The Dance Current news

Jay Rankin appointed ED of Dance Umbrella of Ontario

2012-01-27T10:05:00.010-06:00

>> by Jaimée HornJay Rankin, former executive director of Ballet BC, was recently appointed as the new executive director of the Dance Umbrella of Ontario (DUO). Rankin is succeeding Christine Moynihan who has led DUO since 2002. Rankin is enthusiastic about his partnership with the arts community and organizations in the city of Toronto, and looks forward to helping dance artistry thrive in

Canada loses two early RAD members

2012-01-26T21:38:00.004-06:00

Alison Sutcliffe, 1936Dorothy Scruton>> by Amy BowringIn recent months, Canada has lost two of its earliest Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) members: Dorothy Cox Scruton died on October 22nd at age 100 and Alison Sutcliffe Brigden died on December 30th at age 102. Born in Winnipeg but trained in dance in England, Scruton’s name appears in the 1931 city directory for Victoria as the principal of the

CLC to open newly renovated dance centre

2012-01-23T16:48:00.010-06:00

>> byvar addthis_pub="dcurrent"; Cynthia BrettOn February 14th, 2012, Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie (CLC) officially opens the Citadel, a newly renovated centre for contemporary dance in Toronto's Regent Park. Located at 304 Parliament St., the former 1912 Salvation Army Citadel has been redesigned by Diamond & Schmitt Architects into a dance centre with a 1,800-

Tune in Saturday afternoons for Evi-Dance

2012-01-13T09:15:00.000-06:00

>> by Jaimée HornThe Toronto-based Evi-Dance Sunday morning radio show is moving to a new spot on Saturday afternoons. As of Saturday, January 7th, the show that presents local, national and international dance coverage is now broadcast live every Saturday on 89.5FM from 2 to 3pm, following another arts show called “The More the Merrier”. Tune in live or visit their website to listen to previous

Miriam Adams appointed to Order of Canada

2012-01-10T20:04:00.007-06:00

Miriam Adams / Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann>> by Cynthiavar addthis_pub="dcurrent"; BrettMiriam Adams, Co-Founder/Director of Dance Collection Danse (DCD), was recently appointed to the Order of Canada for her contribution to Canadian dance history. Adams and her late husband Lawrence, both former dancers of The National Ballet of Canada, founded 15 Dance Lab in the

L.A.'s MOCA gala sparks controversy

2011-12-30T20:39:00.001-06:00

>> by Naomi Brand var addthis_pub="dcurrent";Performance artist Marina Abramović's centre piece performance for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles' (MOCA) annual donor gala has sparked controversy and debate over alleged exploitation of performers. During last month's gala dinner attended by 750 celebrity and art world guests, dozens of performers knelt

Canadian dance studies society adopts new name

2011-12-30T09:07:00.000-06:00

>> by Samantha MehraThe Canadian Society for Dance Studies/La Société canadienne d'études en danse (CSDS/SCDD) recently changed its name in order to be more inclusive of Canada's dance community. This change intends to reflect founder Amy Bowring's mission to "encompass a broad range of research areas including history, anthropology, movement analysis, ethnology, creative process studies, dance

Jeanne Holmes appointed artistic producer of CDF

2011-11-24T02:15:00.000-06:00

Jeanne Holmes / Photo by David Hou >> by Cynthia BrettOn December 1st, Jeanne Holmes will take her post as the new artistic producer of the Canada Dance Festival (CDF). With a background in performance, production, programming and arts management, Holmes brings over twenty years of diverse experience to the position. She is currently the

Celebrating touring, birthdays and legacies

2011-11-23T22:32:00.001-06:00

>> by Jacqueline HansenBallet Jörgen Canada has been awarded the 2011 National Arts Centre Award for Distinguished Contribution to Touring, making it the first Ontario performing arts organization to win. In its nearly twenty-five-year history, Ballet Jörgen has connected with 250 North American communities and continues to bring ballet to 40,000 people annually across Canada and the United

Candace Loubert (1947-2011)

2011-11-23T12:43:00.000-06:00

Candace Loubert / Photo courtesy of LADMMI>> by Samantha Mehravar addthis_pub="dcurrent";Candace Loubert, co-founder of Les Ateliers de danse moderne de Montréal Inc. (LADMMI), died on October 28th, 2011. Loubert co-founded LADMMI with Linda Rabin, initially under the name of the Linda Rabin Danse Moderne School, where she was the artistic

New book on contemporary Indian dance

2011-11-21T11:00:00.000-06:00

>> by Samantha MehraPalgrave Macmillan recently published Contemporary Indian Dance: New Creative Choreography in India and the Diaspora, written by scholar Ketu H. Katrak, a professor in the Department of Drama at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). The book, which includes over thirty images, explores both the historical and contemporary practices of Indian classical dance, and the ways

DCD launches new exhibit

2011-11-21T10:02:00.000-06:00

>> by Cynthia BrettOn November 14th, Dance Collection Danse (DCD) unveiled its latest exhibit: Renegade Bodies: Canadian Dance in the 1970s. For this exhibit, artifacts from Canada's 1970s dance boom, such as programs, posters, photographs and video, are on display in Theatre Museum Canada's Macdonald Heaslip Walkway of Theatre History at Toronto's Hart House Theatre until September 14th, 2012.

