Professional Dance Companies
World-Class Talent
Joy of Dance is pleased to support and be home to professional dance
companies Artists In Motion (AIM) and Urbanesque. Each company brings a
unique style with world-class dancers and choreographers to each
performance.
AIM (Artists In Motion)
Artists In Motion Dance Company (AIM) is a multidisciplinary Toronto dance company featuring extraordinary and experienced dancers, performers and choreographers. This unique fusion of dance genres combines Lyrical, Modern, Ballet, Hip Hop, and African to convey the unique story performed through sheer artistry. AIM dancers have performed in award winning shows, movies, and music videos such as Make Your Move, Walt Disney’s Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam with the Jonas Brothers, and Hairspray.
AIM is the winner of MuchMusic’s New.Music.Live.’s Best Dance Crew and has been featured in Xbox’s Dance Central commercial. They have worked the stage with international artists such as Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, Divine Brown, Deborah Cox, Hilary Duff, Nelly Furtado, Flo Rida, Jully Black, Victoria Duffield and Hedley, and have participated as a dance group at the MuchMusic Video Awards, Toronto’s Taste of the Danforth, World Partnership Walk, Toronto International Film Festival, and the Toronto Pride Festival.
Director/Founder/Choreographer – Shameka Blake
Co-Director/Dancer/Choreographer – Esie Mensah
Urbanesque
Urbanesque is more than a dance company; it is a unique dance style that is becoming a movement. Urbanesque, created by Hollywood Jade, is the physical expression of urban music and culture. It is inspired by Musical Theatre, Cabaret, Urban Dance and Burlesque and is presented in a modern day style.
Urban dance has been male dominated since inception. Urbanesque embraces and features some of Toronto’s strongest and most dynamic female dancers and performers in all their amazing diversity and strength. Urbanesque invites all generations, especially the 20 to 30 somethings, to experience the old made new and to enjoy, celebrate, and experience the visual and musical sensation that is Urbanesque.
Original Gentlemen
The Original Gentlemen aka The OG Crew is an all-male Hip-Hop dance crew from Toronto, Ontario. Collectively they have worked with such artists as: Lady Gaga, Danny Fernandez, Victoria Duffield, Lights and Jully Black. They are currently working with recording artist Trish, and have recently performed with her at the America’s Next Top Model Live Show in Toronto.
They have competed at World Of Dance Toronto placing 3rd, and at the Canadian Street Dance Championship placing 3rd, qualifying them to compete at the World Street Dance Championship in England in the summer of 2012. These gentlemen have won numerous awards for their positive energy and stage presence. They are a brotherhood of professional dancers who love to entertain and strive to stay true to their name and to each other.
Awards
2011 World Of Dance Toronto 3rd Place Overall
2011 World Of Dance Toronto Crowd Favourite
2012 Canadian Street Dance Championships 3rd Place
AKUMA - production
Esie Mensah, founder
AKUMA is a story about courage, perseverance and faith. It is a journey of a young man in pursuit of his dream and the rebirth of a family legacy. In the background, AKUMA presents the pulse of Afro beat and contemporary sounds inspiring audiences and educating us on the very fabric of African society.
Designed with the richness and diversity of African culture, AKUMA is a celebration of our heritage through the performing arts fusing dance, theatre and percussion in an entertaining Broadway style production.