As always, there’s lots of dance action going down at the waterfront – and all of it’s free. For the first time, the semi-finals and finals of the Pop, Lock & Load competition – where Canadian and international crews lay down their moves for cash – both take place during the Beats, Breaks & Culture weekend (July 10-12). The Island Soul weekend features Charles Town Maroons (August 1), a drum and singing group of descendants of runaway slaves from 18th-century Jamaica. And the second of two Planet IndigenUS weekends (August 21 to 23) includes Hawaiian hula group Halu I Ka Wekiu, with moves by the acclaimed choreographer from the troupe Black Grace. harbourfrontcentre.com.
Dusk delivers
Come early August, park yourself at Withrow Park, where the pay-what-you-can Dusk Dances will be taking over the rolling hills with a lineup that includes works by La Otra Orilla, Black Ice and Sylvie Bouchard. The energetic Samba Squad sets the mood in style as the opening band, and Lisa Anne Ross, aka Madame Beaucoup, hosts. August 4-9. duskdances.ca.