OUR IMPACT
Toffan Rhythm Projects builds audience, access, and professional opportunities for tap dance through performance, mentorship, outreach, and culturally informed programming.
DIGITAL REACH & AUDIENCE GROWTH
Because social media is today's key tool of reaching new audience, we have undergone a major makeover in 2026!
Up until now it's been a little confusing - what's the difference between TRI and TITDF? Is the Rhythm Ensemble the same as TRI? Are Allison and Julie the same person?? To create some clarity, and to better understand who we are, we've been working with strategist and content developer Emily Teed, who has helped clear this all up!
On Instagram:
@toffanrhythmprojects serves as the directory, where you'll get to know who we are, and the why behind our work. There, you'll see links to our 3 major projects:
@torontorhythminitiative - our eldest project that launched us into producers and community builders. Here you'll find all things related to our TRI summer programming with a focus on faculty, what to expect, our vibe, past show clips, and our history.
@totapfest - an active page on instagram since 2022, but due to the festivals biennial schedule, we've hit snooze on the interim years. Not any more! As we gear up for this year's festival and shift to a micro/macro model for annual engagement moving forward, you'll see consistent posts highlighting our event, and what makes it unique.
@rippleeffect_trp - our newest project, and newest page! As we continue to build this work, seek partnerships, presenters, and more, we'll highlight what Ripple Effect is, who's involved, and what are goals are.
Our digital community continues to grow rapidly, with a combined reach of more than 50,000 viewers and climbing. Through performance footage, collaborative content, and community storytelling, our platforms connect with audiences locally and internationally while amplifying the visibility of tap dance and live arts programming.
In addition to strong viewership, our current social media engagement rate sits at approximately 2.75%, exceeding average industry benchmarks and reflecting an actively engaged audience. As our newer platforms continue to expand through consistent programming and content development, we anticipate significant continued growth in both reach and community impact.
For our rebrand, Instagram has been our focus thus far, next up: TikTok! Look for us there soon as we continue to build content and engage with a broader demographic. Additionally, we're proud to connect with 1000+ email subscribers and continue to build our list, attracting audiences, artists, and collaborators from across Canada and beyond.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
We’re committed to making tap dance more accessible and community-driven. Through initiatives like Ripple Effect, we provide underserved youth with free programming, mentorship, tap shoes, boards, and performance opportunities at no cost.
We also offer scholarships, subsidized programming, free public jams and panels, and complimentary ticket access through community partnerships — helping more people experience and engage with the art form.
ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
We support emerging and established artists through paid performance opportunities, mentorship, internships, residencies, commissions, and live music collaboration.A big part of our work is long-term development. Several current collaborators and team members first joined our programs as youth participants, interns, or mentees and have since grown into leadership roles within the organization.
CULTURAL IMPACT
Tap dance is deeply rooted in Black American culture, jazz music, and improvisation. Our work aims to honour that lineage while helping expand the visibility and understanding of the form in Canada. Through performances, festivals, mentorship, and new work development, we create opportunities for intergenerational exchange, cultural dialogue, and artistic collaboration both nationally and internationally.
SECTOR IMPACT
We contribute to the arts ecosystem by employing dancers, musicians, technicians, educators, videographers, producers, and arts administrators across our projects. We prioritize fair compensation practices and aim to create meaningful professional opportunities that support long-term sustainability within our field.
LOOKING FORWARD
As a newly incorporated non-profit organization, we’re continuing to grow our accessibility initiatives, artist support programs, partnerships, and audience reach. Our goal is to help build a stronger, more connected future for tap dance in Canada — one that supports artists, engages communities, and creates lasting cultural impact.