admission guide

2017 2018

Professional Training ProgramFull-time, three-year, post-secondary conservatory program in contemporary dance

The School of Toronto Dance Theatre is an exciting, creative, and vibrant place to train to become a professional contemporary dancer. We’re very proud that we have developed over many years a superb faculty; we engage world renowned guest teachers, and we have an impressive roster of choreographers who work with students in all three years of the Professional Training Program. The quality of our program has brought us national and international regard and we have an excellent reputation for exceptional and rigorous training.

Here at the School the focus is on your artistic development, choreographic exploration, and performance quality. We provide strong and challenging technical training and offer a versatile education that prepares dancers for a professional career. We aim to foster your talents and help you realize your full potential. Graduates from our program create, teach, and perform in Canada and around the world.

I hope you find this guide useful and insightful. If you have any questions, or would like to find out more about the School – get in touch! We want to hear from you.

If you are passionate and want to be a professional dancer, then come and dance with us!

Welcome

“This School has changed my perspective, and blasted open my preconceived notions about dance and art. My growth has been exponential, and I know it will continue into my final year of studies and far beyond. After graduation I will keep dancing. I know that I want never to stop learning. With the support of the School, I know that my curiosity and boundless desire for more will lead me places I never dreamed to go and give me opportunities I would have never imagined.”

– Tia Kushniruk, Student Council President 2016-17 and Kathryn Ash Scholarship winner, from Edmonton, Alberta

Patricia Fraser Artistic Director

For 50 years, we have been training and educating contemporary dance artists. We have many things to offer you as a student in our three-year, full-time, post-secondary Professional Training Program (PTP).

The PTP provides a broad curriculum, a solid foundation of knowledge about contemporary dance, physical and intellectual instruction in the art form, extensive performing experience, and an environment for learning that prepares students for a professional career. We offer:

• a healthy and supportive learning environment

• a conservatory-style education with a concentration on studio work – you spend your day dancing

• technique classes accompanied by some of Toronto’s finest dance musicians

• opportunities to create your own choreography

• numerous exceptional performance opportunities

• a close relationship with Toronto Dance Theatre, and exposure to the vibrant Toronto dance community

• a connection with York University’s B.F.A. Honours Dance program – get your degree!

The School of Toronto Dance Theatre’s Professional Training Program is approved as a vocational program under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005.

Why Choose the School?

Raya Facey

50yearsof leading contemporary dance training

Here at the School, we pride ourselves on the strength of the curriculum, and the range of classes offered to our students over all three years of the program.

The following information gives a brief overview of what you can expect to cover in your time here. For more details on our classes and curriculum please visit our website.

“The quality of teaching is uniformly high. The reputation of the School attracts teachers of broad and deep experience and they clearly enjoy teaching students who are committed and attentive.”

– Christopher Bannerman, Canadian Heritage Assessor

Curriculum

TechniqueA cornerstone of our approach is strong technical training which enables dancers to develop a high level of skill and versatility and to realize each individual’s physical potential. Dance technique includes classes in contemporary, Graham, ballet, Limón, and Horton, among others. Additionally, the training is augmented by special workshops and master classes, anatomy, cardio-conditioning, and coaching.

Anna Defent

Our program supports the students’ artistic development, and increases their understanding of the professional dance environment, including dance history, art theory and history, pedagogy, and career paths.

We focus on the imaginative and creative elements of each individual, as well as the quality and interpretation of their movement, and the development of each dancer’s full expressiveness.

Dancers examine new and emerging areas of thought and practice in the exploration of creation and improvisation. They begin to define their artistic point of view, defend their values, expand their critical thinking, and develop a rigorous creative practice. Courses include creative process, improvisation, contact improvisation, bouffon, music, and elements of production.

Creation & Improvisation

Contextual & Professional Studies

Margarita Soria

“The School has helped me develop the necessary skills for a professional career while also nurturing my passion for the art form.”

