Anandam Dancetheatre

Anandam Dancetheatre Anandam Dancetheatre My forms are starting points for larger discussions.

From Artistic Director: Brandy Leary

I work with the body as a means of philosophical enquiry to create contemporary performances through dance-based entry points. I view my work as part of a distinctly poly-cultural lineage, integrating techniques and perspectives from East and West, defying easy categories. My diverse training in Chauu, kalaripayat (Indian Dance/martial arts), aerial work, West

ern theatre (direction/dramaturgy), and Axis Syllabus practices has provided me with a unique philosophy of the body, space, and choreographic composition with which to initiate a collaborative dialogue with audiences and artists. Although I am not bound by the techniques I am trained in, my viewpoint is infused with their subtle sensibilities and I offer questions from a multi-faceted perspective. I most often work with artists who do not share my artistic background and this diversity allows me to mine new places of research. While the research is still rooted in the body it is not constrained by a single dominating dance vocabulary or performance viewpoint. The essential values that inform my choreographic approach are:
• begin with the body
• be simple
• work with open source collaboration
• every structure is temporary and flexible (the body, states of being, performance space, narratives, time)
• every technique, training and background in the room is democratically equal

My current work and processes are focused on exploring performantive constructs that renegotiate the relationship between audience and performer. I am interested in what happens as we watch dance, how we construct meaning through that process, and how that meaning alters as this relationship shifts. As part of this exploration, I am interested in choreographic scores that destabilize the relationship between these two roles that form the traditional spectrum of how dance is commonly experienced.

Our Summer Choreographic Intensive applications are now OPEN ✨ Click the link [Summer Intensive 2026] in our bio to APPL...
04/01/2026

Our Summer Choreographic Intensive applications are now OPEN ✨ Click the link [Summer Intensive 2026] in our bio to APPLY NOW!

This Summer Choreographic Intensive is part of our Choreographic Training Program (CTP) which explores and practices choreography as a unique skill for contemporary creation. In this intensive, you will be joined by the Year 1 Cohort of CTP and will focus on strength-training and choreographic tools across the 3 weeks. ✨

Limited PWYC spots available!
If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email protected] for further inquiries.

Our Summer Choreographic Intensive applications are now OPEN! Click the link [Summer Intensive 2026] in our bio to APPLY...
04/01/2026

Our Summer Choreographic Intensive applications are now OPEN! Click the link [Summer Intensive 2026] in our bio to APPLY NOW✨

This Summer Choreographic Intensive is part of our Choreographic Training Program (CTP) which explores and practices choreography as a unique skill for contemporary creation. In this intensive, you will be joined by the Year 1 Cohort of CTP and will focus on strength-training and choreographic tools across the 3 weeks. ✨

Limited PWYC spots available!
If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email protected] for further inquiries.

This is not a drill! Our Summer Choreographic Intensive applications are now OPEN! Click the link [Summer Intensive Form...
04/01/2026

This is not a drill! Our Summer Choreographic Intensive applications are now OPEN! Click the link [Summer Intensive Form] in our bio to APPLY NOW✨

This Summer Choreographic Intensive is part of our Choreographic Training Program (CTP) which explores and practices choreography as a unique skill for contemporary creation. In this intensive, you will be joined by the Year 1 cohort of CTP and will focus on strength-training and choreographic tools across the 3 weeks.✨

Limited PWYC spots available!
If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email protected] for further inquiries.

Night owl artists… this one’s for you! From January 17th - March 31st, we are offering reduced rental rates for bookings...
01/17/2026

Night owl artists… this one’s for you!
From January 17th - March 31st, we are offering reduced rental rates for bookings between 9pm-4am at Collective Space (101 Florence Street)! 🌙

*These codes are only valid for bookings 9pm-4am*

HOW IT WORKS: 
* Click the in our bio
* Select your booking type and timeslot (only available slots will be shown on our site)
* Key in your code at checkout
* Entry/space details will be automatically emailed to you after payment!

Details/pictures of both studio spaces can be found on the booking website page.

LIMITED codes available, so please be considerate!! ❤️

💌 Have a question? Email any inquiries to: [email protected]

2025 was a decade.✨🎶🎼🔥🥂🎭
01/08/2026

2025 was a decade.
✨🎶🎼🔥🥂🎭

2025 was a decade✨🎶🎼🥂🔥🎭
01/07/2026

2025 was a decade

✨🎶🎼🥂🔥🎭

One last surprise for you to head into 2026 with… ✨From now till January 9th, we are continuing our PWYC sliding scale p...
12/31/2025

One last surprise for you to head into 2026 with… ✨

From now till January 9th, we are continuing our PWYC sliding scale promotion for rehearsal bookings at Collective Space (101 Florence Street, TO) 🪩

* These PWYC codes are ONLY applicable to bookings between Dec 31st to Jan 9th!

