Kick Up Your Heels... Your Chance To Dance! Toronto's Hot Spot For Multicultural Entertainment Presents A Dance Fest That Will Have You Dancing To Many Different Beats. Kick Up Your Heels... Your Chance to Dance! is a dance and movement festival unlike any other in Canada. This unique festival runs from July 13 to 15 at Harbourfront Centre on Toronto's downtown waterfront. Harbourfront Centre's Rhythms of the World summer festival series presents this unusual weekend "back, by popular demand, for its second year" comprising over 40 free workshops and dance lessons, plus live music and dance performances, dance-themed film screenings, visual arts, and great food. At the In-Motion Market, festival-goers can sample and then book year-round instruction opportunities that suit their individual lifestyles. Even visitors who are shy about actual participation can experience the sheer pleasure of watching a whirlwind of dance-inspired movement, ranging from ballet to breakdancing to yoga and involving everyone from babies to seniors. Brad Denys is a dance and circus performer whose explosive but graceful style is displayed in a duet with a body-size metal hoop, combining acrobatics and dance movement. Here are some dance performance highlights: • Arkan Ukrainian Dance Company performs colorful and traditional Ukrainian dance led by Danovia Stechishin • Paula Moreno Spanish Dance Company heats up the Norigen Stage with passionate flamenco and other Spanish dance • Temple Knights Martial Arts contributes a performance of fight-choreography followed by a class of kung fu and tai chi. • The Next Step is a company led by Ryan Foley. The troupe will perform a blistering style of urban tap on the Ann Tindal Stage. • The Argentine Tango Academy burns up the stage with the passion and power of Latin dance. Free Dance and Movement Classes & Workshops Among the festival's 40-plus participatory and learning opportunities, highlights include African-inspired dance class with Vivine Scarlett, setting the stage for the Lágbájá concert which follows; capoeira class with Grupo Allianca Ariri Asatoca; and salsa with Betty Colon. Danita Salamida, dance captain from Fame - The Musical in New York City, choreographs the public and for those who want to learn the merengue, Pedro Salazar shows how it's done. Afro-funk dance class with Vivine Scarlett is available along with Middle Eastern bellydancing and Tango with the Argentine Tango Academy. The Brigantine Room becomes the Rhythm Room, with Afro-jazz, breakdancing and hip-hop dancing taking place throughout Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, The Rhythm Room serves up jazz and hip-hop with Linda Garneau and hip-hop with Clarence Ford, choreographer from the TV series Popstars. Free Concerts The dance instruction during Kick Up Your Heels...Your Chance to Dance! is complemented by live music, giving audiences an ideal way to practice their new moves. Lágbájá from Nigeria performs an intriguing amalgam of juju, funk, highlife and traditional Yoruba music performed by a masked lead singer. Afro-pop dance band Radio Nomad open for the group and Friday night wraps up with the Afro-Carib-Canadian rhythms of vocalist Mosa Neshama. Live music on Saturday is highlighted by the arrival of Scottish big band Salsa Celtica. The group's huge sound fuses fiery, exuberant Latin rhythms with the whirl and skirl of Scottish folk music. Vibrason groove with their salsa charanga to open the show . Samba Squad, a 16-piece percussive group whose penetrating rhythms carry on the traditions of Brazil's Bahia province, appears at the festival while Medina combines Arabic, Yiddish and improvisational music to open the show for them. The festival even includes shopping! In-Motion Market : Here visitors have the opportunity to sign up for year-round activities, lessons and classes, presented throughout the city, most of which are demonstrated on-site during the weekend. International Marketplace: Providing a fascinating array of jewellery, clothing, artwork and crafts, Harbourfront Centre's outdoor marketplace offers handmade treasures from the four corners of the world. The marketplace is open on weekends all summer. Live music on Saturday is highlighted by the arrival of Scottish big band Salsa Celtica. The group's huge sound fuses fiery, exuberant Latin rhythms with the whirl and skirl of Scottish folk music. So if you happen to be in Toronto from July 13 - 15, or live in Toronto, head down to the waterfront and dance your feet off to the exciting rhythms of the world! All events take place in and around York Quay Centre, 235 Queens Quay West. For more information, contact the Norigen Hotline at 416-973-3000 or info@harbourfront.on.ca. This website: Copyright © 2000 Dream World Media / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in Urban Mozaik Magazine are not necessarily those of Urban Mozaik Magazine and the publisher cannot be held responsible for them. This website/publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.