DTRC turns 25

2011-11-21T09:28:00.000-06:00

>> by Jacqueline HansenCanada’s Dancer Transition Resource Centre (DTRC) is turning twenty-five years old, and the occasion is being commemorated with a night of performances titled Choreographing Change, at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre in Vancouver on December 1, 2011. In a quarter century, the DTRC claims it has acted as a "springboard for more than 10,000 dancers to make inspired,

Beyoncé video accused of plagiarism

2011-11-01T16:10:00.000-05:00

>> by Naomi BrandPop star Beyoncé Knowles' new video Countdown has raised some controversy over its striking similarity to the work of Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and has been accused of plagiarism. The video allegedly borrows from two of De Keersmaeker's videos: Achterland (1990) and Rosas danst Rosas (1983). Beyoncé's video shares not only some very similar dance movement

Canadian wins Dance Your PhD

2011-11-01T06:10:00.000-05:00

>> by Naomi BrandEmma Ware, a biologist at Queen's University, is one of four winners of Dance Your PhD, an annual contest that asks researchers to convert their doctoral dissertation into a dance video. Ware's dissertation, entitled "A Study of Social Interactivity Using Pigeon Courtship", was a moody, black-and-white, contemporary dance video that won in the social science category. The contest

Alexander Grant (1925-2011)

2011-11-01T05:29:00.000-05:00

Alexander Grant with ballet master David Scott / Photo by David Street>> by Jaimée HornAlexander Grant, beloved dancer and former artistic director of The National Ballet of Canada, died in London on Friday, September 30th at the age of 86. Grant had been ill for eight months following a hip surgery that resulted in infections and pneumonia. The dynamic performer will be fondly remembered for his

Men outnumber women in STDT's first-year class

2011-10-22T18:45:00.000-05:00

>> by Cynthia Brett For the first time in The School of Toronto Dance Theatre's (STDT) history, there are more men than women in its first-year class. Of twenty-two students, twelve are men. Artistic Director Patricia Fraser commented that the school has seen an increase in the number of men auditioning, as well as an improvement in their dancing. A collective statement from the first-year class

Toronto Heritage Dance showcases Canadian choreographers

2011-10-21T12:19:00.000-05:00

>> by Samantha MehraIn celebration of Canadian dance's vibrant past and present, Toronto Heritage Dance recently showcased the work of six eminent Canadian choreographers at the Winchester Street Theatre from September 15th through 18th. The program, an event presented by the DanceWorks CoWorks Series, featured three new works, and three revivals including Patricia Beatty's new solo The High

David Y.H. Lui (1944-2011)

2011-10-11T19:58:00.000-05:00

>> by Amy BowringVancouver-based impresario and producer David Y.H. Lui died on September 15th, 2011. Lui had an extensive forty-year career in the arts and was dedicated to his passions of dance, music and musical theatre. The Vancouver native is credited with helping to develop audiences through his presentation of a wide variety of companies and artists, and even began this role while studying

Signal Theatre takes part in carbon footprint study

2011-10-03T04:25:00.000-05:00

>> by Naomi Brand var addthis_pub="dcurrent";Signal Theatre's newest production, from thine eyes choreographed by Artistic Director Michael Greyeyes, is part of an environmental research project led by York University Theatre professor Peter McKinnon. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada–funded study is aimed to determine the environmental

SWAP IT! event aims to satisfy community's needs

2011-09-29T11:42:00.011-05:00

>> by Samantha MehraOn September 25th, the first SWAP IT!, an arts resource-sharing event hosted by The Alliance of Independent Mid-Career Dance Creators (AIM-CDC), took place at Dancemakers Centre for Creation. The purpose of the initiative was to bring members of the dance community together to exchange skills, props, time to donate towards administrative work, transportation, and other

FTA names new co-executive and administrative director

2011-09-28T12:41:00.009-05:00

>> by Samantha MehraFestival TransAmériques (FTA) recently announced the appointment of Christine Bouchard as co-executive and administrative director. Bouchard, who is replacing Caroline Lussier (now the head of the Dance Section at the Canada Council for the Arts), will share general management roles with Marie-Hélène Falcon, the festival's co-executive and artistic director. Bouchard's past

SYTYCD Canada cancelled

2011-09-20T10:48:00.002-05:00

>> by Jacqueline HansenThe cast and contestants of So You Think You Can Dance Canada (SYTYCDC) have taken their final bow. The reality dance show will not be renewed by Bell Media for a fifth season. The finale, which will undoubtedly send the show’s final winner, Jordan Clark, to dance fame, was watched by 903,000 viewers. That is twenty-seven percent fewer than in 2010. Dancers will now need to

Canadian dancers make on-screen splash

2011-09-19T03:50:00.000-05:00

Laurieann Gibson / Photo courtesy of E!Nico Archambault and Mylène St-Sauveur in Sur Le Rythme / Photo courtesy of Seville Pictures >> by Jacqueline Hansenvar addthis_pub="dcurrent";Canadian dancers Laurieann Gibson and Nico Archambault were on-screen stars this summer. Gibson, a Toronto native known for her choreography for artists such as

Dance Matters. And now, it is official.

