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Allen Kaeja, a white man with a moustache, wearing a brown top hat, glasses, and short black pants with suspenders over a white tank top, speaks into a megaphone. In the background are audience members of all ages sitting or standing by the sidewalk in front of a house.
Allen Kaeja, a white man with a moustache, wearing a brown top hat, glasses, and short black pants with suspenders over a white tank top, speaks into a megaphone. In the background are audience members of all ages sitting or standing by the sidewalk in front of a house.
Photo: Kaeja d’Dance

Community dance event

with real people in Toronto's Seaton Village neighbourhood.

Photo: Kaeja d’Dance

Home Events Performance Porch View Dances 2023

Porch View Dances 2023

Join Kaeja d’Dance for their 12th Annual Porch View Dances!

Porch View Dances is Real People Dancing in Real Spaces.

– Kaeja d’Dance

Kaeja d’Dance presents its 12th annual Porch View Dances (PVD), taking dance out of the theatre and bringing it to community spaces. Conceived by Co-Artistic Director Karen Kaeja in 2012 and developed with Co-Artistic Director Allen Kaeja, PVD has been connecting dance creators with everyday people – some of whom are first-time dancers – to create a one-of-a-kind performance celebrating people’s stories in Toronto’s Seaton Village.

From a starting point on London Street between Euclid and Palmerston, a tour guide leads audiences around the neighbourhood, pausing to view dance pieces presented on porches, front lawns and sidewalks – performed by people of all ages. Lasting about an hour, the dance storytelling journey concludes with a Flock Landing in a local park, where everyone is invited to join in the dance.

“Since its inception in 2012, PVD has become a favourite summer event recognized by the City of Toronto, which recently renamed one of the Seaton Village laneways ‘Porch View Dances Lane’.”

– Anya Wassenberg, Ludwig Van Toronto

About Kaeja d’Dance

Founded in 1990 by Karen and Allen Kaeja, Kaeja d’Dance is an award-winning Toronto-based dance company dedicated to innovation in dance performance. Their work explores the themes of the human experience, identity and personal stories through multimedia performances that include live dance, dance on film and community engagement. Since the company’s inception, they’ve created 200+ works and continue to foster and develop Canadian dance talent through training, mentorship and exposure at festivals.

Ana and Dree are facing Abena. Dree and Abena are reaching for each other, while Ana is just behind Dree, her hands forming a V-shape, and wrists together. They are standing on the porch of a house.

Ana, Dree and Abena

(Photo credits: Kaeja d’Dance)

 

Event details

Hosted by: Kaeja d’Dance

Type of event: outdoor community dance performance (throughout a residential neighbourhood)

Creator: Karen Kaeja, developed with Allen Kaeja

Co-curators: Sofi Gudiño & Sid Ryan Eilers

Tour guide: Mary Moonshine

Choreographers & dancers: See this year’s list of choreographers & dancers

Dates & times:

  • Wednesday, August 9 – Saturday, August 12 at 7:00 PM ET;
  • Sunday, August 13 at 2:00 PM ET

Duration: approximately 60 minutes

Number of sessions: 5

Cost: Pay-as-you-wish

Location: Starting point on London St. (between Euclid Ave. and Palmerston Blvd.) and travelling throughout Seaton Village, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Trailer: Watch the trailer

Contact Details: Kaeja d’Dance; 416-516-6030, kaeja@kaeja.org, www.kaeja.org

 

Accessibility: This performance event takes place outdoors in a residential neighbourhood, and includes walking and standing on the street and sidewalks for about an hour, and concluding on a grass surface in a park. Audience members may bring a chair if they need to sit while viewing the performances.