The series supports and premieres
a new short dance film created by a local movement artist, alongside a curated selection of international dance films. Together, these works offer diverse perspectives on dance and storytelling, showcasing innovation, cultural richness, and artistic excellence.
The 2025 screening will take place on November 23, 2025, at The Westdale—Hamilton’s cherished independent cinema and cultural space.
The hArt Dance Film Series is an annual celebration, presented in collaboration by Aeris Körper, Hamilton Arts Council, and The Westdale, with Artistic Director Mayumi Lashbrook serving as Curator.
Through this program, we aim to create new opportunities for underrepresented voices, foster professional growth, and build a more inclusive and vibrant dance community in Hamilton. This initiative is a collaborative project with
generous support from the Incite Foundation for the Arts
and sponsorship from TD Bank.
The hArt Dance Film Series is committed to equity, access, and representation
in the arts.
It specifically supports emerging artists who face systemic barriers to creation and presentation—particularly those who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (racialized), or belong to other marginalized groups.
Recognizing the historic and ongoing inequities in the arts sector, the Series provides a platform for early-career dance creators who have not yet gained significant exposure or professional recognition. Eligible artists must live or work in the Greater Hamilton Area, including Six Nations of the Grand River.
Applications are open until September 28th 11:59pm
Meet the Curator:
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Artistic Director
Mayumi (she/her) is a Japanese Canadian settler who seeks to expose, challenge, and rectify systems of oppression by creating innovative, introspective and inclusive dance theatre. She sees embodiment as at the crux of world making, providing alternatives to unconscious thought and oppression. Her primary practices span performance, choreography, production and education. Mayumi graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University’s Theatre Performance Dance program, on the Dean’s list. Mayumi is the Artistic Director of Hamilton based Aeris Körper, which has just been awarded a 2024 Creators Award in the Hamilton Arts Award. She is a mentee in Butoh and composition with renowned Japanese Canadian dance theatre artist Denise Fujiwara, as well as a company member of Fujiwara Dance Inventions. Her training in Butoh has revealed ways of creating formless dance that negates the dance step and instead exposes our humanity in movement. She is the Curator for Hamilton Arts Council’s hArt Dance Film Series, Curator and Creative Producer for Kaeja d’Dance’s Porch View Dances, and Creative Producer of dance made in canada’s The ‘D’ Word Podcast. She has choreographed for Dusk Dances, Guelph Dance, CanAsian Dance and produced a bi-city presentation of her work Enemy Lines.
Photo by Daniel Neuhaus
Past Successful Creators:
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Clairandean (they/them) is a Trans Non-Binary Media Artist and Movement instructor from Hamilton. They explore grief and Black Trans Identity through film, art journaling, dance, and style, bringing a unique perspective to the hArt Dance Film Series.
Photo by MP Photography
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Priyanka (she/her) is a Kathak dancer, choreographer, and Hindustani classical vocalist. Her film explores history repeating itself, questioning if humanity can truly empathize and act for others facing hardship without direct experience.
Photo by Stefan Sago
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Lor (she/her) is an inspiring artist focused on decolonial embodied healing. Her film highlights anxiety, fear, and intergenerational healing within marginalized bodies, promoting self-care and evolution through dance.
Photo by Katie Rawn