2011-09-17T12:37:00.002-05:00

>> by Jaimée HornToronto-based Tanya Crowder’s HOWDARESHE Productions has been the umbrella for a number of her creative collaborations. Among these endeavours is Dance Matters, a sustainable, community-based, curated performance series, featuring original choreographic works from Canadian dance artists of all disciplines. Originally existing under Crowder’s HOWDARESHE production name, Dance

American dance icons honoured with U.S. postal stamps

2011-09-17T11:59:00.001-05:00

>> by Naomi BrandFour influential American choreographers will appear on a series of stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 2012. The set includes Isadora Duncan, José Limón, Katherine Dunham and Bob Fosse. The stamps were designed by art director Ethel Kessler and illustrated by James McMullan. A large number of Canadian dancers throughout the twentieth-century studied or worked with Limón,

Tré Armstrong gives back

2011-09-17T11:55:00.000-05:00

Tré Armstrong teaching Hip Hop during The Give Back>> by Jaimée HornTré Armstrong, choreographer, dancer and judge on CTV’s So You Think You Can Dance Canada, is giving back to the dance community. Her company, A New D.A.E.I., recently hosted The Give Back on July 10th, 2011 at Canada’s National Ballet School. The day’s purpose was to provide youth, teenagers and adults the opportunity to be a

Sonia Rodriguez co-authors children's book

2011-09-17T11:47:00.000-05:00

>> byvar addthis_pub="dcurrent"; Cynthia BrettSonia Rodriguez, principal dancer at The National Ballet of Canada, and her husband Kurt Browning have co-written a new children's book: T is for Tutu: A Ballet Alphabet, illustrated by Wilson Ong. Intended for children aged six to ten, T is for Tutu explores the art and history of ballet. Though a first book for

NAC Foundation announces CEO's National Fund

2011-09-06T11:31:00.001-05:00

>> by Samantha MehraThe National Arts Centre Foundation recently announced the creation of the CEO's National Fund, which will support national performing arts and education programs. The fund honours Peter Herrndorf, president and CEO of the National Arts Centre since 1999, whom the foundation acknowledged for strengthening the centre's national character, setting high artistic standards and

Two new Canadian dance books hit the market

2011-08-25T00:26:00.003-05:00

Lata Pada in her own work Revealed by Fire, 2001 / Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann Chi Long in Marie Chouinard’s bODY_rEMIX/gOLDBERG _vARIATIONS, 2005 / Photo by Marie Chouinard >> by Jaimée Horn There are two new titles that dance lovers can start adding to their book collections this month, Compagnie_Marie_Chouinard_Company, and the soon-to-be-released Fields in Motion: Ethnography in the Worlds

MERGEzine re-launches

2011-08-24T05:47:00.001-05:00

>> by Cynthia BrettMERGEzine, a Toronto-based publication for emerging dance artists, will soon re-launch after taking a one-year hiatus to build its team and apply for funding. A not-for-profit publication, MERGE publishes four to five issues per year and also regularly maintains a blog. Co-editors Rachel Martin and Kelly Morden recently sent out a call for writers, submissions and photos for

Canadian government invests in Yukon

2011-08-24T00:04:00.000-05:00

>> by Naomi Brandvar addthis_pub="dcurrent"; The Government of Canada announced that it will be investing in arts, culture and official languages in the Yukon territory. The announcement was made in July at the Yukon Arts Centre by Paul Calandra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. The total funding of $1,939,590 will support nine projects

CCDT turns on the switch for SolarDance

2011-08-23T14:18:00.000-05:00

CCDT Co-Artistic Director Michael deConinck Smith with solar panels on 509 roof >> by Jacqueline Hansen var addthis_pub="dcurrent"; Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (CCDT, formerly Canadian Children's Dance Theatre) is bringing in the green by going green. The recently renamed company got started on a bright idea it calls SolarDance arts

Yoné Kvietys (1924-2011)

2011-07-29T18:07:00.005-05:00

>> by Amy Bowring This summer Yonge-Dundas Square, located in the heart of downtown Toronto, presents free dance film screenings every Tuesday at sunset. The series, "Dancing in the Dark", runs June 28th through August 30th and will feature classic dance movies such as Dirty Dancing

CADA-ON unveils new health plan

2011-07-12T08:20:00.000-05:00

>> by Cynthia BrettCanadian Alliance of Dance Artists, Ontario Chapter (CADA-ON) recently announced the first phase of its new Arts Workers Health Insurance Plan (AWHIP). Self-employed arts workers and some corporations can benefit from this program that addresses both day-to-day health concerns and larger incidents, such as Out of Country illness. CADA-ON needs 200

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland breaks box office record

