Six Asian diaspora dance artists from diverse artistic practices are paired together and gather in either Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver for a one-week collaborative exchange with a focus on practice rather than building towards a definite product. 

Throughout the week, artists explore, experiment, and create alongside one another, which culminates in an end-of-week public event called An Open Meeting. Each Open Meeting is shaped collaboratively by the artists, with support from CAD’s Artistic Lead, Angie Cheng. This is meant to let peers, community members, and the general public to get to know the artists beyond watching showcases and traditional performance contexts.

In Partnership with Toronto Dance Theatre, Festival Accès Asie, Odd Meridian and Morrow

Magic Mixing

Photo of David Norswothy-Shibatani from Magic Mixing Montreal 2026 by Fran Chudnoff

All artists will receive an artist fee. Travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses will be covered for out-of-town artists.

Magic Mixing welcomes artists at all stages of their careers, from emerging to established, who bring openness and curiosity to their practice. We encourage applications from artists working across traditional forms and lineages, contemporary and experimental practices, street dance forms, and everything in between and beyond.

Magic Mixing: An Open Meeting

CanAsian Dance invites the public to gather with two artists as they share intertwined practices, conversations, and in-progress discoveries.

The artists arrive at the beginning of the week carrying their own histories, questions, and ways of working. What unfolds between them is not predetermined. Rather than presenting a finished work, they open a space of exchange and invite audiences inside to witness a process still in motion.

Photo of Leo Leung and David Norsworthy-Shibatani at Magic Mixing Montreal 2026 by Fran Chudnoff

Collaboration - artists gather to exchange ideas and practices

Experimentation - focus on exploration rather than a final product

Community - public open meetings connecting artists and audiences

Magic Mixing 2026

Magic Mixing 2026

Photos of Leo Leung and David Norsworthy-Shibatani at Magic Mixing Montreal 2026 by Fran Chudnoff, photos of Keegan Shim and Soeine Bac at Magic Mixing Toronto 2026 by Katrina Medalle, photos of Ziyian Kwan, Angie Cheng, Palak Dhiman, Alea de Castro, also known as Didi, and company at Magic Mixing Vancouver 2026 by Ganesh Thava and Alea de Castro

2026 Artist Bios

Magic Mixing 2025

Magic Mixing 2025

Photos of Rachana Joshi and Ziyian Kwan at Magic Mixing Toronto 2025 by Fran Chudnoff, photos of Simran Sachar and Allegra Hu at Magic Mixing Montreal 2025  by Festival Accès Asie team

2025 Artists

“Magic mixing gave me the space and time as an artist to have agency in how I want to use that space and time. I was paired with another artist, Allegra Hu, who has become one of my most special friends in this life and industry. Angie’s intuition to be hands off, while also being there whenever we needed her advice, was spot on. Angie taught us that an artist residency can be whatever we need it to be and that rest is productive. CanAsian didn’t only provided support, but treated us like royalty. It was a time of healing and discovery.”
— Simran Sachar (Magic Mixing Montreal 2025)
Photo of Simran Sachar and Allegra Hu at Magic Mixing Montreal 2025  by Festival Accès Asie team

We are grateful to the following funding partners for their ongoing support