Dances at the Bay among happenings in Hamilton

Hamilton Spectator

18-07-2025

The Dances at the Bay festival is not just about having fun.
It is about holding onto the human aspect of life and art that Vitek Wincza thinks artificial intelligence and social media is stripping away.
'It's something which would continue (to) make us feel human and important in this world,' said the artistic director for the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts.
Vitek Wincza is the artistic director for the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts.
He hopes his legacy is keeping the arts alive in Hamilton.
Wincza is leading the interactive festival's second self-produced year after the original 'Dusk Dances' pulled out of the city after more than 10 years.
'We'd been put in a position that we had to make a decision to continue or not,' said Wincza.
Now, with the local arts non-profit Incite Foundation sponsoring the event for the second year, the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts Dance and Theatre partnership is bringing dance back to Bayfront Park from Friday to Sunday this weekend.
'We did the first year and (it) actually went extremely well, beyond our expectations,' said Wincza. He estimates it had a turnout of about 3,000 across the three-day festival.
Attendees can participate in a Latin family drumming circle and salsa dance workshop, or view a dance-theatre performance, synchronized swimming and a Chinese and Caribbean cultural dance performance.
But one of the dance performances is different.
Local choreographer and conservatory dance teacher Michael Mortley created a dance called 'Caribbean Sweet' to represent his Trinidadian culture, teaching it to eight people with little to no dance experience.
Michael Mortley dances in a Dusk Dances performance in Bayfront Park in 2022. Mortley has created a dance called 'Caribbean Sweet' to represent his Trinidadian culture in this year's performance.
'I've chosen to use very Caribbean esthetics and movement,' said Mortley.
The conservatory called out to those interested in March, before rehearsals started in May.
The showcase is part of the Fear No Dance! initiative, which encourages regular people to step outside their comfort zone through dance.
The performance is more than just a dance to Mortley.
'It has been one of my highlights to be able to make a body of work that represents the culture that I'm coming from,' said Mortley.
Another reward was to bring non-dancers together to build connections and learn from them.
'It allowed me to then see the human and be very much in awe of them and know how much they've achieved over the time,' said Mortley.
Go to
hcadancetheatre.com/dances-at-the-bay
for a detailed lineup.
While Hamilton Fringe Festival will headline the next week, here is what else you can do until then:
Hardcore bands play alongside a vendor market at downtown club Absinthe (32 Hess St. S.) Saturday.
From 2 to 11 p.m., 10 bands perform, including headliner Enervate, Fight On Sight, Bruiserweight, Bad Bet and Spirit of Vengeance.
Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Presale tickets are $20, before taxes and fees, on
Eventbrite
or $25 at the door.
A night of folk music is coming to Crown and Press Gallery and Café (303 Ottawa St. N.) Friday.
From 7 to 9:30 p.m., five-person band Lo and the High Road and Windsor-based artist Willowbrook perform at the venue.
Tickets are $22.73, including fees and taxes, on Eventbrite. Go to
crownandpress.com/pages/events
for more details.
Ferguson Station is transformed into a four-DJ outdoor party on Saturday.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., DJs Geneva, Fazooli, Dakota and James spin records, members of the Defining Movement Dance perform and attendees walk the red carpet.
International Village BIA hosts the free dance party. Visit
hamiltoninternationalvillage.ca/electric-station
for more details.
Hamilton-based Afro-R&B artist Whitness performs for a special summer library music concert series on Monday, July 21.
From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., the concerts happens at Gantry Crane at the waterfront's Pier 8.
View
events.hpl.ca
for more.
Sidewalk Sounds is back with music and a night market Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. along Concession Street (534 Concession St.).
Each performance is by a Hamilton artist. This month is guitarist and singer-songwriter Kyle Pacey (at 555 Concession St.), guitarist Eddie Paton (at 526 Concession St.), guitarist Michael McGuire (at 593 Concession St.), and pianist and vocalist Louise Concepcion (at 576 Concession St.).
View
hamilton.ca
for more details.
Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator.
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