TOES FOR DANCE

What TOES FOR DANCE does

TOES FOR DANCE (TFD) is a Toronto-based artist-run non-profit dance organization founded in 2012 by David Norsworthy and Kristen Carcone and incorporated as a non-profit in 2015. It operates an interconnected portfolio of programs including Fresh Dance Intensive (a weekend dance intensive for ages 8–18 in Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Improvisation held at Canada's National Ballet School), Common Ground Dance Festival (a free outdoor intercultural festival at Lee Lifeson Art Park in North York), Lakeshore Dance Series (pay-what-you-can programming at Assembly Hall in Etobicoke), and Process+Practice Dance Residency (a multi-year artist residency developed in partnership with the City of Toronto, the first dance residency at a city-owned venue). Cumulative impact metrics since 2007 include 29,576 participants, 295 events produced, $326K in scholarships awarded, 1,821 paid artist opportunities, 99 organizational partners, and engagement of 400+ artists across nine Canadian provinces and U.S. states.

The organization is funded through a diversified stack of public, private, and earned sources: government arts council project grants from Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Department of Canadian Heritage; individual donations (including a recurring "Infinity Supporters" cohort — note: not a registered charity, so donations are not tax-deductible); corporate/foundation support (e.g., Lindy Green Family Foundation, Toronto Arts Foundation/Arts in the Parks); and program registration fees for Fresh Dance Intensive priced at $260 + HST early bird and $290 + HST regular, with full/half scholarships and need-based aid available. Pricing across public programs is set for accessibility, with free festival entry and pay-what-you-can performances. Distribution is multi-venue across Greater Toronto, with marketing concentrated in website, email newsletter, social media, and partner-network outreach. The technology footprint is intentionally light — Squarespace website, Zeffy ticketing, and Mailchimp-style newsletter — with no public APIs or proprietary software.

TFD is led post-March 2024 by Co-Artistic Directors David Norsworthy and Chantelle Good, supported by five staff (Associate Artistic Director, two Artistic Producers, Marketing Manager, Communications + Access Coordinator) and a Board of Directors chaired by Dianne B. Oliveira, with an active multi-year Co-Visioning Process underway in 2024–25 to realign organizational direction. The artistic paradigm blends Modern, Contemporary, and Improvisation dance with mindfulness, reiki, and Nonviolent Communication, prioritizing intercultural exchange, equity-seeking artists, and accessible community programming.

Name

TOES FOR DANCE

Legal name

TOES FOR DANCE

Website

https://toesfordance.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TOES FOR DANCE is a Toronto-based artist-run non-profit dance organization operating Fresh Dance Intensive (youth ages 8–18), Common Ground Dance Festival, Lakeshore Dance Series, and Process+Practice Dance Residency, serving youth dancers, community audiences, and professional/emerging artists across Greater Toronto.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Dance Education and Community Programming

NAICS

Dance Companies (71112), Dance Companies (711120), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Cultural & Folk Dance Performances (MPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Contemporary dance programs
• Youth dance education
• Intercultural dance festival
• Artist residency programs
• Community dance engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Individual Contributions: Recurring monthly and annual donations from individual supporters, including a group of Infinity Supporters. TFD is a non-profit organization but not a charity, so donations are not tax-deductible.
2. Government Arts Council Grants: Project grants from government-funded arts councils including Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Canada Council for the Arts that cover expenses related to specific projects.
3. Program Registration Fees: Registration fees for Fresh Dance Intensive: $260 + HST before July 1, 2026; $290 + HST after July 1, 2026. Fees are set below market rates compared to commercial dance intensives.
4. Venue and Partnership Revenue: Partnership presentations with City of Toronto for Assembly Hall programming, including ticket revenue from pay-what-you-can performances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TOES FOR DANCE is an artist-run non-profit dance organization that produces and delivers community dance programming in Toronto, including the Fresh Dance Intensive (a weekend youth dance intensive for ages 8-18), Common Ground Dance Festival (a free outdoor intercultural dance festival), Lakeshore Dance Series (community dance classes and performances), and Process+Practice Dance Residency (artist residency at Assembly Hall). The organization also creates immersive dance-theatre productions and supports professional and emerging dance artists through paid opportunities and workshops.

