By Ryan B. Patrick

To get a sense of what Dance Immersion is, you must first grasp what it’s not. And what it’s not is simply a dance company, says organization founder Vivine Scarlett.

A former dancer, Scarlett was driven to do more than just dance. She had a vision of building a foundation for a thriving and sustainable dance community geared around Black culture. “We’re a presentation company specializing in dance, primarily involving rhythms from the African diaspora,” says the choreographer, instructor and dancer.

It’s a distinction that has served the organization well over its 16-year history. With a deeply rooted love of dance and a strong mandate to produce and promote dancers and dances of the African diaspora, the presentation organization has grown into a key force in the Black community and a cultural tour de force.

Dance Immersion’s goal is to introduce the general public to the many styles and aspects of dance, says Scarlett, adding that this includes showcasing emerging talent by way of skill development workshops, youth arts programs, collaborative projects and forums. “We’ve realized that the community needed more,” says Scarlett, referring to the need to provide skills development and networking opportunities. As a result, the organization created a strong arts program, which to date has seen more than 7,000 youth explore the world of dance through its drum and dance classes.

Traditionally for Dance Immersion, each year revolves around a major showcase presentation in a professional theatre. The showcase offers matinee performances designed to introduce school- aged children and general audiences to the world of dance. This spring season featured the popular Toronto urban dance crew Baby Boyz Dance Group in a unique presentation geared towards a younger demographic. The styled “urban dance story” Three Boyz, Three Countries—One Dream is a tale of culture, social issues and anti-violence. It revolves around three young men from disparate backgrounds, Africa, Jamaica and Canada.

It’s important for the organization to be attuned to the latest developments within the dance world in order to grow and stay relevant, says Scarlett, adding that presentations such as the Baby Boyz showcase are part of that. Scarlett is particularly proud that she has seen the Baby Boyz group members grow into artists who are aware of the positive effect they can have in the community.

In 2007, Dance Immersion brought the group to Ghana, to perform and visit local schools and orphanages. In effect, the organization can be credited with not only bringing Black dance to the forefront in Canada, but keeping it there. “Over the years, we’ve watched the community grow and continue the legacy of Blacks in dance within Canada,” says Scarlett.

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