Kaeja d’Dance is an award-winning Toronto-based dance company dedicated to innovation in dance performance. They foster and develop Canadian dance talent and works through training, mentorship and exposure at festivals. They also engage and inspire the community by bringing creators and everyday people together to celebrate people’s stories through dance at their annual Porch View Dances event, as well as through their workshop offerings.

Kaeja d’Dance was founded in 1990 by Karen and Allen Kaeja. Both coming from Jewish families who were victims of persecution and mass genocide, for the first 15 years, the company produced dance works inspired by the Holocaust. Subsequently, their work went on to explore the themes of the human experience, identity and personal stories through multimedia performances that include live dance, dance on film and community engagement.

“The Kaejas make dance accessible, exploding barriers between art and life, making dance public in unexpected locations.”

– Toronto Star

Committed to inspiring connections between artists and the community, Kaeja d’Dance provides platforms for and supports the development of new Canadian dance works that are featured both locally and globally. Since the company’s inception, they’ve created 200+ works.

Watch them dance.

About Porch View Dances

An annual summer tradition since 2012, Porch View Dances (PVD) takes dance out of the theatre and brings it to community spaces. Conceived by Co-Artistic Director Karen Kaeja and developed with Co-Artistic Director Allen Kaeja, PVD connects dance creators with everyday people – some of whom are first-time dancers – to create a one-of-a-kind performance celebrating people’s stories in Toronto’s Seaton Village.

From a starting point on London Street between Euclid Ave. and Palmerston Blvd., a tour guide leads audiences around the neighbourhood, pausing to view dance pieces presented on porches, front lawns and sidewalks – performed by people of all ages. Lasting about an hour, the dance storytelling journey concludes with a Flock Landing in a local park, where everyone is invited to join in the dance.

“Since its inception in 2012, PVD has become a favourite summer event recognized by the City of Toronto, which recently renamed one of the Seaton Village laneways ‘Porch View Dances Lane’.”

– Anya Wassenberg, Ludwig Van Toronto

(Photo credits, clockwise from top left: Allen & Karen Kaeja; Ana, Dree & Abena – photos by Kaeja d’Dance; Kristin Fung – photo by Aria Evans)

What we like about this dance company

We love Kaeja d’Dance’s approach to storytelling through dance, both celebrating and remembering a vast variety of human experiences and personal stories. We applaud their commitment to developing Canadian dance talent and works, and promoting them on local and international stages.

We’re particularly excited about their annual Porch View Dances event – and highly recommend it. There’s no pressure to participate in the dance gathering in the park at the end – you can come and experience it as an audience member, cheering the dancers on and maybe even just tapping your feet to the music. And if you feel like dancing, you’ll be in very good company! (Written by C.M.)

Accessibility information: Please refer to the venue or event they’re performing in.

Ideas for where you can go from here:

• • Get to know Kaeja d’Dance.
  • Learn about Porch View Dances. If you’re in the area, plan on attending. They also have volunteer opportunities.
  • Take a look at their upcoming works. If you’re in the area, book a ticket to see them perform.
  • Check out their workshops. They offer training for students, professional dancers and community members.

We love dance companies because they inspire you to think about how movement and gesture can tell a story. Thinking about how movement and gesture can tell a story allows you to open your mind to other ways of telling a story. Opening your mind to other ways of telling a story is part of the flourishing offline life Young W helps you discover: by exploring PERFORMANCE and the other 8 pillars of Arts & Letters, including those you may be hesitant to try.

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