2011-07-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

Aleksandar Antonijevic and Jillian Vanstone in Alice's Adventures in WonderlandPhoto by Cylla von Tiedemannvar addthis_pub="dcurrent";>> by Naomi BrandThe National Ballet of Canada's production of Christopher Wheeldon's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has broken box office records to become the highest grossing mainstage production in the company's history. Over

Kaha:wi Dance Theatre brings together dance and lacrosse

2011-07-11T07:06:00.002-05:00

Performers Danny Vyse, Shayne Martell, Jared Robillard, Vaughn Harris in The Creator's Game.Photo by Elizabeth Thipphawong>> by Naomi Brand var addthis_pub="dcurrent";Kaha:wi Dance Theatre Artistic Director Santee Smith was commissioned to choreograph a new contemporary work combining lacrosse and dance. The Creator's Game was a three-way

Yvonne Chartrand wins Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award in dance

2011-07-11T03:06:00.000-05:00

photo courtesy of Yvonne Chartrand>> by Naomi Brand var addthis_pub="dcurrent";Contemporary choreographer, dancer and Métis jigger Yvonne Chartrand won the Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award for dance. Chartrand is the artistic director of the Vancouver-based contemporary and Métis dance company Compaigni V'ni Dansi, which performs both traditional Métis dance and

32nd Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards

2011-07-11T01:52:00.000-05:00

Robert Glumbek and Roberto Campanella at the Dora Awards 2011 / Photo by John Lauener >> by Brittany DugganThe 32nd Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards were held on Monday, June 27th at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts’ Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto. Celebrating the 2010/11 season in dance, the award for Outstanding Original Choreography went to Roberto Campanella and Robert Glumbek for

Lata Pada receives pretigious award from India

2011-07-11T00:16:00.000-05:00

Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil and Lata PadaPhoto courtesy of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India >> by Samantha Mehravar addthis_pub="dcurrent";SAMPRADAYA Dance Creations Artistic Director Lata Pada, C.M., was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, on January 9th,

Karen Kain receives Distinguished Artist Award from ISPA

2011-07-03T13:04:00.012-05:00

>> by Brittany DugganKaren Kain / Photo by Sian RichardsKaren Kain, artistic director of The National Ballet of Canada, was awarded the Distinguished Artist Award from the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) on June 16th during the society’s 25th Congress, which was held in Toronto June 15th through 18th. The awards acknowledge the contribution made by arts leaders and

CCCO visits Thunder Bay and Guelph

2011-07-01T13:40:00.000-05:00

>> by Cynthia BrettCultural Careers Council Ontario (CCCO) visited Thunder Bay on June 17th and 18th to present its latest conference: "Creating a Living: Your Art, Your Business". The event included presentations from artists and professionals in Thunder Bay on how to "transfer creative planning skills to a business context," according to CCCO's website. Previously, the organization travelled to

Trillum Foundation awards funding to micro-finance for artists research project

2011-07-01T12:15:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth Chitty / Photo by Brian Yungblut Photography >> by Samantha Mehravar addthis_pub="dcurrent";The Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists, Ontario Chapter (CADA-ON), has been awarded a $27,800 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation Province-Wide Program. The award supports a research project that aims to discover how micro-finance

Crystal Pite wins Jacob's Pillow Dance Award

2011-06-14T09:59:00.000-05:00

Crystal Pite / Photo by Joris JanBos>> by Cynthia BrettAcclaimed choreographer and performer Crystal Pite, artistic director of Kidd Pivot Frankfurt RM, has been awarded the fifth annual Jacob's Pillow Dance Award. This award recognizes exceptional visionary talent and is accompanied by a $25,000 prize, as well as a custom-designed glass sculpture by renowned artist

Moze Mossanen's The Dancemakers coming on DVD

2011-06-10T15:43:00.003-05:00

Cover design for The Dancemakers: Ginette Laurin / Design by Michael Ripley>> by Naomi BrandMoze Mossanen's 1988 film series The Dancemakers will be released on DVD on June 24th. Dance Collection Danse (DCD) has been distributing the series on VHS for many years and has now redesigned it for DVD. The show profiles Canadian contemporary dance and features masterworks by

Leica Hardy receives honorary doctorate

2011-06-10T11:02:00.000-05:00

>> by Naomi Brandvar addthis_pub="dcurrent";Dance educator and choreographer Leica Hardy received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Saint Mary's University last month during the spring convocation ceremony. Hardy is the owner and artistic director of the Leica Hardy School of Dance in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where she has contributed

CADA-ON publishes professional standards for dance, version 3

2011-06-09T12:44:00.002-05:00

CADA-ON Executive Director Elizabeth Chitty and Co-chair Nova Bhattacharya / Photo by Brodie Stevenson>> by Samantha Mehravar addthis_pub="dcurrent";The Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists, Ontario Chapter (CADA-ON) has published Version 3 of its Professional Standards for Dance (PSD), a living document that provides guidelines for members of

Joel Klein new Made in BC Program Director

2011-06-09T12:16:00.002-05:00

Joel Klein / Photo by Katherine Henderson>> by Samantha MehraMade in BC recently announced the appointment of Joel Klein as its new program director. The move comes at a time when the organization begins a shift into becoming an ongoing program. As program director, Klein will take a leadership role in organization and program services. Klein has been an active administrator in British Columbia;

Margie Gillis object of on-air bullying

2011-06-09T09:22:00.003-05:00

>> by Amy BowringMontréal-based dance icon Margie Gillis was the object of on-air bullying when she appeared as a guest on SunTV's "Canada Live" on June 1st. The controversial news station, known for its sensational coverage and aggressive interviewing style, had contacted Gillis' office shortly after she received the Governor General's Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Performing Arts.

