Common Ground Dance Days (CGDD) produced by TOES FOR DANCE with support from Flight Festival is a free, outdoor, intercultural, and participatory celebration of movement and community that includes:

-energetic and grounded beginner-level dance classes in a variety of styles

-charming and evocative performances featuring both student and professional dancers

-compelling and insightful artist talks through which audience members can learn more about the inspiring featured artists and their creative lives!

This event is connected to Willowdale’s multi-faceted and family-friendly Common Ground Dance Festival that has brought artists and audiences together annually since 2021. In 2026, our programming at Lee Lifeson Art Park is education-focused and will take place over two weekends: September 11-12th and 25-26th. It’s only a hop, skip, and jump away from North York Centre subway station; so it’s easy to join in the fun and try something new! Through our offerings this year, you will be able to witness and experience Indigenous movement traditions, Iranian dance, Bollywood, Western Contemporary, Bharatanatyam, and much more.

Our mission is intercultural, with programming that gathers a diverse constellation of Toronto’s dancers, choreographers, and community members for the purpose of creating connection. We invite you to witness the beauty and power of multiple artistic expressions moving through a shared space, and to contribute your energy and presence to the experience. It is our hope that our friendly vibe, matched with the incredible talent of the artists will move you, uplift you, challenge you, and inspire you.

Whether you’re an experienced dancer or you have an unexplored curiosity for movement, let’s breathe deeply, meet each other amongst the greenery, practice curiosity, and revel in the joys of movement – together!

Note: Common Ground Dance Festival will return with a larger performance-focused format once again in 2027.