic Director & Co-CEO will together guide the future of the Festival, beginning their tenure with programming for 2025. Both leaders have extensive experience with FFDN and deeply believe in our mission of animating the Toronto community with vibrant, exciting and affordable dance. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary in the coming months and recognize the achievements of our founding Artistic Director, Ilter Ibrahimof, we look forward to embarking on a bright future with our new co-directors.
Ilter Ibrahimof, current and founding Artistic Director of FFDN, shares, “I am thrilled with the appointment of Robert and Lily as co-leaders of FFDN. Over the past 8 years, I have seen Lily’s excellence in everything she has produced. She understands FFDN inside and out, has a strong curatorial eye, and is a valued community engager. Robert has partnered with FFDN on many levels, including a major new commission, Children of Chaos, for FFDN 2017, created on a global cast of Canadian dancers working abroad. Through his Creative Action programs at The National Ballet of Canada, Robert has collaborated with us on FFDN presentations at Union Station and been an absolute delight to work with. Creating opportunities for the next generation has always been important to me and I will follow this new team with great enthusiasm. I look forward to staying in touch and supporting their vision for the future.”
Lily and Robert will step into their Festival Director, Artistic Director, and Co-CEO roles at FFDN on November 4, 2024.
GET TO KNOW LILY AND ROBERT
Lily Sutherland (she/her) is a dynamic and visionary dance producer and programmer with over a decade of experience leading creative teams, developing innovative artistic concepts, and delivering exceptional programs. Lily has held a range of dynamic positions for dance and theatre festivals in Canada, including Luminato, The Toronto Fringe Festival and The Hamilton Festival Theatre Company. Lily has been with FFDN since 2018, having held various leadership roles, most recently serving as Executive Producer where she was responsible for developing and overseeing delivery of all festival programming.
Lily holds a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Ottawa (2014) and has studied Clown and Le Jeu at Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris, France (2017). She is a practicing artist, having created and produced seven original works and toured nationally with indie theatre company Passing Through Theatre (co-founded in 2015). Her artistic work has been commissioned and presented by festivals such as In The Soil, Frost Bites and Forward March/Theatre Direct, among others.
In 2022 Lily was selected to participate in the Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Montreal (The Festival Academy/FTA), and as of 2023, is a proud Board Member of O.Dela Arts/Matriarchs Uprising Festival, which supports the creation and production of contemporary Indigenous choreography by women.
Robert Binet (he/him) is a choreographer, curator and leader and has created works for The National Ballet of Canada, The Royal Ballet, The New York City Ballet and more. Robert was Choreographic Associate with The National Ballet of Canada from 2013-2024 and created 16 works for the company, including The Dreamers Ever Leave You, an immersive ballet first performed at the Art Gallery of Ontario and later toured within Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, and the original choreography for Karen Kain’s Swan Lake. Robert’s most recent creation was Dark with Excessive Bright for The Royal Ballet which was hailed as ‘intoxicating’ by The Times.
Robert also served as Director of Artist Development Programmes for the National Ballet and created the Creative Action program which supported the development of over 200 new works by Canadian choreographers from 2018-2024. Robert created Sharing the Stage which built new audiences for dance in Toronto and led the company’s Apprentice Programme. In 2023, Robert was the Choreographic Mentor at the Venice Biennale College Danza and guest curator for the Dance: Made in Canada festival. In the same year, Robert received the Sandra Faire Next Generation Award from Dance Collection Danse, awarded to an individual under 40 who is making a significant impact on dance in Canada.
WELCOME LILY AND ROBERT
If you would like to make a gift to celebrate Lily and Robert’s appointment, please consider supporting FFDN’s campaign for the future: Dancing Forward. You can learn more and make your donation here.