Allen’s Thank You Thursday #27
CanAsian Dance Festival
Instead of Throwback Thursday, I’ve decided to say “Thank-You Thursday”, normally to those who have had a deep influence in my life, but most likely are completely unaware of their impact, BUT I will also include those who know their profound influence and is part of who I am today.
#43 - I’d like to say THANK YOU to Denise Fujiwara, visionary, powerhouse and compassionate creator who has inspired generations of dance artists and co-founder of CanAsian Dance Festival - 1997.
In August 1996, fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists (fFIDA – TY #34) was in full swing at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (Buddies), the theatre was packed with audience and line-ups were streaming down the side of the Buddies building. Between shows, I was approached by Saeed Khan, Coordinator of Asian Heritage Month, and asked to become part of a new committee that would focus on Dance within the festival. At this point I, with Michael Menegon, had co-Founded and co-run fFIDA for six years (Canada’s largest international dance festival) and was familiar with organizing, financing, and coordinating such a large endeavor.
A distinguished group of advisors from many Asian dance forms came to the first meeting, including: Jahanara Akhalaq, Denise Fujiwara, myself, Sudha T. Khandwani, Menaka Thakkar, Jennifer Watkins and Carly Wong. By the third meeting, we were told that there was little to no funding for the dance event that year and if we wanted it to happen, they would promote us, but we were on our own…which is exactly what we did!!!
Within 24 hours, Denise and I made the significant phone calls needed, and created the first festival, which premiered at the Winchester Street Theatre in 1997. The dance artists Sudha Khandwani and I invited to perform were: Jahanara Akhalaq (who left this world too early), Peter Chin, Joanna de Souza (nee Das) with Esmeralda Enrique, Yvonne Ng, Mariko Tanabe and Carly Wong.
“CanAsian Dance Festival was formed in 1997 in the final days of Toronto’s Asian Heritage Month Festival by members of its Dance Committee. At a time when Asian dance was rarely presented outside of their discrete cultural communities in Canada, we seized the opportunity to support and present dance from diverse Asian practices, ideas and diasporic experiences, as well as dance artists creating original works. The ways we have done this has evolved over the years as we respond to changing societal conditions and continue to serve our community.” From the CanAsian History page: canasiandance/com/history
In 2002, I initiated a motion to the board of directors, to invite Denise to be sole Artistic Director (AD) of the festival. The motion was passed unanimously. CanAsian also invited Adina Herling as General Manager. In 2012 Denise, always the innovator, initiated Kick Start with six Canadian choreographers paired with mentors and commissioned to create short new works, now evolved into GRIT: Short Dances.
Below is from an interview I gave, for the first CanAsian website designed in the 2000’s.
Interviewer: what inspired you to get involved with CanAsian?
“I have always deeply believed in the creative vibrancy of our independent dance community and that it needed a foundation of support, a festival, a way of identifying their voice.
The first CanAsian festivals primarily focused on the independent and small organizations, and we felt that there was both a need for focused expression in a festival format, that truly distinguished the Asian Dance visionary as an entity unto themselves as well as a format to present these unique voices and support a portion of their future.”
Interviewer: What about CanAsian are you most proud of?
“It’s growth into a dynamic and strongly identified festival as well as the creative and structural support of the community. Working with Denise and Adina has been an absolute INSPIRATION!!!”
Interviewer: What about CanAsian are you most excited about?
“It’s unlimited potential to become one of the largest and most profound festivals in the world!!! Is that too small a request to make ((;-0!!!”
In 2014, knowing the festival was in great hands and with Karen and I touring more, I retired from the board. The festival has evolved over the decades and, with Denise at the head, her belief and faith in the community is not only profound, but visionary.
Thank you, Denise, for your continued leadership, friendship and drive to elevate our community to strive to exceed all expectations and follow their vision with extraordinary care, risk and belief in their imagination.