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Pankaj Mishra and his group will perform with ancient Indian acoustic instruments such as sarangi, santoor and tabla, and vocals and saxophone with a pure Indian musical touch. Their presentation will cover the flavours of northern India and present a piece of pure classical composition belonging to Indian classical music called Gharana. This is followed […]

Drawing into Threads is a collective of textile artists, designers, embroiderers, researchers and civil society advocates spread between Toronto, Karachi and Islamabad. Each of us have varied expertise, and these drawings and embroideries trace the encounter between our different worlds. All the works presented here are made collectively; no single author or lead exists. Done […]

Canada’s largest opera producer, the Canadian Opera Company, is celebrating the launch of its 2023/2024 season with three opportunities to catch a special one-hour community concert alongside Toronto’s waterfront.  Experience the exhilarating power of live opera as COC artists share a selection of highlights from the company’s upcoming season, featuring classic favourites and rare gems […]

Experience an authentic Indian kitchen experience learning to cook and understand the nuances of the food, ingredients, techniques and spices used to create classic Indian recipes. Each cooking demonstration offers a one-hour demonstration led by guest chefs focusing on local and seasonal cooking. Areas covered will include the seasonality of ingredients, how to eat more […]

Join us on the Concert Stage for a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ with an Indian twist in Ram Leela (2013). The film focuses on the story of Ram and Leela, their love, lust and the drama that unfolds afterwards. 155 mins

Join us for a sensory tour of three Canadian-crafted bean-to-bar chocolates that take you to India with Indian-grown cacao and beyond. Start with cacao grown around Pollachi and work through other countries as you discover the varied flavours, aromas and styles of cacao that represent Indian aromas and flavour. Think of this as the chocolate […]

Join an educational discussion on the mighty millets – the grain of 2023, and why it’s high time more Canadians knew about them and enjoyed their nutty-nuanced goodness.  We aim to use this platform to introduce audiences to the world of millets through a demonstration followed by a panel discussion. Why millets? Apart from the […]

Welcome to the vibrant world of Indian folk dances. The Navrang Indian Folk Dance Competition, presented by Sanskriti Arts, is an extraordinary celebration of the rich cultural tapestry of India. This event will showcase a variety of folk dances from different states, including Garba-Raas, Bhangra, Rajasthani, Lavani and many others. Get ready to witness the […]

An afternoon of dance and cultural celebration as Puja Amin and Sanskriti Arts presents Mid-day Masti, a vibrant two-hour dance program at Stage in the Park. Audiences will enjoy different dance styles like classical kathak and Bollywood and how each type showcases the rich traditions of Indian dance.   Post-performance, audiences can participate in an interactive […]

Nothing spells India like a samosa & chai. 6 chefs battle it out in three rounds to find out who the audiences vote as the best snack that accompanies a masala (spiced) chai. The competition will comprise of one round and will be ticketed, as each chef will be bringing pre-cooked snacks for 150 people. 

The Bollywood Workout. BollyX strives to bring together two very diverse regions by joining them and providing a fusion in the dance-fitness industry where East meets West. BollyX is a Bollywood-inspired cardio dance fitness class that will make you sweat and smile at the same time! So, come join Safa Jabrani at the Stage in […]

Join us in our studio theatre for a screening of Pan Nalin’s Angry Indian Goddesses (2015) – one of the first films to put modern-day Indian women and their friendships at the story’s heart. You will be taken on a journey through the experiences of Indian women as they navigate everything from love and family […]

An Indian-alternative artist exploring the multitude of influences that create her sound, Shirsha weaves her pop aesthetic with unconventional chord progressions and vocals for a mashup of original songs and popular covers in Bollywood and Hindi to urban jazz and R&B. With an experimental and improvisational approach to her music, audiences will enjoy her performances […]

The nationally renowned JUNO-nominated band Autorickshaw blends jazz, folk, pop and Indian classical music ranging from Leonard Cohen to Indo-Brazilian fusion, Peter Gabriel to Bollywood hits. Known for giving the audience a world-fusion experience on the stage, Autorickshaw features the sultry vocals of lead vocalist Suba Sankaran, anchored by the melodic bass lines and beatboxing […]

Experience an authentic Indian kitchen experience learning to cook and understand the nuances of the food, ingredients, techniques and spices used to create classic Indian recipes. Each cooking demonstration offers a one-hour demonstration led by guest chefs focusing on local and seasonal cooking. Areas covered will include the seasonality of ingredients, how to eat more […]

Experience the magic of No Strings Attached, from world-renowned musician and maverick sitar player Hidayat Husain Khan, for a unique love story told through music, visuals and powerful spoken words. The performance will capture you through the beats of the tabla and drums, bass and guitar amplified with powerful spoken words. It will be magic. […]

With roots in Assamese folk and Hindustani classical traditions and a love for jazz, pop and blues, musician Mita Baruah creates original music that is happy and upbeat while also reflecting on the themes of lived experiences, her home country and Canada. Backing Baruah are music director, composer and guitar player Jayanta Pathak, Ian D’Souza […]

The Lunchbox (2013) is the acclaimed Hindi-language debut drama written and directed by Ritesh Batra. Warm, affectionate and sweet, the film, shot in Mumbai, is a story that follows the neglected lives of two very different people (played by the brilliant Nimrat Kaur and Irrfan Khan) and what happens when circumstances bring them together and […]

Jhankaar – Aesthetics of Ghungroo explores the dynamic artform of kathak for a dance performance that fuses traditional percussions indigenous to India with Spanish dance and movements, jingling ankle bells and the nagada, tabla and pakhawaj instruments. Raaga-based vocal compositions will mix with the sounds of ghungroos for a sound that marries Indian classical and […]

Harbourfront Centre is delighted to have the Iris Malcolm Library, the first ever Afro-Caribbean focused library in our Garage Bays during the Island Soul festival weekend! Brought to you by the NACCA (Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association), the library will be open to all for two days. Come connect with dedicated library staff and browse […]

Let’s get into the spirit of Caribbean Carnival with visual artist Karen Bell-Higgins, who takes you on a journey to create your carnival-themed clothespin character. Take a break from the heat and join Karen in the Main Loft as she shows you how to use both traditional and recyclable materials to make something unique to […]

Enjoy this cathartic watch in our boutique-style cinema. This shows two complementary and contrasting feature-length films examining cultural influences and social implications of multiple aspects of Caribbean life at home and abroad. The two films featured are Zarico, a 1984 film directed by Andre Gladu, and Ninth Floor, a 2015 film directed by Mina Shum. 

Living in Colour is a 40-minute documentary that discusses and analyzes the Black community’s past, present and potential future across Canada. It features conversations regarding Caribbean and African cultures in the GTA, the growth and source of Black pop culture and the presence of Black identity in North America. Olivia Hutchinson, Marcus Walkes, Atiya Williams […]

Calypso Stars is the premiere stage for original and innovative Canadian calypso and Soca. Don’t miss out on the annual celebration of this peculiar genre in a three-hour concert that also forms a community collaboration between Harbourfront Centre and the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) and a staple for Island Soul. We will be […]