Porch View Dances is back for its 14th year this summer, inviting people to experience dance in a way that is anything but ordinary. Toronto’s Seaton Village will once again come alive in a way that transforms the everyday into something magical. From July 16 to 20, this unique event turns front porches, alleyways, and streets into stages where dance performances unfold right outside people’s homes.
Produced by contemporary dance company Kaeja d’Dance, Porch View Dances breaks out of the usual soft-seat experiences. Instead of sitting indoors in a theatre, audiences walk through a neighbourhood, moving from house to house, guided by performers. Along the way, they encounter moments of dance, storytelling, and movement in surprising spaces.
Photo by @SVPhotography.ca
The theme for 2025, “The Surprise of the Unknown,” invites everyone to embrace curiosity and the joy of discovery. Each night offers new performances created by both professional choreographers and local community members. These dances explore many themes such as connection to the land, cosmic journeys and ancestral knowledge and identity.
One of the festival’s highlights is an immersive experience that encourages people of all ages and abilities to move and interact together, culminating in a group finale called Flock Landing. This year also introduces a fun new element: tour guides who lead the audience with humour and keep the vibes on high, making the experience feel more like a shared adventure than a performance.
What makes Porch View Dances so special, and so very Toronto, is how it brings art right into the heart of the community, turning ordinary spaces into places of creativity where people come together. It’s an event for families, dance lovers, and anyone curious about seeing their city in a fresh way. No tickets are required—people pay what they want, making it welcoming and accessible to all.
