Fall For Dance North: The Flip Side | Mambo

Photo by Kendra Epik

Following dance’s lead behind the scenes and into everyday life.

Unexpected connections and directions emerge. Co-hosted by FFDN’s Artistic Director, Ilter Ibrahimof, and Turn Out Radio's Nicole Hamilton, Mambo – the new podcast from FFDN – brings you stories about encounters with, through and beyond dance. A first-time dance festival experience leads to a first-time baseball game. A cancelled choreographic work transforms into an audio production. Forlorn dance festival objects find solace in a group counselling session. Follow your co-hosts’ curiosity as dance leads them into human and humorous exchange.

Mambo tells stories that swing to the rhythm of our modern lives.

Why the name Mambo? The word "mambo" means "conversation with the gods" in Kikongo, the language spoken by Kongo slaves taken to Cuba. Mambo is a latin music rhythm and a style of dance that rose to prominence in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Its definitive musical arrangements are attributed to the Cuban pianist Damaso Perez Prado. Cuban dancers, who originated the form, described Mambo as “feelling the music,” merging sound and movement through the body. FFDN is committed to advancing diverse genres of dance on our stages and throughout our programming. We honour the inherent synergy of Mambo dance by naming our our new podcast series, “MAMBO ​- stories that swing to the rhythm of our modern lives.” More information on the origins of Mambo, can be found here and here.

CREATIVE TEAM

 

Nicole Inica Hamilton

Co-Host

Nicole Inica Hamilton is the Founder and Artistic Director of Inica Dance Industries. An award winning choreographer, and a dance educator, Nicole serves as a certified Teaching member of Dance Masters of Canada and Dance Masters of America. She has operated as a Guest Teacher, Mentor and Speaker at institutes across Canada and the U.S.A, including but not limited to; George Brown College, University of Toronto and York University. Nicole is a Counsellor specializing in work with assaulted women and children. She is an On-Air Radio Host and Producer with Turn Out Radio, and Co-Host of the Career Buzz Show broadcasting on CIUT 89.5 FM.

 

Ilter Ibrahimof

Co-Host

Ilter Ibrahimof is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Fall for Dance North. Born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, Ilter moved to North America in 1998, first to attend Emerson College in Boston and then living and working in New York City and Montréal before settling in Toronto. As a creative mind in the dance field, Ilter is regularly invited to participate in various festivals and conferences in Canada and around the globe as a curator and speaker. In 2020, Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame awarded Ilter the Sandra Faire Next Generation Award. He lives with his partner Lucas and their two puppies Ginny and Myku. Photo by Marlowe Porter.

 

Jess Shane

Producer

Jess Shane is an audio producer and artist whose work has aired on BBC's Short Cuts, WBEZ’s Re:Sound, and across the CBC network. She has presented work at festivals and conferences internationally, including Open City Documentary Festival, Audiocraft, Hearsay Audio Festival, and at the International Features Conference. Jess is currently a producer on Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions with Making A Murderer’s Laura Nirider and Steve Drizin. She previously worked on CBC’s Personal Best and Mic Drop. Jess is also the co-founder of Constellations, a podcast for sound art and experimental audio.

 

Johnny Spence

Producer

Johnny Spence is a composer, musician, radio producer & sound artist. His work is featured on critically acclaimed film scores and recordings. Johnny has worked on various CBC Radio programs (The Doc Project, Tai Asks Why, The Shadows, Sleepover). In the dance community, he has collaborated with many companies and choreographers, recently creating original multi-channel sound scores for new work by Tedd Robinson (Ottawa Dance Directive), and Christianne Ullmark (Citadel + Compagnie). Johnny has extensive touring experience and his live accompaniment credits include Toronto Dance Theatre’s House Mix tour. Johnny has been nominated for 3 Dora Mavor awards and is co-creator & composer for the upcoming full-length musical The Flin Flon Cowboy.