麻豆约拍

Ballet Creole is one of Canada's first black dance companies. It presents traditional and contemporary dance rooted in African and Caribbean forms.

This festive season they are putting on Soulful Messiah - a performance inspired by Quincy Jones' 'Handel's Messiah - A Soulful Celebration'.

Patrick Parson, the founder and artistic director of Ballet Creole, spoke to Nikki Bedi about the upcoming performance and his ambition when founding the company:

"Growing up and going to the ballet it was always classical...so seeing that from year to year it was uplifting but I started to think about there should be something more for people like us, the African diaspora - and share with the rest of the world."

(Photo: Ballet Creole troupe dancing as they hold classes at formerly Old Orchard Public School. Credit: Getty Images)