NBS Block Party | Canada's National Ballet School

Toronto-based Tanveer Alam started his Kathak training with Sudeshna Maulik and continued further nuanced studies with guru Sandhya Desai. Alam is a 2019 graduate of western contemporary dance from Dance Arts Institute of Canada (DAI). Tanveer has received further kathak training from Pandita Shama Bhate and Sanjukta Sinha. He is currently pursuing mentorships with Harikishan S. Nair and Dheerendra Tiwari.  

Alam has performed in the works of Rina Singha, Lata Pada, Padmini Chettur,  Harikishan S. Nair, Sashar Zarif, Brandy Leary, Lucy Rupert, and Peter Chin, to name a few. As an emerging choreographer, he has presented work at SummerWorks Festival, Battery Dance Festival +, Luminato Festival, and Tangente. As an emerging curator, he has supported programming initiatives with Dancemakers, TOES FOR DANCE, and Flemingdon Park Toronto Public Library. He was the co-curator for the Kathak & Ballet program at Fall For Dance North 2025, a leading international dance festival based in Canada. 

Across the 25/26 season, Alam has performed at The New York Kathak Festival (New York), Fall For Dance North (Toronto), the Aga Khan Museum (Toronto), and Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (Mumbai) to name a few. Recently, he toured Singapore and India as part of Sampradaya Dance Creations’ new work Kintsugi, performed a solo at the prestigious 28th Vasantotsava Kathak Festival presented by Kalashram in New Delhi, India, and was featured as a dancer in the Toronto presentation of Abi Sampa and Rushil Ranjan’s Orchestral Qawwali Project. Tanveer was recently awarded the prestigious Eldred Family Protégé award by the Ontario Arts Foundation.

www.tanveerdance.com

Tanveer’s student will be performing Ardhanarishwara, the unified form of the divine beings of Shiva and Parvati. Through technical and mimetic dance, the dancers detail the different qualities both deities represent. Strength, grace, power, fluidity all come together in this dance composition. 

Tanveer will be teaching Kathak foundational movements at a beginner level. 

Meet Adrianna Exposée, whose quick wit, infectious humor, and unmatched energy in the queer community make her a standout star. Crowned Miss Flash 2026, Miss Capital Pride 2019, Queen of Halloween she’s raised over 100K for charity, showcasing her dedication to making a difference.

Adrianna’s performances captivate with their blend of sophistication and energy, connecting effortlessly with audiences in English, French, and Russian. Specializing in weddings, bingos, birthdays, trivias, and fundraisers, she brings unique charm and excitement to every event.

Through Afro-Caribbean dance movements from the English / Spanish speaking Caribbean, we invite participants to dance with us. The workshop is intended for all levels of experience and for all ages. KasheDance is a dance company that creates and presents Afro-contemporary performances, dance classes, and community engagements.

@kashedance1

@kevinaormsby

Photo credit: Dahlia Katz

Miss Lu began dancing at the age of three and has been in love with it ever since. She is professionally trained in various genres including Ballet, Chinese Classical and Ethnic, Jazz, Modern Contemporary, Hip Hop and Latin Dance. She has performed and choreographed professionally for over 15 years, with repertoire work showcased in media, live stage productions, and theatrical performances. She currently is the Artistic Director of Norman Dance Company, sharing her passion for dance and her knowledge of Chinese Arts & Culture with students of all ages. As a former graduate from the Ryerson University’s Performance Production program, Tia also works independently in Production Stage Management and Costume Design to enhance her artistic career.

@tlcdansa

Chris Mejaki is First Nations - Anishinaabe - Ojibwe. He is originally fom Sagamok Anishnawbek with ties to Wikwemikoong and M'Chigeeng, Manitoulin Island. He is a storyteller based in Toronto, Ontario.

