Toffan-Hiltz Collective

The Toffan-Hiltz Collective is a unique collaboration between jazz guitarist Nathan Hiltz, and rhythm tap dancer Allison Toffan. The music is derived from their rearrangements of well known folk tunes by celebrated Canadian artists, incorporating tap dance into the core of the musical composition and root structure. Their approach to these tunes maintain a strong sense of their origin, allowing the listener to connect with what they recognize. A main goal with the music is to create the opportunity for the audience's development for a new relationship with jazz music and tap dance, an art form in which they will experience in a new context.

The Toffan-Hiltz Collective is focused on connecting to what a large demographic of Canadians celebrate in music, thus choosing the mass cultural appeal in folk. Within the strength of that connection, The Toffan-Hiltz Collective introduces a new take on what Canadians know and love, via tap dance and jazz music. The band includes Johnny Griffith on alto and tenor saxophone, Chris Banks on upright bass, Nathan Hiltz on guitar and vocals, and Allison Toffan on vocals and taps, including body percussion, and sand dance as the only percussion. The Toffan-Hiltz Collective recently received funding from FACTOR in the demo program for further development.