Fusion Beats

Fusion Beats is a vibrant talent show that uplifts diverse student performances in music, dance and performance art. Hosted at the historic Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, it brings together the Laurier, Conestoga and Brantford communities. The show is a collaborative initiative between Laurier Brantford, the City of Brantford, and The Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts. Fusion Beats is made possible by generous sponsorship from Wilfrid Laurier University, Downtown Brantford BIA, Laurier’s International Student Support, and the City of Brantford.

Fusion Beats 2026

Your stage. Your voice. Your vibe.

BRANTFORD — Wilfrid Laurier University’s Hub for Community Solutions, International Student Support and the City of Brantford invite you to attend Fusion Beats 2026.

Now in its fourth year, Fusion Beats is an electrifying showcase of culturally diverse music and dance that will light up the stage on Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts located at 88 Dalhousie St. in Brantford. The event draws hundreds of attendees from both campus and the broader community each year and has featured talented performers from Hindi rappers to high-energy K-pop dance crews. 

Attendence is completely free! You may register for your free tickets here (registration is appreciated but not mandatory).

Headlining this year's show is the Sonic Uke Ensemble!

Emerging from the ukulele sub-culture of southern Ontario, the Sonic Uke Ensemble is a group of seasoned players that came together during the Covid lockdowns of 2021. Their video performances - showcasing their unique blend of vintage and more-contemporary material, served with a few laughs - have been entertaining thousands of viewers on-line. Their live shows are delighting audiences with their ukulele skills and vocal arrangements, along with a few surprises!

2026 Performers

• Sonic Uke Ensemble
• KAOS
• Laurier Brantford Theatre Club
• Olivia Marshall
• Hailey Purchase
• Liam Whitehouse
• Elijah Liverpool
• Paromita Kar
• Saxation
• Bennett Honeyford
• STOMPtastic

Kevin Davis, Branford Mayor

Past Shows Highlights

Fusion Beats 2025

Headlining this year’s event was the R.P.M. Dance Crew, a Toronto-based K-Pop cover dance team who hold three national titles and a world championship.

Performers

• Mumbo Jumbo Combo (Noah Abrahamse, Jorge Betancourt, Daniel Villarraga)
• Aaron Sopko
• Akhil Prabhu
• Irene Matthew
• Kaylynn Spencer
• Kaya Kanashiro
• Liam Thomas Whitehouse
• Olivia Marshall
• Sreekar Kanchi
• Team STOMPtastic

You can check out the news coverage of Fusion Beats 2025 below!

Brant Beacon "Laurier’s Fusion Beats talent show draws a crowd."

Brant Blog "Fusion Beats 2025 Brings Youth Talent and Community Spirit to the Sanderson Centre"

Photography by Dean Ellis on Facebook

Sponsors

Fusion Beats 2025 was brought to you by The Laurier Hub for Community Solutions, the City of Brantford, the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, Laurier International Students Support, Laurier Brantford Grants, and the Downtown Brantford BIA.

Fusion Beats 2024

The night was a celebration of student creativity, culture and community. The Sanderson Centre buzzed with energy, pride and applause to celebrate the return of Fusion Beats. 

Layla Staats, a powerful musician, filmmaker and activist from Six Nations, took to the stage with a soul-stirring performance that blended art and advocacy. 

Performers

• The Bald Parts of Their Hearts: Ashley Robertson and Brent Watts, Laurier Social Work students, Musical duo
• Akhil Prabhu, Laurier Criminology student, Guitarist
• Kaya Kanashiro, Laurier UX Design student, Singer
• Sreekar Kanchi, Laurier Master of Applied Computing student, Hindi Rap artist
• KAOS Dance Team, the Heartbeat of Laurier Brantford
• Paromita Kar and Alex Iarocci, Music and dance duo
• Hadassah, Nigerian song
• Amanpreet Singh, Desi Hip Hop artist
• Karan Singh, Punjabi classical and folk songs

Sponsors

Fusion Beats 2024 was brought to you by The Laurier Hub for Community Solutions, the City of Brantford, the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, Laurier International Students Support, and Conestoga Students Inc.

Fusion Beats 2023

As the very first Fusion Beats event, 2023 marked the beginning of a new tradition celebrating student creativity and cultural expression. The Sanderson Centre came alive with rhythm, movement and community spirit, laying the foundation for what's now an anticipated annual showcase in Brantford.

R.P.M. Dance Crew brought high-energy choreography and global flair through K-Pop, to our stage, setting the tone for an unforgettable launch.

Performers

• Makeda Kafele-Green, Laurier Health Studies student, Singer
• Harman Singh Sandhu, Conestoga College student, Acoustic singer
• Conestoga College Bhangra Team, Bhangra dance crew
• Chandler Berardi, Laurier alumnus, singer
• Gaurav Isai aka Garry, Conestoga College, Break dancer
• Ishmeet Singh, Conestoga College
• Onyedikachi Emmanuel-Kalu, Laurier alumni, DJ
• Ines Sveltana Ngale Djocgoue, Laurier student, MC
• Tarun Mullapudi, Laurier student, MC

Sponsors

Fusion Beats 2023 was brought to you by The Laurier Hub for Community Solutions, the City of Brantford, the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, Laurier International Students Support, and Conestoga Students Inc.