PROGRAM

The School of Toronto Dance Theatre offers an intensive summer program of classes in contemporary dance. Taught by an outstanding, creative faculty of experienced teachers, the program is designed for professionals, pre-professionals, and students with a strong background in dance and at least one year of serious training. The program provides training in contemporary barre, Graham technique, and new creation/repertory; classes will be augmented by sessions devoted to coaching and body work. New creation/repertory classes culminate in open studio showings at the end of each two-week session.

All students will participate in a placement class on the first day of each two-week session. Your clear, accurate, and informative dance resume will assist faculty in placing you in the appropriate class. Faculty will then determine the level most suited to your ability and experience. The decision of the faculty is final.

Elementary
For students with a grounding in contemporary or classical technique.

Intermediate
For students with a good grounding in contemporary or classical technique and appropriate performance experience. Students at this level are expected to demonstrate a strong sense of centre, and an ability to move well through space and to execute more complex phrases of movement.

Advanced
For professionals, emerging professional dancers, or students with a strong formation in contemporary or classical technique, who demonstrate the strength and ability required for the advanced level and who have suitable performance experience.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Classes run Monday to Friday

Contemporary Barre
Classes in contemporary barre focus on integrating the use of torso and limbs; articulation of different body parts; alignment; and use of energy, weight, and space. Dancers work on physicality, centering, musicality, and clarity of movement. Different sources of movement are explored, with a strong focus on internal/external motivation. The class comprises work at the barre, centre work, and movement across the floor, including a variety of jumps.

Body Work
The challenges of technique to each particular physique require exploration and application outside of class throughout a dancers entire career. Body work sessions are designed as an adjunct to contemporary barre classes and provide students with personal practice material in a number of key areas. Body work classes address individual technical concerns, including issues relating to flexibility, strength, and injury prevention. The classes provoke personal investigation and movement research, and they promote a sense of responsibility towards learning, critical analysis, and becoming ones own teacher.

Graham Technique
Graham technique is derived from the work of the American modern dance pioneer, Martha Graham. These classes provide dancers with an understanding and an experience of the use of the basic movement principles of contraction/release and spiral, beginning in the bodys centre and radiating into its extremities. One of the most dramatic of modern dance techniques, the Graham movement vocabulary has tremendous power and expressive potential. Class begins with breath-related exercises seated on the floor, and it progresses through codified floorwork to standing work and complex movement phrases travelling through space.

Coaching
A hands-on experience for the dancer, this class addresses individual technical concerns in a caring and creative learning environment. The dancer is encouraged to ask questions and clarify issues, principles, and exercises that have been introduced in the Graham technique classes. Exercises are broken down to their fundamental components for a deeper physical and intellectual understanding.

New Creation / Repertory
Dancers work with gifted choreographers learning elements of performance that may include repertory, new creation, improvisation, and interpretation. Dancers learn how to work in an ensemble, and how to take direction as well as how to lead. They become familiar with rehearsal practices, they learn how to recognize a choreographers intent, and they acquire performance and interpretive skills.