Shivani Thakkar joins cast of Bombay Bollywood

2011-06-05T08:57:00.001-05:00

Shivani Thakkar / Photo by Ivan Karabobaliev>> by Cynthia BrettCalgary-based dance artist Shivani Thakkar is joining the cast of Bellydance Superstars’ new show as a soloist and lead dancer. Bombay Bollywood, produced by Miles Copeland, has already toured in Canada, the United States and Europe, and heads next to Japan. In a press release, Thakkar, who is associate artistic director of Manu Kala

NBoC’s Sonia Rodriguez honoured by Spain

2011-06-05T06:57:00.001-05:00

>> by Brittany DugganSonia Rodriguez, principal dancer with The National Ballet of Canada, was awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Civil Merit on May 25th. With her husband, Canadian figure skater Kurt Browning, and their two sons, Rodriguez received the award from the ambassador of Spain to Canada, Eudaldo Mirapeix, at Spain's embassy in Ottawa. The Cross is a significant distinction in the arts

National Ballet of Canada update

2011-05-30T11:42:00.001-05:00

Bridgett Zehr and Brendan Saye / Photo by Aleksander Antonijevic Guillaume Coté / Photo by Sian Richards Bridgett Zehr and Zdenek Konvalina in Swan Lake / Photo by Aleksander Atonijevic>> by Cynthia BrettDancers at The National Ballet of Canada (NBoC) have been making headlines both at home and internationally this spring. On April 24th, principal dancer Guillaume

SCDS/SECD director Amy Bowring stepping down

2011-05-30T10:30:00.002-05:00

Amy Bowring and sons / Photo by Michael Ripley>> by Samantha MehraAmy Bowring, founder/director of the Society of Canadian Dance Studies/La Société des études canadiennes en danse (SCDS/SECD), recently announced her decision to step down from the position citing the need to make more time for family and for her role as director of research at the archives/publisher Dance Collection Danse. In

So You Think You Can Dance Canada winner takes on charitable work

2011-05-30T10:01:00.001-05:00

Tara-Jean Popowich/ Photo care of CTV>> by Naomi Brand var addthis_pub="dcurrent"Since winning So You Think You Can Dance Canada (SYTYCDC) Season Two, Tara-Jean Popowich has been busy with charity work. She recently returned from Burkina Faso, West Africa, where she was working with Bridges of Hope, a not-for-profit organization that

Ballet Jörgen's Tara Butler retires

2011-05-30T05:54:00.001-05:00

Tara Butler in Ballet Jörgen Canada's Cinderella / Photo by Karolina Kuras>> by Brittany DugganTara Butler, principal dancer at Ballet Jörgen Canada, has retired after sixteen years with the Toronto-based touring ballet company. A native of Pickering, Ontario, Butler trained at Canada's National Ballet School graduating in 1992. She apprenticed with The National Ballet of Canada for one season

New award for emerging dance artists in Nova Scotia

2011-05-24T10:10:00.002-05:00

Cynthia Lank, Daphne Cruikshanks, Adrian Hoffman and Francesca Nardi / Photo by Jacqueline Steudler>> by Brittany DugganThe Nova Scotia Talent Trust (NSTT) recently announced the creation of a new $1100 award. The award is for existing scholarship recipients who demonstrate exceptional commitment and potential in dance. Made possible through the donation of the late Robert George Jackson and his

Good Women hosts second "What's Cooking?" event

2011-05-24T10:04:00.003-05:00

Alida Nyquist Schultz (back) and Ainsley Hillyard (front)/ Photo by Tracy Kolenchuk>> by Cynthia BrettTo celebrate International Dance Day on April 29th, Good Women Dance Collective hosted its second annual "What's Cooking?" event at Transalta Arts Barns in Edmonton. The evening included a buffet-style dinner as well as a casual atmosphere for artists to share works-in-progress and receive

Two books from Western Canadian dancers

2011-05-24T09:59:00.002-05:00

>> by Brittany DugganLeap, a new novel by Jodi Lundgren, is a fictional story about a fifteen-year-old girl and her relationship with dance. Full of twists and turns, Leap captures the positive power dance can have on young girls as they wade through the social and personal pressures of growing up. A native of Victoria, BC, Lundgren herself grew up writing and dancing before moving to Seattle to

Red Sky's Sandra Laronde earns honorary degree

2011-05-24T09:25:00.000-05:00

>> by Brittany DugganSandra Laronde, founder and artistic director of Red Sky Performance, has been chosen to receive an honorary degree from Trent University. Dr. Steven E. Franklin, Trent’s president, will honour Laronde for her contribution to society through her work in contemporary indigenous performing arts. As well as being founding artistic director of Red Sky, Laronde is the director of

