Performance Opportunities

In rehearsal and in performance, dancers are immersed in the act of creation, re-creation, and interpretation. They experience different choreographic processes, learn valuable performance skills, and are prepared to become the most versatile of instruments as professional dancers.

Students have opportunities to perform special commissions or remounts of 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.

Mainstage performances
 

Winter and spring programs involve the entire student body in new creations and remounts of master work.
Third year dancers perform a distinctive additional program of solos, duets, and small ensemble repertory by renowned choreographers in the spring of their final year.

Choreographic Workshop
 

Third year students present their own choreographic work as a culmination of the Creative Process course, designed to guide them through the choreographic process, from conception through creation and rehearsal, and finally to performance. Production management for this Choreographic Workshop is provided by second year students.

Coffee House
 

More informal student-run Coffee House performances regularly present original student choreography.

All of the above performances take place in our home theatre, the Winchester Street Theatre.

Canada Dance Festival
 

Recent graduating classes have appeared at the Canada Dance Festival, performing with students from a nationwide consortium of contemporary professional training programs.  A nationally renowned choreographer works separately with each school, assembling the final piece in Ottawa. 

Tedd Robinson and Ginette Laurin have created past work for the consortium; in 2012, graduating dancers will perform repertory by Jean-Pierre Perreault.

Special additional performances
 

Various special projects have involved students in professional performances by Rachel Browne, Danny Grossman, Bill James, Kaeja d’Dance, Ginette Laurin, Julia Sasso, and Gerry Trentham.

Additionally, our students have recently participated in performances of the Older and Reckless series in Toronto, featuring remounts of classic works by senior choreographers. Third year students may participate in additional performances during an exchange program with LADMMI l’école de danse contemporaine, in Montreal.