Making the arts accessible to all Torontonians
TO Live provides free and accessible Communities and Outreach programs to people of all ages, in order to grow and further develop the arts community in Toronto.
Photo of Community Class: Afrofusion with Kwasi by Emma Forhan
Community Classes and Workshops
TO Live offers classes and workshops for all levels and ages taught by renowned local and visiting artists.
The classes help keep people active while bringing new people into the arts community.
“I’ve danced for 71 years!” - Dorothy
Dorothy Gordon is a regular at TO Live's free community classes. Over the pandemic, physical distancing hasn't dampened 96-year-old Dorothy's spirit. What she missed most were the people she met in dance class.
As a young girl, her parents preferred she took piano lessons. Unable to pursue her dream, Dorothy began dancing at 24. "And I've danced for 72 years!" she said.
A regular at the jazz dance classes, she also takes the occasional hip hop class. "I came once for hip hop, and it turned out to be breakdancing which is kind of beyond me," laughed Dorothy.
"If everybody got out and did classes and took dance classes, there would be more healthy people around," Dorothy said. "You can see that with the people here — all shapes and sizes, and everyone has a great time."
Your donation ensures dancers of all ages have equal access to try new things and pursue their dreams.
Community Class regular Dorothy Gordon and Rachel Robbins, TO Live Education & Engagement Manager
Discover Dance
Presented by TO Live and Nova Dance
Discover Dance is a free, all-ages, lunch hour series that highlights many of Toronto’s incredible dance artists. Participants are invited to discover, in a warm and intimate setting, diverse dance forms woven into Toronto’s vibrant cultural scene.
Hosted by Neena Jayarajan, Discover Dance is an hour packed with dance and conversation.
TO Live and Nova Dance have partnered with Baycrest@Home to lead an arts and wellness initiative, bringing a special edition of Discover Dance to older adults with memory changes and their families.
The Arts Squad
The Arts Squad offers children ages 5-8 captivating ways to create, perform, and discover their creative talents.
Each episode of The Arts Squad focuses on a different artistic discipline: music, theatre, storytelling, dance, and comic arts; with each discipline taught by a different artist.