Allison Toffan

Proudly based in Toronto for over a decade, Allison Toffan has been busy stirring up momentum in the Canadian tap dance community. Recognized by multiple arts councils, she has been awarded numerous grants as an emerging dance artist, developing musician, choreographer, and producer. Her mentors include world-renowned tap dance artists Heather Cornell, Brenda Bufalino, and Max Pollak.

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Career highlights include: 8 years as a principle dancer with Turn on The Tap (Paula Skimin), featured tap dancer at the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies, Warehouse 13 Series Finale (Jeff Dimitriou), Festival Dance Encore (Tasha Lawson), TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival, TapCity’s Tap Internationals (Lisa La Touche, NYC), Montreal Tap Festival’s Rhythm Lives! - with living legend Arthur Duncan, and establishing the Toronto Rhythm Initiative - a platform Allison created to voice the artistry of Toronto’s tap dancers in collaboration with live music.

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Teaching credits include Artist in Residence - Ottawa Rhythm Initiative, Dance Faculty at Sheridan College, Randolph Academy, Montreal Tap Festival, Vancouver International Tap Festival, BC Performing Arts Festival, Manitoba Dance Festival, as well as multiple workshops across Canada.

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Over the past few years Allison’s work was featured in Toronto’s Body Percussion Festival, she performed in Lisa’s La Touche’s world premiere of Hold On, has been on two multi-city US tours with The StepCrew, is a contributing artist with Anandam Dancetheatre, tap danced on the soundtrack of the critically acclaimed video game Cuphead - nominated for a 2018 Juno award for best orchestration, and created The Big Band Tap Revue in collaboration with Toronto Jazz Orchestra’s Artistic Director Josh Grossman and co-producer Soraya Peerbaye, directed by Emmy Award winner and tap dance icon Ted Louis Levy.

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Stepping into the role of artistic director, Allison was thrilled to bring the vision of the Toronto International Tap Dance Festival to fruition in June 2017, produced in partnership with Harbourfront Centre. The inaugural festival marked the official launch of Allison’s production company: Toffan Rhythm Projects, bridging the goals, mandates, and facilitation of her professional body of work rooted in collaboration, creation, curation, and community. Next up, she’s working on a commission for the 2018 Dusk Dances Festival. To stay up to date with her, please visit www.toffanrhythmprojects.com.

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Allison congratulates Abigail on the opening of Clarke Dance Productions and is excited to join the team!