Editor's Note

Welcome to the Summer 2024 issue of Dance Central.

This summer has been an extraordinary one for the world of dance, especially with the historic win of Phil Wizard, in the breaking category at the 2024 Paris Olympics! From its beginnings in the Bronx in the 1970s to its debut on the global stage, breakdancing has soared to new heights, and entered the stage of contemporary dance as well. We were thrilled to have Phil Wizard pen the International Dance Day Message as our ambassador this year, where he shared his passion for dance and what it means to him. Congratulations, Phil!

In this special issue, we had the privilege of speaking with Anusha Fernando about her upcoming show at The Dance Centre. Sky Dancers is a captivating project that pushes the boundaries of traditional Bharatanatyam, exploring the spiritual essence of the form. Rooted in Zen Buddhist philosophy, Anusha and her fellow dancers—Arno Kamolika, Kiruthika Rathanaswami, Malavika Santhosh, Ashvini Sundaram, and Sujit Vaidya—emphasize process over product, exploring themes of stillness, presence, and collaboration. The result is a performance reflecting deep interpersonal connections and artistic transformation.

We thank Anusha for her longstanding collaboration with The Dance Centre, and we welcome new writing and project ideas at any time to make Dance Central a more vital link to the community. Please send materials by email to editor@thedancecentre.ca.We look forward to many more conversations!

Shanny RannEditor

Title Image: Anusha Fernando Shakti Dance Sky Dancers © Diane Smithers