Dance 2 Danse Festival cancelled

2011-05-06T10:07:00.001-05:00

>> by Brittany DugganToronto’s Dance 2 Danse (D2D) Festival has been cancelled for 2011, and possibly for good. Sion Irwin-Childs, artistic director and founder, has informed artists who applied before the deadline that their submissions are currently in the process of being returned along with all application fees. The decision comes shortly after applications were due for 2011, and just one

National Ballet of Canada introduces summer intensive

2011-05-06T09:11:00.002-05:00

>> by Samantha MehraFor the first time, The National Ballet of Canada will host a summer dance intensive from July 4th through 15th, 2011, from 9:00am to 3:00pm daily. The ten-day summer intensive provides students, aged fourteen through eighteen, the opportunity to learn from professional dancers at the National Ballet's studios in The Walter Carsen Centre in downtown

Ryerson offers new course for professional dancers

2011-05-06T08:56:00.003-05:00

>> by Cynthia BrettContinuing its efforts to help professional dancers earn university credit, Ryerson University is currently offering a new course in partnership with the Dancer Transition Resource Centre and Canada's National Ballet School. "Biology of a Living City", running April 4th through June 27th, is the second course Ryerson has offered as a step towards a specialized degree program

Canada Council appointments

2011-05-05T21:21:00.000-05:00

>> by Amy Bowring @font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }The Canada Council for the Arts has made two appointments that will be important to the dance community. Anne Valois, former head of the Dance Section, has been named director of Arts

Brian Webb announces his departure from CDF

2011-04-04T13:47:00.002-05:00

Brian Webb / Photo by Ed Ellis>> byvar addthis_pub="dcurrent"; Naomi BrandBrian Webb, artistic director of the Canada Dance Festival (CDF), announced in January that he will be completing his tenure in October 2011. Webb has been at the helm of the festival since 2001 where his programming has contributed to greater diversity and new

Performing arts medicine conference in Toronto

2011-04-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

>> by Brittany DugganThe Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) and the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music presented "Performance Awareness from Studio to Stage" in Toronto on March 26th. The day-long conference for teachers, performers, students and health care professionals working with performing artists was held in the Conservatory Theatre at the Telus Centre for

Creative Trust releases report on audience engagement

2011-04-04T11:27:00.006-05:00

>> by Samantha MehraCreative Trust has released the results of its first Audience Engagement Survey Report, an initiative made possible by twenty Toronto music, dance, theatre and opera companies. The survey, which included feedback from nearly 3700 arts attendees, gave the companies the opportunity to hear directly from audiences regarding the kinds of activities that

Megan Andrews concludes 13 years at The Dance Current

2011-03-25T16:33:00.005-05:00

Megan Andrews and daughter / Photo by Ken Cunningham>> by Brittany DugganMegan Andrews, publisher/founding editor of The Dance Current magazine, has recently announced her decision to resign from her current role as Publisher/Founding Editor of the dance media organization stating, “I fully expect to remain involved in the dance community and perhaps even contribute to the magazine in a different

Toronto dance artist featured in transit poster series

2011-03-21T07:33:00.006-05:00

Keiko Kitano / Photo by Giulio Muratori>> by Brittany DugganDance artist Keiko Kitano is one of nine contemporary artists in the latest series of First Impressions. Produced by Toronto Arts Council in partnership with Heritage Toronto, the project celebrates the diverse heritage of Toronto’s arts community. This latest series, as a TTC poster campaign, was launched March 14th with a total of

Margie Gillis receives Governor General's Award

2011-03-13T12:46:00.017-05:00

Margie Gillis / Photo by Tamara Fiset>> By Cynthia BrettDancer, choreographer and teacher Margie Gillis is among six recipients of the 2011 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. A veteran Canadian artist, Montreal-based Gillis has created and performed more than 100 solos in her nearly forty-year career. She has also choreographed works for companies

Clifford Collier (1929-2011)

2011-03-08T20:56:00.005-06:00

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David Rimmer wins Governor General's award

2011-03-02T08:32:00.011-06:00

>> by Brittany DugganExperimental filmmaker David Rimmer is among the recipients of the 2011 Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts. Rimmer is notable for his collaborations with dance artist and fellow filmmaker Yvonne Rainer in the 1970s and with Canadians Paula Ross and Karen Jamieson in the 1980s. Among his dance films are Ross' Coming Together and Jamieson's Sisyphus. Based in

Shine Gala: A shining success

2011-03-01T22:21:00.010-06:00

Shine Gala dancers / Photos by George Pimentel>> by Jacqueline HansenThe Shine Fundraising Gala held by Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) on February 5th, sought to shine the spotlight on NBS. Current NBS students performed several works, highlighting the night’s themes of the beauty of dance, the talent and determination required to succeed, and NBS’ role as a leading training institution

Glenn Gilmour (1938-2011)