HOW IT WORKS: 
* 5 PWYC tiers: $8, $10, $12, $15 or $18/h
* Click the in our bio
* Select your booking type and timeslot. Only available slots will be shown on our site.
* Key in your code at checkout
* Entry/space details will be automatically emailed to you after payment!

Details/pictures of both studio spaces can be found on the booking website page.

*LIMITED codes available, so please be considerate❤️

💌 Have a question? Email any inquiries to: [email protected]

Byeee 2025! 👋

✨ Collective Space Membership! ✨Many have been asking about our memberships as we’re settling into the new space… so we ...
12/16/2025

✨ Collective Space Membership! ✨

Many have been asking about our memberships as we’re settling into the new space… so we made a guide to answer some of your questions!

Click the link in our bio (“Membership Registration Form”) to submit a quick form so we can get to know you better! We will get back to you in the new year for our 2026 intake of Collective Space members 💛

HAPPY GIVING SEASON! Exclusively from December 17th - 31st, we are offering a PWYC sliding scale rental rate for booking...
12/02/2025

HAPPY GIVING SEASON!
Exclusively from December 17th - 31st, we are offering a PWYC sliding scale rental rate for bookings at Collective Space 🪩

HOW IT WORKS: 
* We have 5 PWYC tiers: $8, $10, $12, $15 or $18 per hour. 
* Go to our booking site: anandam.ca/collective-space or click the Booking Link in our bio. 
* Select your booking type and slot
* Key in your code at the checkout ($10/h code = PWYC10)
* Entry/space details will be automatically emailed to you after payment!

Details/pictures of both studio spaces can be found on the booking website page.

LIMITED codes available, so please be considerate!! ❤️

We’re thrilled to be transitioning into our new home at 101 Florence Street — and we need your help to make it a reality...
10/20/2025

We’re thrilled to be transitioning into our new home at 101 Florence Street — and we need your help to make it a reality!

Help us build the next chapter of Collective Space — a space for artists, by artists, and for everyone who loves dance.

If you have been affected or inspired by any of Anandam’s performances, activities or initiatives over the years, here is an opportunity to give back.

We are running a small fundraising campaign to help get us up and running. Every contribution helps us build a sustainable, affordable home for dance artists in Toronto.

link in bio to learn more!
✨ Donations over $25 will receive a charitable tax receipt.
If you’d like to make a large or recurring donation, please contact:
📧 Elodie Kyra Teoh — [email protected]

Goodbye, 221 Sterling, Studio 5. You were magical. For 13 years, Collective Space has been an iconic Toronto studio and ...
10/02/2025

Goodbye, 221 Sterling, Studio 5.
You were magical.

For 13 years, Collective Space has been an iconic Toronto studio and a vital hub for dance in the city’s west end. It has been Anandam’s creative home, where many of our most significant works were developed and rehearsed, including Glaciology, Cascade, Melting/Mourning, Weather, Simplicity, Chalking, and Ephemeral Artifacts.

The studio also hosted the Contemporary Circus Festival of Toronto and Collective Shivratri, alongside countless performances, films, classes, photo shoots, rehearsals, parties, and festivals. Its beautiful curved walls and spectacular natural light were unmatched, and every visitor remarked on the energy that filled the space.

Collective Space embraced an extraordinary range of practices—Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Mohiniyattam, contemporary dance, circus, aerial, stilt walking, burlesque, female wrestling, gumboot, Kalarippayattu, Afro-Caribbean forms, social circus, folk traditions, performance art, tap, and community festivals. It was a place of creation, gathering, and exchange—an ecosystem of movement and imagination, unlike any other in the city.

We are excited about the future and look forward to welcoming everyone to our new home at 101 Florence. We are currently in the process of moving in and making renovations, but we expect to be up and running by the end of October. We can’t wait to dance with you there.

Here is to many more years of Collective Space. New Space. New Energy.

1. Collective Space 221 Sterling move out 2025 (photo Brandy Leary)
2. Collective Space 221 Sterling move out 2025
3. Chalking (ch. Padmini Chettur) rehearsal at Collective Space 2021 (Photo Greg Wong)
4.The first Collective Space, in a small studio in 221 Sterling, 2012 (Photo Eamon MacMahon)

Address

Artscape Triangle Loft 38 Abell Street, Studio 307
Toronto, ON
M6J0A2

Telephone

+16476289246

Website

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