PHOTO: JED DE LA CRUZ VIA FLICKR (CC BY 2.0)

Harbourfront Centre is the place to go if you feel like seeing some dance performances or feel like dancing yourself. The centre brings cultures and styles from around the world to their festivals, workshops and theatres. If you love to dance, head over to 235 Queens Quay West this summer.

The NextSteps dance series, which has been running since September, will be at Harbourfront until June 8.

In April you can catch the street dance show Music Creates Opportunity by DW206-BBoyizm and the Flamenco show De Idas Y Vueltas by the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company.

In May there will be the contemporary piece NeoIndigen A by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Venom of Love by a Chinese dance and opera company called Little Pear Garden Collective, Afro-Caribbean styled dance in Spring Rites by Ballet Creole, Fulcrum by Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, and cos.mo.pol.i.tan which is an African piece by Lua Shayenne and Company.

The final show of the series in June will be the world premiere of the Indian dance piece In Search of the Other Ganesh by Menaka Thakkar Dance Company.

Dance is also a primary part of the festivals down at Harbourfront. Having volunteered at Harbourfront this past summer, I can honestly say that I don’t remember a single festival that did not have dance performances or workshops.

On July 1, during the Canada Day Extravaganza, a performance called Common Steps will be shown which features a program of vernacular dance.

In association with the Habari Africa festival, the contemporary tribal dance Evolution will be presented by the Ijovudu Dance Company on July 19.

On August 2, Dance Caribe will present a mix of African and Afro-Caribbean styles in association with the Island Soul festival.

One festival is fully dedicated to dancing: the Highland Dance festival on June 7 and 8. The festival will feature a competition presented by the Highland Dancers Association of Canada.

If you are a dancer or just want to try it, dance workshops separate from the festivals are also being offered at Harbourfront centre during the weekend of April 18 to 20.

A song and dance workshop that teaches the basics of the Haudenosaunee style dances will be run by Tribal Vision this weekend as well as a Mexican dance class taught by Hilda Panasiuk, the founder of the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company and an Afro-fusion workshop taught by Toronto born artist Brandon “Bizzy” Owusu.

If lessons aren’t your thing and you would rather bust a move on your terms, there are still activities in which you can show your stuff. Every Thursday starting June 26 through September 4 there is dancing on the pier with live music. Every Friday starting June 27 until August 29 are DJ Deep Fried Fridays where you can enjoy dancing and some deep-fried snacks.

Make sure to check out some of the lakeside fun going on this summer down at Harbourfront centre. Happy dancing!