Youth dance conference brings Ontario dancers together

Mariano Abarca / Photo: Lauren Van Gijn & Bobbie Dhindsa

>> by Jaimée Horn
With the goal of educating students and teachers alike about the value, scope and diversity of dance in Ontario, the Pulse Ontario Youth Dance Conference provides equal opportunities for all levels of dance students to benefit from the experiential learning and discovery that dance can provide in non-competitive environments. This year’s conference, held at York University from May 10th through 13th, had close to 200 participants who were enthusiastic to take in the workshops, evening performances and social events. Keynote speaker Mariano Abarca, recognized internationally as having put Canada on the map for hip hop dance, received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the dancers in the auditorium on Friday evening. His meaningful message directed to the youth and educators was to stay curious and creative. “Experience everything. Learn as much as you can and then build on that foundation. Be original. Ask questions. You are the scientists of this art form.” The conference, whose vision is to bring together dance students, teachers and dance professionals from across Ontario, manifested for the first time in May 2006. The conference is dedicated to providing students affordable opportunities to experience the art form, and develop their literacy and understanding of dance.

Canadian wins Dance Your PhD

>> by Naomi Brand
Emma 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 attempts to bridge the gap between the arts and sciences and challenges researchers to explain their research to the public in an accessible and creative way. This year's competition had fifty-five entries from Canada, the United States, Europe, India and Australia. The competition is now sponsored by TEDx Brussels, part of a global network of events and speakers based on innovative ideas. The winner of the competition receives $1,000 and a trip to Brussels for the awards ceremony.

Moze Mossanen's The Dancemakers coming on DVD

Cover design for The Dancemakers: Ginette Laurin / Design by Michael Ripley

>> by Naomi Brand

Moze 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 six choreographers: David Earle, Danny Grossman, Christopher House, James Kudelka, Ginette Laurin and Constantin Patsalas. Works recorded include Earle's Sacra Conversazione, Kudelka's In Paradisum and Grossman's Endgangered Species; and the series captures performances by dancers such as Danny Grossman, Randy Glynn, Suzette Sherman, Christopher House, Grace Miyagawa, Edward Hillyer, Veronica Tennant, Kevin Pugh, Ginette Laurin and Ken Gould. The DVD version includes bonus features such as new interview footage with the director, photo galleries and an electronic Teacher's Guide. To celebrate the launch of The Dancemakers as well as the closing of their latest exhibition, Dancing Through Time: Toronto's Dance History 1900-1980, DCD is hosting a party on June 24th at the Market Gallery in Toronto where DVDs will be sold at a discounted rate. Admission is by donation.

www.dcd.ca/dvdlaunch.html

Ryerson offers new course for professional dancers

>> by Cynthia Brett
Continuing 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 for professional dancers. It follows "Critical Thinking", which spearheaded the project in Fall 2010.

ArtsSmarts funding awarded

>> by Jacqueline Hansen
In 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 with the help of professional artists in the classroom. Thirty-seven projects will be run in Newfoundland and Labrador schools, making this year the peak for number of projects since 1998 when ArtsSmarts funding in the province began. In total, ArtsSmarts has awarded $1,266,336 to schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.