2011-03-01T21:41:00.017-06:00

Glenn Gilmour / Photo by Jeannette Edissi Collins>> by Jacqueline HansenLong-time National Ballet School (NBS) teacher Glenn Gilmour died on February 5th, 2011 in Toronto at the age of 72. A native of Windsor, Ontario, Gilmour began what would end up being a lifelong career in ballet at the Renee Russell School of Dance. On scholarship, Gilmour travelled to Toronto to train with Betty Oliphant

Les Productions Figlio wins Rio Tinto Alcan Award

2011-02-28T13:45:00.009-06:00

Serge Bennathan>> by Naomi BrandLes Productions Figlio is the winner of the twelfth annual Rio Tinto Alcan Performing Arts Award, a $60,000 production fund. The company's new work, Elles, will have its premiere at Vancouver's, The Cultch in March 2012. Les Productions Figlio is a production house dedicated to the artistic work of choreographer Serge Bennathan. Elles is Bennathan's latest work,

John Hobday Arts Management Awards announced

2011-02-07T22:43:00.011-06:00

Mary-Louise Albert / Photo courtesy of the artistEva Cairns / Photo by David Ley>> by Brittany DugganOn January 24th, the Canada Council for the Arts announced Mary-Louise Albert and Eva Cairns as the 2011 recipients of the John Hobday Awards in Arts Management. The $10,000 awards celebrate established and mid-career arts managers, allowing each recipient to enhance their professional development

International choreography competition returns to Saint-Sauveur

2011-02-07T09:45:00.002-06:00

>> by Naomi BrandAfter a six-year hiatus, the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur announces the return of its international choreography competition. The festival offers international programs in dance and music including a competition of original creations that showcases the works of emerging choreographers. The international choreography competition will be held in Saint-Sauveur Valley, a

Lois Smith (1929-2011)

2011-01-24T20:21:00.007-06:00

David Adams and Lois Smith in the National Ballet's production of Antony Tudor's Lilac Garden / Photo by Ken Bell, courtesy of Dance Collection Danse >> by Michael CrabbLois Smith, The National Ballet of Canada’s (NBoC) first prima ballerina, died at her home in Sechelt, BC, on January 22nd after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. She was 81. Smith and then husband David Adams forged a

Across Oceans Choreographic Marathon

2011-01-24T12:10:00.001-06:00

>> by Naomi Brand var addthis_pub="dcurrent"Across Oceans' Choreographic Marathon took place December 17th through 19th at the Pia Bouman Studio in Toronto. The intensive workshop offered choreographic training for emerging and established choreographers and the opportunity for mentorship by established choreographers. After 26.32 hours of

Ahmed Hassan (1955-2011)

2011-01-13T09:35:00.003-06:00

>> by Amy BowringComposer and musician Ahmed Hassan died on January 12th of urospesis after a lengthy struggle with multiple sclerosis. Born in Cairo, Hassan moved to Halifax with his family in 1969. He entered Dalhousie University to study biochemistry but after a chance encounter with percussionist Ricardo Abreut of Toronto Dance Theatre, Hassan changed course to study music. He was inspired by

Flamenco declared World Heritage Treasure by UNESCO

2011-01-12T12:02:00.002-06:00

>> by Samantha Mehravar addthis_pub="dcurrent";The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized flamenco as a World Heritage Treasure. The honour was given during a UNESCO meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16th, 2010. Spain first nominated flamenco for UNESCO recognition in 2005 but was unsuccessful. The 2010 nomination was

Susan McNaughton (1952-2010)

2011-01-12T10:31:00.002-06:00

Susan McNaughton / Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann >> by Samantha MehraDance artist and academic Susan McNaughton died on December 4th, 2010. Born in Toronto, McNaughton received a certificate in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Later, she pursued a fruitful career as a dancer, choreographer, model and teacher in Toronto beginning

Lucy Potts (1921-2010)

2011-01-10T20:14:00.003-06:00

Lucy Potts, 1964 / Photo courtesy of Canada's National Ballet School >> by Natasha FridA cornerstone of Canada's National Ballet School (NBS), teacher Lucy Potts died on December 21st. Speaking four languages fluently, Potts taught French at NBS from its inception in 1959 until she retired in 1986. She also held the role of academic principal during

Paula Citron FRESH BLOOD award winners

2011-01-08T14:27:00.005-06:00

Paul Charbonneau and Merideth Plumb / Photo: Scott McLeod>> by Naomi BrandThe Paula Citron FRESH BLOOD award for 2010 has been given to Paul Charbonneau for his work A Duet For Merideth. Charbonneau choreographed the work and performed it with Merideth Plumb. The 2010 audience choice award was a tie between Anjelica Scannura and Kyra Jean Green. The two choreographers were each awarded an

Donald Himes (1930–2011)

2011-01-07T14:32:00.003-06:00

Donald Himes in his production of Babar the Little Elephant for The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, c. 1986 / Photo by Christopher Darling, courtesy of Dance Collection Danse >> by Amy BowringDonald Himes, pianist, composer, dancer, choreographer, teacher and somatic practitioner, died suddenly on January 3rd. Originally from Galt, Ontario, Himes