Chris successfully completed three seasons at the Stratford Festival including time as a member of The Stratford Festival's Birmingham Conservatory Program (2022 - 2023) as well as an additional season in 2024. Chris is also an emerging writer and shared his one-man show 'Whistling Pine: A Dark Comedy' at NIFF (Peterborough) and the Toronto Fringe Festival in July 2025, which is a story based on his life events and lived experiences as a First Nations man ground up in anywhere, small town, Canada, from struggling with addiction, to identity, to intergenerational trauma, and to have a spirituyal awakening. Chris is an avid Grass Fancer and emerging hoop dancer. He has led workshops in these styles of dance in different schools, institutions, and communities. More recently he has begun a new speaker series with Durham District School board. This speaker series invites students to explore the importance of building community, the value of sharing our stories, and the empowerment of being yourself, which is rooted in Indigenous teachings and learning. 

Chris is a lover of fashion and style, a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, and makes a mean spaghetti pasta. To view more of his work and life, he can be found on social media via YouTube, Instagarm, Facebook and TikTok, with the handle @chrismejaki.

Photo credit: Rick Roberts

Collette “Coco” Murray is a multi-award-winning dance artist-scholar, stilt dancer (Coco Moko Jumbie) and cultural advocate whose work enhances African‑diasporic and Caribbean arts within Canada’s cultural landscape. Murray’s practice spans across twenty-five years bridging research‑creation, culturally responsive art, performance, and pedagogy as she draws from her PhD‑level scholarship in dance studies. Murray is internationally recognized in 2023 by NDEO for leadership in justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion within dance education and by Toronto Arts Foundation as its 2019 Community Arts Award recipient. Murray’s contributions extend across teaching, sector advocacy and academic publications where she champions anti‑racist, culturally responsive approaches to dance education. She serves as Chair of the Dance Umbrella of Ontario and as a National Board Member of the Canadian Dance Assembly. As the Artistic Director of Coco Collective, she leads a ten-year intergenerational arts ensemble known for culturally responsive projects, activations and programming that transform audiences.

@misscocomurray

@cocomokojumbie

Coco Collective is a Toronto-based, intergenerational arts ensemble dedicated to celebrating and advancing African-diasporic and Caribbean cultural expressions through dance, rhythms, storytelling, and community-engaged practice. Under the artistic direction of Collette “Coco” Murray, the Collective brings together multidisciplinary artists who honour ancestral knowledge while innovating contemporary performance rooted in cultural integrity. With a culturally relevant and responsive approach, Coco Collective company’s work spans across non-proscenium spaces, stage, festival presentations, workshops, and research-creation projects that bridge artistic excellence with social impact. Coco Collective recently completed a regional tour of CALABASH (2025) a dance narrative that weaved Afro‑diasporic voice, dance, music, and storytelling into a transatlantic tapestry exploring labour, food sovereignty, and the social bonds that sustain community through a cultural vessel.

Experience a behind-the-scenes look at Professional Ballet Program (PBP) student presentations, live partnering work, and repertoire rehearsals, from NBS' junior, senior and Company Life Program (CLP) students, in the Betty Oliphant Theatre from 11AM to 4 PM. 

Don’t miss special CLP student choregraphed pop-up performances throughout the afternoon!

The NBS Young Dancers Program (YDP) is a part-time ballet and dance program at NBS designed for children and youth ages 3–17 across the Greater Toronto Area. With two streams to choose from — Intensive Ballet and Open Dance — students can choose the pathway that suits them best! 

Be sure to gather outdoors throughout the day for YDP pop-up performances — a beloved NBS Block Party tradition and one of the day’s most anticipated highlights!

Pushmakers is an emerging national wheelchair dance education and advocacy organization that centres wheelchair using bodies in dance. Pushmakers was founded by Shay Erlich in 2023 through a Guest Curatorship with Dancemakers that was intended to address inequities for professional wheelchair dancers in the dance sector. 

Today Pushmakers is run by both Shay Erlich and Paulina Drohomyrecky as co-directors and offers classes, professional curriculum resources, special events, and programming that center wheelchair users in active movement spaces. Pushmakers champions excellence in wheelchair dance by focusing on technique education and professional development opportunities for both disabled and non-disabled dancers. Pushmakers also supports non-wheelchair using dancers, instructors, choreographers, directors and artistic leaders to work with wheelchair dancers more equitably.  

