Karma Dance Brings TEMPLE OF DESIRE to Toronto Fringe

Karma Dance one of Australia's most celebrated and innovative dance  companies, will unveil its award-winning sell-out production, Temple of Desire, at Toronto  Fringe. This visually stunning dance performance centres 17 queer, transgendered and  people of colour in five shows running at Native Earth Performing Arts from July 4-11, 2025. 

Temple of Desire is set to challenge and uplift audiences by dangerously exploring the  relationship between spirituality and sexuality and how this affects people of multiply  marginalised backgrounds. This full-length performance features a dynamic ensemble of 17  dancers of colour from Toronto and Melbourne (Australia) who have come together  internationally to deliver this work. The performance uses ancient Indian and cultural dance  techniques with contemporary queer and trans narratives to explore themes of cultural loss,  post-colonial trauma, and sexual liberation. A visually stunning presentation, the production  embarks on a transformative journey from sombre beginnings to a dazzling celebration of  queer euphoria and freedom. 

Karma Dance Artistic Director, Govind Pillai, said, “Temple of Desire is unprecedented  because it amplifies oppressed voices and artforms in ways never seen before. This  performance is not just a dance theatre show; it's an urgent response to the need for art  that celebrates marginalized voices, merging traditional elegance with modern defiance.” 

This ground-breaking production addresses the historical acceptance of same-sex  relationships in pre-colonial times, juxtaposed with the impact of post-colonial-era stigma.  Temple of Desire aims to captivate and challenge audiences - particularly engaging those  interested in well-produced art, provocative ideas and subversive expression. 

Karma Dance is Australia’s premier art-maker of migrant, queer, trans and gender-diverse  dance. Renowned for their sell-out productions and critical acclaim, their previous works