Ground UP Dance Festival 2023

The second year of the dance festival was an exciting one, with more events and a busier line-up. Our community outreach program “Community Chance Dance Creation” was led by Movement Market Collective artist and Festival Producer Camille Spencer. Community members gathered for three intensive and beautiful creation periods exploring Merce Cunningham’s Chance Dance creation method. Supported with live music by Ryan Stilwell, the group performed a live performance to the public followed by an open Q&A. The dancers ranged from 9 - 65 years old.

The festival’s Opening Night Party was led by Sasha French, choreographer and Movement Market collective artist, who discussed the impact of dance within multidisciplinary projects and festivals in Kingston. Hosted at Mussiiki Cafe & Whiskey Bar, the panel welcomed Melissa Noventa, Mo Horner, and Greg Tilson.

Free dance workshops were led by the festivals featured guest artist Devanshi Mishra (Bollywood) and Benedictus Mattson (Afrobreats) in the Amphitheatre in Springer Market Square. The workshops featured styles reflected the artists background and the choreography performed at the Mainstage performance event.

The annual Mainstage performance event for Ground UP Dance Festival, at the paved performance pad of Lake Ontario Park, featured new dance works from featured guest artists Benedictus Mattson and Devanshi Mishra, plus a new creation from emerging choreographer, Ysabel Garcia, performed by Kingston emerging artists and the Movement Market Collective, and a remounted work by The Bulb Collective (Montreal).


Photography by Shanique Peart