– Andrew Swan, 2015 graduate, from London, Ontario, 2014 Hnatyshyn Developing Artist Grant recipient*

*The Hnatyshyn Foundation began awarding grants in contemporary dance in 2006. Each year their Developing Artists Grants program provides eight $10,000 scholarships to exceptional young Canadians in post-secondary performance arts training programs.

Students from the School have won the prestigious Developing Artists Grant an unrivalled 6 times.

In rehearsal and in performance, dancers are immersed in the act of creation, re-creation, and interpretation. They experience different choreographic processes, learn valuable production skills, and are prepared to become the most versatile of instruments as professional dancers. In repertory, dancers work with professional choreographers to enhance performance and interpretation, and build to exciting and challenging performances during each semester.

UNM00RED; Apolonia Velasquez

Interpretation, Repertory, & Performance

Students perform work by acclaimed Canadian choreographers; works by Christopher House from the repertory of Toronto Dance Theatre; works by talented emerging contemporary creators; and classic dances by significant international choreographers.

Everyone dances! The School presents a series of performances in our home theatre, the Winchester Street Theatre, including winter and spring programs that involve the entire student body, and a third year show for graduating students in a distinctive program of solos, duets, and small ensemble repertory.

5 miles per second to elsewhere; Darryl Tracy

Charles-Alexis Desgagnés, Jerard Palazo

Performance Opportunities

“Since I began my training at the School, I have grown immensely as an artist and a person. I am constantly being pushed to be my best. The School is a safe environment where I am able to take risks and make mistakes to help me grow as a dancer and choreographer. I have received first-rate training I will take with me throughout the rest of my dance career and I have met some of the most incredible people I am lucky to call my friends!”

– Emily Spearing, 2016 graduate and Student Council President, from London, Ontario

Students also perform in special professional engagements in Toronto, and the graduating class appears in a major artistic collaboration every two years at the prestigious Canada Dance Festival in Ottawa.

Create your own work in our student-run Coffee House performances. Twice per year, students from all three years of the program can present their own choreography in our Coffee House performances at the Winchester Street Theatre. Third year students present their own choreographic work as a culmination of the Creative Process course in a special Choreographic Workshop.

Student Choreography

As a graduate of the Professional Training Program you will be trained as a performer and prepared to pursue career opportunities in the field of contemporary dance.

Graduates of the School are noted for their artistic and performance qualities, their technical proficiency, their versatility, and their strength. They have achieved success as performers and choreographers in companies and as independent artists. Graduates are also working as artistic and rehearsal directors, choreographers, teachers, and dance-related practitioners. In addition to Toronto Dance Theatre, which has drawn a majority of its current members from the School’s Professional Training Program, the School has sent an impressive number of graduates to major Canadian and international companies. Other alumni have initiated their own dance collectives, festivals, and schools. Some have continued with their studies for combined degrees, or have gone on to apply their knowledge of dance beyond the stage.

Careers for Graduates

Duet from Fjeld; Christopher House

Jade Clancy, Marie-Pier Beauregard

“Since my graduation from The School, the faculty and staff continue to have an encouraging presence in my artistic development, remaining close to me as mentors, teachers, choreographers, and supporters. Artistic Director, Patricia Fraser, is a most generous and nurturing mentor to her graduates.”

– Jillian Peever, dancer, choreographer, producer, and teacher; 2011 graduate; 2008 graduate of The Teacher Training Program of Canada’s National Ballet School;

Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Female Performance in 2016.

Joint Program with York University

Bright Fight; Peter Chin

Students who successfully complete the three-year School of TDT program are eligible to apply for admission to the York University Dance Department and can complete their dance degree in two years. The York University-School of Toronto Dance Theatre program is an Honours B.F.A. program offered jointly with York University.

For more information on this joint program, please contact us.

The School’s Professional Training Program is considered to be equivalent to an undergraduate degree for the purposes of admission to many graduate programs. Our graduates have gone directly into Masters’ programs including Canada’s McGill University and York University, and in England: The London Contemporary Dance School, Middlesex University, and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, among others.

