Mandate

The School of Toronto Dance Theatre is passionately committed to the training and education of young dancers in the art of contemporary dance.
We dedicate ourselves to investing in the artistic potential of youth for the development of the art form.

Specifically:

  • The School serves the art form of contemporary dance by providing well-trained dance artists to further the developments in the field.
  • The School supports the professional development of faculty and guest artists so that they may further their artistry and provide excellent and relevant instruction to students.
  • The School serves as an advocate for dance and for education in the arts within the dance community and to the public-at-large.

Our Priorities include:

  • a commitment to excellence
  • the practice of sound, healthy, and progressive training
  • a responsibility to invest in choreographic and creative development
  • the preparation of students for the profession in all aspects of their training
  • the provision of a working environment appropriate to serve the needs of the students, the faculty and staff, and the art form

For over 40 years, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre has been training dance artists who have been inspired by the depth of passion and the physical power of the human body in motion. Contemporary dance is an art form of kinetic expression, which both represents and reflects back to us our contemporary world through the elements of time, space, energy, musicality, and dynamics. It can provoke joy and wonder, sadness and despair, humour and delight, and deep feelings of passion and spiritual awareness. It is an art form that can keep us profoundly in touch with others, with our environment, and with ourselves.

Philosophically, training emphasizes the whole dancer - body, mind, and spirit - since excellent movement training engages the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our humanity. The School affirms its commitment to the education of all aspects of an individual through its strong and varied curriculum and through the provision of excellent role models in its faculty and guest artists.

The School strives for artistic excellence in teaching, stays vitally aware of ongoing developments in the art form, provides stable administration and financial management, and maintains a strong and responsible Board of Directors. Through its dedication to excellence in the art form, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre is at the forefront of training in contemporary dance in Canada.