Doors Open – Swing Dance Party! Explore local history through dance! Learn basic moves of Swing, then join the dance party featuring live music by The Bettys.
September 20, 2025, 10am-2pm Queens Park (outside Western Fair Market) 925 Dundas St FREE
We’re looking for general volunteers to help with the event. Volunteers will help with set-up/cleanup, moving equipment, assisting staff and participants as needed, and will participate in the dance workshop and party to inspire audiences to join in (no experience needed). All ages and abilities are welcome!
Volunteers under the age of 16 can sign up with a parent/guardian or older sibling. These hours can be used to fulfill the high school volunteer requirements.
Celebrate Doors Open London 2025 with a one-of-a-kind Swing Dance Party! Explore local history through the joy of movement, learn the basics in Lindy Hop and West Coast Swing, then show off your new steps at a live dance party featuring live music by The Bettys.
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Location: Queens Park. 925 Dundas St, London ON (outside Western Fair Market) Admission: FREE Bring: water, sunscreen, a picnic blanket or lawn chair
This exciting event is part of the Audrey (Peck) Varty Legacy Series, honouring the traditions of swing dance and the social dances that brought people together in the 1920s and 30s.
Event Schedule
10:00 AM – Dance Demo & Storytelling 10:30 AM – Swing Workshop 11:00 AM – Dance Party with TheBettys
12:00 PM – Dance Demo & Storytelling 12:30 PM – Swing Workshop 1:00 PM – Dance Party with The Bettys
In the 1930s Audrey Peck and her friends spent many evenings dancing the night away to the sounds of Big Bands. It was on such a night that she was swept off her feet by the dancing skills of her future husband.
Now, her legacy continues with an afternoon of history, movement, and music for the entire community.
“Many people can trace their family history to connections made on a dance floor. Come try the dances that made my grandparents fall in love, and learn how these classic moves shaped the dances of future generations.” -Bizz Varty, Director, Centre of Movement Arts
Audrey Peck and Doug Varty went on their first date to a dance at Wonderland Gardens, in the summer of 1938, when Audrey was 22 and Doug was 28. Some of Audrey’s friends knew some of Doug’s, and so they were introduced. Doug was an excellent dancer and a snappy dresser. It didn’t take long after that first meeting before they were going dancing at Wonderland and the Hotel London, and some other hotspots. They were married in December 27, 1941.
Ahead by a Century: a London childhood 100 years ago A historical OEV walking tour with pop-up dance performances presented by the Centre of Movement Arts and the London Heritage Council
Doors Open Weekend September 21 & 22, 2024 Tours from 11am-12:10pm and 1-2:10pm Meet at Queens Park! 925 Dundas St East (beside the Western Fair Market)
Tour RouteBegin at Queen’s Park, walk to Carson Library, Lorne Ave Park, and return to Queen’s Park.
It’s 1924 when 7-year-old Audrey gets her first library card and opens a book to embark on a high seas adventure with her neighbourhood friends. As they sail around the world they encounter dances from far-away places and fight pirates before returning home in time for tea.
Take a trip back in time on a historical walking tour animated with dance performances. This project tells a travelling story about the childhood of Audrey Varty (Bizz’s grandmother), who in 1924 got her first library card and embarked on a book-inspired adventure through the Old East Village with her neighbourhood friends. Directed by Bizz Varty, this site-specific dance theatre experience will feature contemporary, Flamenco and Bellydance by London artists and be performed by multi-generational dance artists alongside community volunteers.
Production Team Director and Choreographer: Bizz Varty Production Manager: Laura Sepulveda Flamenco Choreography & Performance: Flamenco del Sur Bellydance Choreography & Performance: Rising Moon Bellydance Core Cast: Samantha Sendas, Haylee Kizito, Florence Brown, Ainsley MacDonald, Millie MacDonald
Photo by Mark Spowart Dancers Olivia Zess and Ashley Wheeler
The Centre of Movement Arts is auditioning dancers ages 9-16 for an upcoming choreography project by Bizz Varty. The movement will be contemporary-based, and dancers should have at least 2 years of dance training or self study. Dancers of all styles are welcome. Dress in comfortable dance attire and shoes or bare feet.
8-10 Dancers will be chosen for the core cast of “Ahead by a Century: A London Childhood 100 years ago.” The project will involve a walking tour in Old East Village with pop up performances at specific locations. There will be four performances, two each day on September 21 and 22, at 11am and 1pm. Dancers will learn and perform approximately 15 minutes of dance during each hour-long tour.
Dancers must be available for 2-3 rehearsal sessions in July and August (dates and times TBD, most likely weekends), as well as a dress rehearsal in September (date TBD). This is an unpaid position.
Please note: All audition participants will be invited to perform in the Doors Open project, however 8-10 dancers will be chosen for lead roles. Lead dancers will have a greater time commitment for learning the dance. Later in the summer there will be a community participation workshop for non-lead dancers to learn and perform a smaller section of the choreography. This will be open to anyone with any experience and will require a smaller time commitment.
We will also be looking for parent and teen volunteers to help supervise dancers, guide audiences on the tour and generally help out with the event.
Questions? Email bizzvarty@gmail.com.
More info on the project coming soon…. stay tuned!
We are encouraging all local dance artists to send their submissions for this year’s festival, taking place between June 30-July 2. Dance artists of all ages, career stages, and styles are welcome to apply.
Please tell us as much as you can about your proposed dance performance or workshop. *Deadline for submissions is June 1st, EXTENDED TO JUNE 5 2023
PLEASE NOTE: We have a smaller budget again this year and are unable to offer full CADA rates for pieces with more than two professional artists. We are also unable to provide travel or accommodation for artists outside of London this year. If this is a barrier for you, please check back next year!
Forest City Nature Experience & Centre of Movement Arts present
A play-based, child-led, movement-rich, fully-outdoor, fun & educational nature immersion experience led by forest school practitioner and certified naturalist Nina Sampson and movement educator Bizz Varty.
Caregivers will follow their kids on an adventure through the various ecosystems in Gibbons Park. Nina and Bizz will provide invitations, tools and skills to deepen participants’ understanding of the natural world. Aimed at ages 3-9, but all ages are welcome! Pre-registration required, sign up here.