Born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Marie-Pier Beauregard trained at l’École de Danse de Québec and Cégep de Drummondville. Continuing her search for further training, she enrolled in the School of TDT in 2013.

After creating her first dance works for the student shows, she discovered a passion for choreography. Beauregard was very involved in School life; class representative, costume design assistant, and stage manager. She has performed the works of Kate Alton, Susie Burpee, Peter Chin, Robert Desrosiers, Christopher House, Louis Laberge-Côté, Danny Grossman, Sasha Ivanochko, Sharon B. Moore, Julia Sasso, Ofilio Sinbadinho, and Darryl Tracy.

Born in Edmonton, Tia Kushniruk began to dance at age three; she trained at the Sandra Gray School of Dance for 15 years, and in 2013 became a Databank Artist for Cirque du Soleil. She toured Western Canada with Toy Guns Dance Theatre in the summer of 2014, and subsequently discovered physical theatre, improvisation, and street dance. In 2015, she performed in the Cirque du Soleil production of the Opening Ceremonies of the Pan Am Games. During her time at the School, Tia won the Kathryn Ash Scholarship, and is the President of the Student Council for 2016-17. She hopes to work in China and Australia following her graduation.

Jake Ramos was born in Bulacan, Philippines. He began his training with the Norzagaray Dance Troupe and Philippine Cultural Dance became a strong foundation for his dance training. After high school, he joined an award winning cheerleading team, FEU Cheering Squad, and received a full scholarship to finance his college education. He immigrated to Canada in 2011, and entered the School in 2013. In 2015, he participated in the RUBBERBANDance Summer Intensive, and he received an award of Excellence from the Music and Dance Academy at Domaine Forget.

Student Profiles

Jake Ramos Graduate 2016, co-winner of the 2016 Walker Wood Bursary and the Sharon B. Moore Solo Project Award

Tia KushnirukThird-year student 2016-2017, winner of the 2016 Kathryn Ash Scholarship

Marie-Pier Beauregard Graduate 2016, co-winner of the 2016 Leadership Award

TuitionFees for the 2017/18 school year are:

• $5,500.00, plus

• $275.00 for non-optional performance series fee

• $125.00 for a non-optional book fee (first year students only)

• $40.00 for non-optional book fee (second year students only), and

• $250.00 for a non-optional photo shoot fee (third year students only)

All fees are in CDN$.

Financial assistanceThe School of Toronto Dance Theatre recognizes that financing your education can be a challenge. Select scholarships and bursaries are available to second and third year students in our Professional Training Program.

Students enrolled in the Professional Training Program may be eligible, if qualified, for assistance under one or more of the following components of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP):

• the Canada Student Loans Program

• the Ontario Student Grant

Please contact the School office for more information and visit the Professional Training Program section on our website for details of bursaries and awards.

Ripple; Julia SassoTuition & Fees

Application informationIn order to be eligible for the Professional Training Program, applicants must:

• be a high school graduate (or equivalent), or have mature student status

• have a minimum of one year of serious dance training

• be at least 17 years of age

How to applyIndividuals interested in applying to the Professional Training Program will need to:

• complete and submit an application form with all supporting documents and a fee of $95

• attend an audition or submit a video

Application forms (including requirements) can be received by contacting the School, or can also be downloaded from the Professional Training Program section of our website.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact us.

Please note, we highly recommend that serious applicants attend our July Summer Intensive.

Please see our website for more details.

