Robert Binet and Lily Sutherland Appointed Co-Leaders of Fall for Dance North

Following an extensive national search, Fall for Dance North has announced the appointment of Robert Binet as Artistic Director & Co-CEO and Lily Sutherland as Festival Director & Co-CEO. Binet and Sutherland will assume their roles on November 4, 2024, with Founding Artistic Director Ilter Ibrahimof remaining as an advisor throughout the leadership transition until December 31, 2024.

Binet is a recognized cultural leader, choreographer, and curator, who has created works for some of the world’s leading ballet companies, including The Royal Ballet, The New York City Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada, where he has served as Choreographic Associate since 2013.

Sutherland is a visionary dance producer and programmer with more than a decade of experience leading creative teams and developing innovative artistic concepts, including at FFDN since 2018, where she has served as Executive Producer for the past two years.

“We are extremely excited to work together in this new co-leadership model to shape the next chapter of Fall for Dance North and build on Ilter Ibrahimof’s extraordinary decade of leadership,” says Binet and Sutherland. “The festival is a crucial part of Toronto’s cultural sector, and we are committed to continuing to grow audiences for dance through bold and accessible programming. We look forward to placing Toronto and Canada’s most exciting dance artists in their rightful international context through programming that illuminates connections between dance happening here and around the world. FFDN has an exceptional staff and Board with whom we look forward to working in pursuit of the organization's mission and values; together, we will ensure long-term success for the organization.”

Binet is a champion of rising artistic talent who has worked to increase visibility and access to opportunity for Toronto’s local independent dancemakers and companies. As Director of Artist Development Programmes for the National Ballet since 2018, Binet created the Creative Action program, which supported the development of more than 200 new works by Canadian choreographers under his leadership. In 2023, he was the Choreographic Mentor at the Venice Biennale College Danza, guest curator for the Dance: Made in Canada festival, and received Dance Collection Danse’s Sandra Faire Next Generation Award, which recognizes individuals under 40 who are making a significant impact on dance in Canada.

Sutherland has worked across all aspects of FFDN programming, including the Signature Programmes, and took an early lead in shaping FFDN’s education programs and advancing accessibility for artists and audiences. She has held a range of dynamic positions for dance and theatre festivals in Canada, including Luminato, The Toronto Fringe Festival and The Hamilton Festival Theatre Company. As a practicing artist, Sutherland created and produced seven original works and toured nationally with Passing Through Theatre, a company she co-founded in 2015. Recognized for her leadership excellence, Sutherland was selected in 2022 to participate in the Atelier for Young Festival Managers in Montreal.

The national search was led by Marty Bragg & Associates, with guidance from a Transition Committee composed of four FFDN Board members and one FFDN staff member, with Ibrahimof serving as advisor throughout the process.

“I am thrilled with the appointment of Robert and Lily as co-leaders of FFDN,” says Ibrahimof, Founding Artistic Director of FFDN. “Over the past eight years, I have seen Lily’s excellence in everything she has produced. She understands FFDN inside and out, has a strong curatorial eye, and is a valued community engager. Robert has partnered with FFDN on many levels, including a major commission for FFDN 2017 created on a global cast of Canadian dancers working abroad. Under his leadership, the Creative Action program at the National Ballet partnered with FFDN on several successful presentations at Union Station. Creating opportunities for the next generation has always been important to me and I will follow this new and exciting team with great enthusiasm.”

Adds FFDN Board Chair Valerie Wilder, “As we celebrate our upcoming 10th anniversary and recognize the achievements of our Founding Artistic Director, Ilter Ibrahimof, we look forward to embarking on a bright future with our new co-directors. Both leaders have extensive experience with FFDN and deeply believe in our mission of animating the Toronto community with vibrant, exciting, and affordable dance.”

FFDN will celebrate its 10th anniversary festival edition this fall, from Sept. 26 to Oct. 6, 2024, featuring an exhilarating line-up of established and emerging dancemakers across many of Toronto’s most iconic venues.

For FFDN tickets and information, visit: ffdnorth.com

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