Ann Southam (1937–2010)

2011-01-07T13:09:00.004-06:00

Ann Southam / Photo courtesy of Dance Collection Danse >> by Amy BowringComposer Ann Southam died of cancer on November 25th. A summer music camp at the Banff School inspired the Winnipeg-born Southam to pursue music. After studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto, Southam began teaching at the Royal Conservatory in 1966. She was involved in the beginnings of

ArtsSmarts funding awarded

2011-01-07T10:14:00.000-06:00

>> by Jacqueline HansenIn September 2010, The Dance Current took a look at dance in Canadian public schools. Newfoundland and Labrador, which received a D+ from the magazine for its lack of dance in the public school curriculum, was recently awarded $150,001 in grants through the ArtsSmarts program for the 2010/11 school year. ArtsSmarts funding is used to integrate art into non-arts subjects

Genée International Ballet Competition 2010

2011-01-07T10:04:00.000-06:00

Finalists with judges and faculty / Photo by Elliott Franks >> by Jacqueline HansenNovember 21st in London marked an annual event for the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) called the Genée International Ballet Competition 2010. Eighteen-year-old Canadian Donald Thom was one of twelve dancers to compete in the final round of the competition, and the only one from Canada. There were no gold medals

Patricia Fraser honoured with inaugural arts award

2011-01-07T09:47:00.000-06:00

Patricia Fraser / Photo by Dianna Last>> by Brittany DugganOn November 18th, Patricia Fraser was named the recipient of the Robert Johnston Award for exemplary human resources practices in the arts and culture sector. Artistic director of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre since 1993, Fraser has expanded and improved the professional training program while concurrently supporting the

SARP releases final report

2011-01-07T09:07:00.000-06:00

by Naomi BrandThe Senior Artists Research Project (SARP) released its final report and recommendations for action, which found that senior artists are at risk.Some of the SARP findings include:• 61 per cent of senior artists are at moderate or high financial risk;• 73 per cent are at moderate or high health risk; and• 42 per cent are at moderate or high risk with regards to their artistic career

New dance instruction resources from Human Kinetics

2010-12-02T10:51:00.001-06:00

Cover for Dance Units for Middle School / Courtesy of Human KineticsCover for Experiential Anatomy in Dance Technique / Courtesy of Human Kinetics>> by Cynthia BrettTeaching dance just got easier with two new releases from Human Kinetics, international publishers of sports and recreation resources: Dance Units for Middle School and Anatomy in Dance Technique: Eight Skeletal Explorations. Faced

New facility and scholarship for Dance Victoria

2010-12-02T09:39:00.000-06:00

>> by Samantha Mehravar addthis_pub="dcurrent";Dance Victoria recently announced the creation of The Chrystal Dance Award, a new scholarship worth $11,500 aimed at helping emerging dancers and choreographers pursue further studies at accredited institutions outside of Canada. It also aims to support mid-career dancers and choreographers

DSR is honoured with National Arts Centre award

2010-11-22T10:08:00.001-06:00

>> by Jacqueline HansenLa danse sur les routes du Québec’s (DSR) mission is to share dance, and on November 7th, 2010 it was recognized for its outstanding efforts with the 2010 National Arts Centre Award for Distinguished Contribution to Touring in the Performing Arts. The award is described as honouring “exceptional achievement in fostering the touring of live performing arts in Canada.” DSR

Corynne Barron becomes new Mondor model

2010-11-22T09:59:00.001-06:00

>> by Samantha Mehravar addthis_pub="dcurrent";Corynne Barron, top 12 contestant in the second season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada (SYTYCDC), is the most recent face of Mondor, a company specializing in performance attire for dancers, figure skaters and gymnasts. Barron recently returned to England for training, where she had been

509 Collective classes to come to an end

2010-11-22T09:56:00.000-06:00

>> by Naomi BrandCome December 17th Toronto's 509 Collective will no longer be running morning technique classes. "There are several reasons for the Collective's end," says Canadian Children's Dance Theatre's (CCDT) Managing Director Michael deConinck Smith. "The most fundamental is that not enough dancers are able or willing to bear even the subsidized class cost." As well, a lack of

Randy Joynt wins Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award

2010-11-22T09:54:00.000-06:00

Randy Joynt / Photo by Tony Nardella>> by Samantha Mehravar addthis_pub="dcurrent";Dancer Randy Joynt is one of seven artists who received a $15,000 Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award from the Canada Council for the Arts. The awards, which are distributed annually, recognize exemplary mid-career artists in the seven disciplines funded by the Canada Council. The awards

Stacey Tookey's "Joy"

2010-11-09T16:03:00.001-06:00

Stacey Tookey in her "Strength, Joy, Tenacity" t-shirt / Photo by Doug Kieper >> by Jacqueline HansenWhen choreographer and dancer Stacey Tookey was approached by the clothing company Sugar and Bruno to design clothes for dancers, it was all she needed to get started. “I have always been into fashion and I spend most of my time in dance clothes so I thought it would be an amazing way to have