dance Immersion proudly presents its 2016 Showcase Presentation, Footsteps Across Canada, a celebration of the human spirit and diverse Canadian expression with six dynamic choreographers from across the country. This explosive mix of works takes place during Black History Month, and runs Friday February 26 and Saturday February 27, 2016 for three shows only at Harbourfront Centre Theatre.

The choreographers are Rhodnie Désir (Quebec), Rodney Diverlus (Alberta), Mafa Makhubalo (Ontario), Esie Mensah (Ontario), Mikhail Morris (Ontario) and Liliona Quarmyne (Nova Scotia).

These three men and three women each represent a unique Canadian voice from the African Diaspora within this country's dance ecology, and grace the stage with dance manifestations influenced by both their past and present journey.

A world premiere, four Toronto premieres and an excerpt of a previously-seen Toronto work range in style from Jazz to Contemporary, from African to Dancehall, and more.

- Rhodnie Désir: BOW'T (boat) was inspired by the English «bow» - meaning bending your head or body forward, as well as the front of a ship. Désir performs to the accompaniment of musician Ronald Nazaire. TORONTO PREMIERE.

- Rodney Diverlus: Two to See is a reflection on conversations left unfinished, things we wish we could say, things we wish we didn't say, and the things we can never take back. Diverlus performs along with three other dancers. TORONTO PREMIERE.

- Mafa Makhubalo: Songs of the Soil - Audiences will discover for themselves the meaning of this solo, performed by Makhubalo, as they experience it in the theatre. TORONTO PREMIERE

- Esie Mensah: An excerpt from Akoma (2015), a dance/theatre work about a young man's journey from Ghana to Canada and his wrestling with the decision to return home. Five dancers explore how the thoughts we keep can take over our mind; how we can lose ourselves in them and what happens if it goes too far. As the thoughts of this young man come alive, we wonder: will he be strong enough to fight them?

- Mikhail Morris: DICHOTOMY is a solo, danced by Mikhail Morris, that highlights two separate personalities - or beings or souls - that are trying to control a man, expressed through the mask of every day life. WORLD PREMIERE.

- Liliona Quarmyne: Tide - The ocean carries the collective ebbs and flows of our lives. The salty tears we cry - both in laughter and in sadness - bear witness to this, and to our deep ties to the water that covers the Earth and runs through each of us. The ocean holds a power and a capacity beyond imagination; it is capable of absorbing humanity's hopes, fears, joys, and sorrows. Quarmayne performs in her powerful solo. TORONTO PREMIERE