Product overview

TOES FOR DANCE is a Toronto-based artist-run non-profit dance organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include Fresh Dance Intensive (youth dance program for ages 8-18), Common Ground Dance Festival (intercultural outdoor festival), Lakeshore Dance Series (performance series at Assembly Hall), and Process+Practice Dance Residency (artist residency program). The organization also produces immersive dance-theatre productions and previously operated Ignite Movement Lab. Programs emphasize community engagement, artistic exchange, and inclusive dance education across Toronto.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fresh Dance Intensive A weekend dance intensive for young movers ages 8-18 featuring classes in Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Improvisation, with goal-setting and reflection sessions. Emphasizes life skills including confidence, awareness, focus, risk-taking, and teamwork. Hosted at Canada's National Ballet School in Toronto with merit and need-based scholarships available.
• Common Ground Dance Festival A free, outdoor, intercultural dance festival featuring beginner-level dance classes, performances, and artist talks at Lee Lifeson Art Park in North York. Showcases diverse dance traditions including Bollywood, Kathak, Contemporary, Bharatanatyam, and Indigenous movement. Co-presented with North York Arts and Flight Festival of Contemporary Dance.
• Lakeshore Dance Series A dance series featuring beginner dance classes, community gatherings, and performances by local artists and choreographers at Assembly Hall in Etobicoke. Formerly known as Process+Practice. Includes outdoor dance jams, development performances, premiere dance presentations, and repertoire showings on a free or pay-what-you-can basis.
• Process+Practice Dance Residency A two-year residency program for local dance artists supporting research, creation, and presentation of new works. Includes rehearsal space, community workshops, open rehearsals, and double bill performance opportunities at Assembly Hall in Etobicoke, in partnership with the City of Toronto.
• TOES FOR DANCE Productions (immersive dance-theatre productions) Immersive dance-theatre productions featuring site-specific performances, audience interaction, and thematic explorations around social issues. Includes Dinner is Served (2023), Elusive Truths (2021), Possibilities of Dialogue (2019-2020), and 4-7-8 (2018).

Quantifiable outcome

• 29,576 total cumulative participation count at workshops and performances since 2007
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• City of TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity-owned Assembly Hall venue partnership for Process+Practice Dance Residency and Lakeshore Dance Series. First-ever dance residency program at a City-owned venue.
• Flight Festival of Contemporary DancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Common Ground Dance Days. Founded by Carol Anderson and Gorge Michael in 2021. Partnership deepening intercultural mission through collaboration.
• North York ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Common Ground Dance Days. Local arts organization supporting intercultural programming at Lee Lifeson Art Park.
• Lakeshore ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts organization providing support for Lakeshore Dance Series and Process+Practice programming. Part of community consultation initiative.
• ĀNANDAṀ (Anandam Dance Theatre)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance company providing discounted rehearsal studio access at Collective Space for residency artists. Co-presenter of Process+Practice series.
• Campbell House MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSite-specific venue partner for immersive production Dinner is Served (2023) at historical Toronto location.
• Canada's National Ballet SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner hosting Fresh Dance Intensive programming at their Toronto facility.
• TO LiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerToronto venue organization providing additional support for Common Ground Dance Festival programming.
• Canadian Contemporary Dance TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting early programming including Ignite! and knees and toes productions.
• DanceWorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance presentation organization; partnered on early programming and designing for dance research project.
• DancemakersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance creation organization providing support for Lakeshore Dance Series repertoire programming.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre: An explicit TFD partner (co-presented Ignite! and knees and toes productions). Toronto-based youth-focused contemporary dance organization with educational programming and performance seasons, directly overlapping TFD's Fresh Dance Intensive and performance mandate.
• Toronto Dance Theatre: Toronto-based contemporary dance company and school with a comparable non-profit model, producing performance seasons and offering community/educational programming. Directly comparable as a Toronto artist-driven dance organization of similar scale.
• Dancemakers: Toronto-based dance creation organization that is a confirmed TFD partner supporting Lakeshore Dance Series repertoire programming. Operates a similar artist-centered model focused on creation, production, and presentation of contemporary dance work.
• Citadel + Compagnie: Toronto contemporary dance organization operating a residency model and presenting local and visiting choreographers. Comparable in scale and in offering structured artist residencies and performance programming.
• Fall for Dance North: Toronto multi-week dance festival presenting diverse programming including Kathak and contemporary work (TFD board member Carmelina Martin helped curate the 2025 season). Comparable festival-format platform serving Toronto dance audiences.
• Ballet Creole: Toronto-based non-profit dance company with an Afro-Caribbean and intercultural mandate, producing performances and community programming. Closely comparable to TFD's intercultural and equity-seeking artist development focus.
• DanceWorks: Toronto dance presentation organization and confirmed TFD partner (collaborated on early programming and the Designing for Dance research project). Directly comparable as a Toronto-based presenter supporting independent dance artists and productions.
• Peggy Baker Dance Projects: Toronto-based solo artist-driven dance company focused on creation, touring, and presenting contemporary work. Comparable as an artist-run Toronto non-profit of similar headcount and operational model.
• ĀNANDAṂ Dance Theatre: Toronto-based South Asian contemporary dance company and confirmed TFD partner providing discounted Collective Space rehearsal access. Directly comparable as a Toronto equity-seeking dance company supporting local artist residencies.

Broad incumbents

• The National Ballet of Canada: Canada's largest ballet company headquartered in Toronto. Operates as a broader incumbent in the same Toronto dance ecosystem where TFD's National Ballet School venue partnership situates it; much larger scale and institutional footprint than TFD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/toes-for-dance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TOES FOR DANCE