This fun and playful class explores essential beginner wheelchair dance techniques. We will explore using the pushrims for glides, turns and more! This class will focus on developing push techniques for moving and turning in all directions. If you’re ready to explore more than just rolling forward in your chair, this is the class for you! 

Left image description: Shay on the left, a white non-binary person with dark brown, short, curly hair, strapped in their black framed wheelchair with purple accents, with their hand resting on Paulina’s knee. Paulina on the right, a white non-binary person with their blue, short, wavy hair, facing away from the camera, strapped in their brushed titanium framed wheelchair with blue accents, reaching towards Shay. They are on the stage at The Betty Oliphant Theatre, in rehearsal. 

Photo credit: Sarah Doucet 

No family lives the flamenco tradition more fully than the Scannuras. They are Canada's preeminent flamenco family, pursuing their art form with authenticity and excellence. Since 1995 they have enthralled audiences in dance and music festivals worldwide in venues across North America, Europe and the Middle East. Renowned flamenco guitarist and composer Roger Scannura has recorded over 11 CD’s of original flamenco music.  Artistic Director Valerie Scannura has received acclaim for her numerous self-produced concerts while teaching at her Toronto based school as well as guest teaching at many professional dance schools. Their performance company has received acclaim for their passion and originality, garnering rave reviews for their authentic brand of flamenco that is “bred in the bone”.  You can find out more about them at www.ritmoflamenco.net and www.rogerscannura.ca.

@ritmoflam17

@valritmo

Steel Pan Kam -

My name is Kam (Steel Pan Kam) I have been playing pan for 20 years and an Alumni member of the Hamilton Youth Steel Orchestra (HYSO). From local events to overseas, playing became a passion. I hope to bring positive vibes and joy to any event space, playing in many genres of music, Latin, reggae, soca, & pop to name a few! Feel free to dance, sing, & hold a vibe with me.

@steelpan.kam

Marrlow Paisley -

Born in Hamilton, Ontario. Marrlow Paisley's journey has a musician began at the of 20 when he started playing steel pan, as a member of the Hamilton Youth Steel Orchestra. The instrument ignited his passion for sound and rhythm and connected him with his Caribbean roots. Since fostering his talents as an instrumentalist, he has ventured into the music industry as an R&B artist and producer whose music can be found on all streaming platforms.

@marrlowpaisley

Square Circle is a nonprofit organization that empowers young people through Social Circus arts, mentorship, and creative expression. Our programs help youth build confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of community.

Join us for interactive juggling workshops, circus prop instruction, and a live stage performance.

Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: SquareCircleHQ

Facebook: SquareCircle 

Jamari “Rhino” Whittaker , a charismatic and influential street style dancer, hails from the Scarborough . Born with an innate passion for self expression, he has carved a unique niche for himself in the dance community. Rhino's journey into the world of krump began at a young age, when he was captivated by the raw energy and expressive movements of this dance style from the movie rize.

Over the years he has honed his krumping skills to become a force in the Toronto dance scene. His style is a mesmerizing blend of power, precision, and emotion, which has earned him respect and admiration from fellow dancers and enthusiasts alike.

But Rhino's impact goes beyond his incredible dance talent. He's also a dedicated teacher and advocate for krump culture. Recognizing the power of this art form to uplift and inspire. Sharing his knowledge and passion for krumping to a new generation of dancers, fostering their creativity and self-expression.

Commitment to spreading awareness of krump culture extends beyond the studio. He frequently organizes public performances and workshops, reaching out to communities and schools, helping people understand the roots, history, and significance of krump in the world of dance.

Through his dancing and teaching, Rhino has become a beloved figure in Toronto's dance community, leaving a mark and ensuring that krump culture thrives in the city for years to come.

Instagram:

@rhino__x

@thakvve.Toronto

YouTube: @HARDknoxxFAM