Falling Into Autum - A Toronto weekend Dance Jam

WHAT IS THE "FALLING INTO AUTUMN JAM"? As we head into the season of harvest and coziness, we want to dance with you at the “Falling into Autumn” annual weekend-long jam! Oct 10-12, at the National Ballet School in Toronto, 400 Jarvis st. We’re creating a weekend of dancing, connection, and care—centered on trust, open communication, and being in space together. This jam is access-focused and intentionally welcoming, with efforts to remove barriers so more folks can join us. Contact improvisation is magical because it's not codified—everyone brings their own style. We celebrate dancers of all experience levels, identities, and body types. Your presence, your body, and your lived experience are what will make this jam amazing. Whatever your style, we offer options to support you: technique classes with local and traveling teachers, guided jams with themes like the Blindfold jam, and open jams for unstructured exploration. An Elder Guest who’s been dancing CI for 45 years will also be present to be with us with his knowledge and experience. Inspired by the season, we’re making the space cozy with cushions and mats in the studios for when you want to rest while staying in the room. Saturday night we’ll share a catered dinner and enjoy film screenings of contact dance from around the world, including local submissions. With just 1–2 events at a time, there’s space to breathe, dance, and truly get to know each other. We hope you’ll finish this weekend feeling a sense of collaboration and togetherness with your fellow dancers, and a sense of excitement and inspiration for your own dancing. ORGANISERS: Adrian Chuquipiondo Sarah Jones Kathleen Rea Apples Sebastian Jayeden Walker TEACHERS: Luke Anderson- Toronto Sashah Klapkew - Salt Spring Island Kathleen Rea - Toronto Tanya Williams - Kitchener/Waterloo Kunji Ikeda - Toronto Sarah Jones - Toronto MUSICIAN IN RESIDENCE: Janice Jo Lee CI ELDER GUEST: Martin Keogh TRAILERS: Festival: https://youtu.be/7GIAY5GJbkU Meet Sashah Klapkew: https://youtu.be/unaSCg-7avM Film Screening trailer: https://youtu.be/6ntvPWpYVk4 MEALS Participants will provide their meals However, on Saturday night, we will have a catered Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-free group Harvest dinner. Please note there will be a chicken topping option for those who need meat. DATES AND TIMES: Friday, October 10, 2025, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Saturday, October 12, 2025, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm LOCATION: Celia Franca Centre, 400 Jarvis St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2G6, Canada (wheelchair accessible and barrier-free) RATES $200 Full Festival Late-bird (Paying after October 1) * Please note if you buy this pass after Thursday October 9, 2025 it will NOT include the Saturday night harvest diner as we will have already have sent our number to the caterer. ----- $25 Just Friday Night $110 Just Saturday * Please note if you buy this pass after Monday October 6, 2025 it will NOT include the Saturday night harvest diner as we will have already have sent our number to the caterer. $90 Just Sunday ----- $10 Just Every Body Can Dance Jam $30 just Tanya’s Class $60 Just Sashah Klakew Saturday Advanced class pus jam afterwards $20 Just beginner class $10 Just IBPOC Jam $20 Just the Film Screening $20 Just the Ecstatic Dance $25 Saturday Double Package: Film Screening and the Ecstatic Dance $55 Saturday Triple Package: Harvest Diner, Film Screening and the Ecstatic Dance *This pass is on sale only until Monday October 6, 2025 due to the fact that that is when we send the caterer our numbers $45 Just Sashah Klakew Sunday All levels class $55 Just Blindfold Jam plus the jam afterwards SCHOLARSHIPS: No one gets turned away due to a lack of funds. Contact [email protected] if you need more support than the above scale affords and we will give you a discount code to purchase a pass. SCHEDULE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NsNtSqeLRHNaFbM3dZDnpwVoK7iMALT_/view?usp=drive_link BILLETING Adrian Chuquipiondo is organizing the billeting. Contact him through our billet forms Billet request: https://forms.gle/KdN5bQMUfWppFLJd8 Host volunteer: https://forms.gle/UNyYqyWAyA7iw2MYA ACCESS: Celia Franca Center is a barrier-free, wheelchair-accessible space. Wellesley is the closest subway station with an elevator. If you have accessibility questions or want to discuss accommodation that you may need, please get in touch with [email protected] JAM GUIDELINES: All participants must read at the point of purchase. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VvM85pJ_2gE58dANWztFLy5N4KoAZ49U/view?usp=drive_link All beginners to contact improvisation must read: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fkmC2yTfJUUDSEIVls5UtqC0Ke1F_A3C/view?usp=sharing QUESTIONS: Please send questions to [email protected] ILLNESS PREVENTION POLICY: - Masking is by choice (about 5% to 10% of participants tend to wear masks) - Please do not attend if you are sick - Please cover any skin sores with a medical-grade band aid. REFUND POLICY: Refunds with two-week notice will be minus a $20 admin fee. Refunds with less than two-week notice will be minus a $40 admin fee (we will have already paid for your catered meal) REASON D'ETRE DANCE IS SUPPORTED BY: The Toronto Arts Council Ontario Arts Council (through the Ontario Government) Canadian Heritage Foundation Some of the equipment was funded through an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant. PRODUCED BY: REAson d’etre dance (RDD) www.reasondetre.com