Toronto's summer dance festival for independent artists is transforming itself into a two-week curated festival to be called the Toronto International Dance Festival.

It will be held Aug. 8 to 19 in the historic Distillery District.

Margie Gillis will appear at the Toronto International Dance Festival Aug. 8-19 in the Distillery District.
(Courtesy FLIP Publicity and Promotions Inc.)

The fringe dance festival fFIDA has been held for the last 15 years at the same time. It used a lottery system to program independent dance corps.

Over the past few years, a few artists have participated by invitation, but this year's format is solely by invitation, without the lottery component.

The new Toronto International Dance Festival will be a larger, more international celebration of dance, with artistic direction from Michael Menegon.

The festival will maintain its emphasis on independent dance.

Expresses emotion through dance

Montreal-based modern dancer Margie Gillis kicks off the main-stage performances with the Toronto premiere of Voyages. Known for her naturalistic style, Gillis has an international reputation for expressing human emotion through dance.

More than 350 dancers will be featured on four stages.

The Canadian contemporary dance corps, Dancetheatre David Earle, and Breakbone Dance Co. from Chicago, which uses unusual "bodyslam" techniques, are among the performers.

Jazz great David "Fathead" Newman and his band will perform in a one-night gala that incorporates a range of styles, from the tap of Brenda Bufalino, to flamenco with Toronto's Esmeralda Enrique, and breakdancing with Jason York.

TIDF also includes workshops and master classes for dancers.