2017 - 2018 School Year at a Glance

Admission

Audition Dates

To begin the program in September 2017

• February 5, 2017 Application deadline: January 20, 2017

• July 15, 2017 Application deadline: July 7, 2017

IMPORTANT DATES

Classes Begin Sep. 5, 2017

Thanksgiving Break Oct. 6 - 9, 2017

Fall Break Oct. 23 - 27, 2017

Winter Break Dec. 10, 2017 - Jan. 7, 2018

Classes Resume Jan. 8, 2018

Family Day Feb. 19, 2018

Spring Break Mar. 5 - 9, 2018

Easter Break Mar. 30 - Apr. 1, 2018

Year Ends May 12, 2018

PERFORMANCES

Coffee HouseStudent-run Production Oct. 20, 2017

IMPULSE 2017Mainstage PerformanceNov. 30 - Dec. 2 & Dec. 7 - 9, 2017

Choreographic Workshop Feb. 9 & 10, 2018

Coffee HouseStudent-run Production Mar. 2 & 3, 2018

ACCELERATION 2018Mainstage PerformanceMar. 21-24, 2018

MOMENTUM 2018Mainstage PerformanceMay 3 - 5 & 10 - 12, 2018

ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Students come to the School from across Canada, including from First Nations, and internationally the School has welcomed students from around the globe. As a student at the School you will become part of a close-knit community and meet new friends from Canada and around the world who share your passion for dance.

The School welcomes international students, and video auditions are available. Once accepted, you will need to obtain a study permit and any other appropriate documents from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (cic.gc.ca).

The School is officially approved by the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development through the International Student Program (TCU).

International Students

“In Toronto, there are a lot of places you can see dance, and it’s easy to find people to collaborate with you. Toronto is an international city.”

– Natalia Lisina, 2014 graduate, from Kazan, Russia

30+countries

Students have come from

around the world

UNM00RED; Apolonia Velasquez

The School of Toronto Dance Theatre is located in the heart of historic Cabbagetown, on the east side of downtown Toronto. We are situated in a heritage designated renovated church, which is also home to Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) and the Winchester Street Theatre. With shops and cafés right on our doorstep, and only a short distance from the heart of the city, the School is ideally located for all aspects of student life.

Housing and accommodationThe School does not have housing or student residences, however we are able to provide information and guidance that may assist students in their search for housing.

Please contact us for more details.

The cityToronto is one of the most vibrant and multicultural cities in Canada, making it an extremely exciting place to live. Throughout the year, the streets and neighbourhoods are alive with entertainment and the buzz of major sporting events, internationally renowned performances, global festivals, a hugely diverse selection of restaurants, and everything from vintage thrift shops to high-end designer stores. There really is something for everyone here!

For more information about the city, please visit seetorontonow.com

Living in Toronto

• Toronto has been ranked the best city to live in the world by the Economist in 2015

• Toronto has the 3rd largest theatre district in the world after New York and London

• Home to TIFF, the world’s largest public film festival

• Four fully-equipped dance studios

• In-house, 125-seat theatre

• Access to dressing rooms, showers, and sauna

Did you know?

Contact usFor application forms and program details, please visit our website, or contact:

The School of Toronto Dance Theatre80 Winchester StreetToronto, OntarioCanadaM4X 1B2416-967-6887 Ext. 22andrea@schooloftdt.org

facebook.com/schooloftdt

schooloftdt.org

Stay in touch!

@SchoolofTDT

@schooloftdt

Artistic staffPatricia Fraser Artistic Director

Susan Macpherson Artistic Associate

Patricia Miner Artistic Associate

Andrea Roberts Artistic Coordinator - Professional Programs

Christopher HouseArtistic Advisor to Professional Training Program Artistic Director of Toronto Dance Theatre

Rosemary James Training and Performance Associate

Administrative StaffGail Packwood Managing Director

Louise Plunkett Student Services Coordinator

Lilya Sultanova Communications and Outreach Coordinator

Photography: Andréa de KeijzerMarc J ChalifouxCylla von TiedemannJae Yang

Design: Jae Yang

Front cover: Hilary Knee; Back cover: Shakeil Rollock

Pour obtenir des renseignements en français, veuillez nous visiter au schooloftdt.org/fr/ptp/

Charitable Registration 10796 2771 RR 0001

Lindy Green &Sam Chaiton