Patrick Parson remembered for his: Legacy, impact and influence in the artistic community in Toronto

BY PAUL JUNOR

The untimely passing of Patrick Parson, Artistic Director, Principal Choreographer and Musical Director of Ballet Creole on Wednesday, November 20^th, 2024, came as a shock. His death has triggered an avalanche of deep emotions, strong feelings and sincere reflections not just from his immediate family members and loved ones, but the wider artistic community in the Greater Toronto Area. He was an integral and influential part of the African Caribbean dance community prior to and after the launch of Ballet Creole in 1990. His musical legacy, artistic contributions, and outstanding body of work have left an indelible mark not just in Canada but internationally as well.

He was always grateful for his years in Trinidad and Tobago for contributing to his artistic developments. He was a principal dancer with the Astor Johnson Repertory Dance Theatre of Trinidad before migrating to Canada. He completed studies at the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre and later at the Katherine Dunham Center for Arts and Humanities in East St. Louis. This enabled him to become a certified teacher of the Dunham technique. Ballet Creole School of the Performing Art offered classes to different age groups: children, youth and adults. His choreographic work over the years involved a fusion of: Caribbean, African, East Indian, jazz and modern jazz styles.

Patrick was well known in the dance community for the multiple roles that he played over the years. He was a cultural advisor to the: Toronto Arts Council, Metro Cultural Affairs, Ontario Arts Council, Harbourfront Centre, Laidlaw Foundation, and the Arts Advantage Program at Downsview Secondary School.

Patrick’s awards include:

• Entrepreneurial Award of Merit from the African Chamber of Commerce
• New Pioneer Award from Skills for Change
• Outstanding Community Service Award from Dance Caribe Performing Company

There have been many tributes paid to Patrick from those who knew him personally. A Facebook post from his children: Gabriella, Mikhail, Natassia, Jeanne-Arlette, Rachel and Zane reads, “On November 20^th, 2024, our father Patrick Anthony Parson took his final breath after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. He is now at peace dancing with the ancestors. Patrick was larger than life in our family and in our expansive artistic and cultural community. People knew him in his many capacities: dancer, choreographer, musician, professor, mentor, teacher, counsellor, founder, artistic director, board member, advisor. For us he was dad, or daddy or pop. He was respected, adored, and honored by the communities he belonged to. In his final days, he sought quiet. A celebration of life for our dad is in the making and we shall share information in the coming weeks. Soar with the ancestors Dad. Your legacy will live on!”

Ricardo Keens-Douglas wrote on his Facebook page, “Patrick you will be missed. You fought the good fight, travel well my friend. You have left the world and to the folks you touched with your life and talent. Dance my brother dance.”

Monique Newton-Walker penned these words on her Facebook page. “It has been a season of many icons transitioning, and today I am sad to learn that our fellow 2002 cohort member Patrick Parson has recently transitioned and now dances amongst the dancers. This picture represents a community that I continue to learn from to this day. I am grateful I was able to share space with Patrick in 2023.He was a pillar to the dance community and will be truly missed. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Don’t wait, love on your loved ones daily.”

There was a deeply moving and emotionally reflecting tribute from Kevin A. Ormsby, (Artistic Director of KasheDance, Curator of Programming at CPAMO and Arts Consultant) on his Facebook page. Ormsby mentioned that he started working with Patrick when he was 16 years old. “You have poured: knowledge, energy, and focus into me. We danced together, we ran Ballet Creole together, we managed a professional program together, we advocated together, and you had the confidence to have me be a leader before those words were buzz words. When I think back crafting this in tears, I am thinking of all the spaces Ballet Creole occupied in Toronto and all the other capacities in the arts you wanted me to see. Clearly you saw deeper.”

Ormsby expressed his gratitude to Patrick for his involvement with KasheDance. He notes, “I lead with so many examples learnt over the years from you.” He summarized his reflections with these words. “You have laid the foundation for so many artists, teachers and administrators across Canada. Your tireless effort in uniting practitioners of African Diasporic Dance across Canada, the US and the Caribbean.”

Ormsby lists some of the outstanding works that Patrick has produced over the years. He states, “YOU SHOWED UP in so many spaces because you realized the capacity of presence. I hold on to that presence NOW as you transition with ‘Naningo Calling,’ ‘Voices,’ ‘Fete,’ ‘Carnaval,’ ‘Soulful Messiah,’ ‘Saraka,’ ‘Ancestral Calling,’ to your next duty as an ancestor.”

There was a special tribute by Ballet Creole posted on Facebook on Monday, November 25^th. It reads, “Patrick’s visionary leadership, profound creativity, and unwavering dedication to the art of dance transformed the dance world in Canada and internationally, touching the lives of many: artists, dancers, collaborators and audience.” The post summarizes his contributions by noting that he was, “A true pioneer in the world of dance, Patrick was known for his innovative choreography that reflected diverse cultural expressions and world issues. He had a passionate commitment to nurturing talent, and tireless advocacy, for artists of color, using his voice to push for equity and representation.”