A cultural, community friendly centre of learning offering classes in classical ballet, modern and contemporary dance in our building in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
The School of Dance DanceONTour season 2011-2012
Teachers and Principals: Ask us to do something special just for your school!
It's so easy!
Formulaire d'inscription au programme
We can come to your school and work in one of your large spaces OR you and your students can come to The School of Dance and learn more about the fascinating world of dance!
OR you can come to one of our spring performances at the National Arts Centre and add the magic of light and sound.
OR you can ask us to design a programme especially for you! We will design a curriculum component or a workshop of pure whimsy!
The choice is yours.
Classical/Creative Dance
All of the workshops have been conceived and will be directed by our Artistic Director, Merrilee Hodgins A.R.A.D.
Colour Your Moves! (Suggested for JK to Grade 3)
This poetry inspired workshop is designed to associate movement with colours and feelings. Your students will explore the rainbow of movements available in dance. Accompanied by a musician, this exciting dance workshop develops each student’s musicality, creativity, sense of movement and physical control. The session is an opportunity for students to learn to use their bodies, and the space around them, to communicate. In addition, your students will work in groups to develop movements based on themes, presenting the dances to their peers and teachers.
No Shuffling Allowed! (Suggested for Grades 4 to 6)
This energetic workshop explores the seven movements of dance through running, leaping, twisting and more. By learning the seven basic elements of movement, students learn to create dances or even a new movement language to express ideas and themes. Accompanied by a musician, students will learn to leap through the air, stretch every which way, spin on the ground and turn in the air! Workshops include problem solving and collaborative decision making.
Rhythm and Soles! (Suggested for Grades 3 to 6)
This toe-tapping workshop has the students creating their own movement and music with the help of our percussionist. This workshop is based entirely on rhythm and the student’s ability to create movement and sounds with their feet, their hands, as well as all together as a class group. The beat goes on! Your students will explore sound created by varying movement patterns, claps and foot stomping. The energy created is exciting and fun!
Contemporary Dance
The School of Dance Contemporary workshops are designed to give your students an unforgettable dance experience. Your students alongside our artists, dancers and teachers, will explore the world of contemporary dance in an innovative and instructive setting.
Think, breathe, move… dance and be inspired!
(Suggested for Grades 7 to 12)
From a dance warm up with our students, to observing a piece performed by these talented dancers, your students will progress to learning a section of choreography with the help of our teachers and dancers; all accompanied by our experienced percussionist. This choreography will be performed for peers and teachers.
The workshops are conducted by Sylvie Desrosiers, our bilingual Director of Contemporary Dance Studies or by one of our Contemporary Dance teachers along with The School’s contemporary dancers.
It’s so easy! We can come to your school; you can come to The School of Dance and have your students work in our specially designed studios as they experience the world of professional dance. We also offer a performance at the National Arts Centre next spring that your students can attend. Or, you can design a programme that suits your needs! If we visit your school for the workshop, we will need: a spacious, uncarpeted space, large enough to enable everyone to move comfortably (a dance studio, a gymnasium or equivalent are all suitable), two chairs and a sound system for CD's.
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4th Stage in Movement at the National Arts Centre
You may also choose that your students come to one of three performances at the National Arts Centre on Wednesday, May 30th, 2012. All performances will be comprised of a mixed bill repertoire suitable for students of all ages. Students will have the opportunity to learn simple theatrical terms, and see how lighting effects and staging elements come together in a dance production.
About The School of Dance
The School of Dance was founded in 1978 by Merrilee Hodgins and Joyce Shietze as a non-profit, charitable, educational institution dedicated to quality dance training. The School offers professional classes in ballet, contemporary dance and professional development activities for teachers. The School is also pleased to provide community arts programmes, reaching more than 70,000 people in eastern Ontario annually. The School of Dance is a registered private career college under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005. This Ontario designation complements The School’s federal registration as a non-profit, charitable arts education institution.
Merrilee Hodgins, A.R.A.D. Artistic Director
Workshop Leader
Miss Hodgins studied in Canada, England, Denmark and the United States. In 1971, she was awarded the prestigious Solo Seal of the Royal Academy of Dancing. In 1973 she became principal dancer with the Alberta Ballet Company, later working in Denmark, Germany and the U.S. as a freelance artist. Miss Hodgins, a recipient of the YM-YWCA’s 1997 Women of Distinction Award, was the 1997 Chair of the City of Ottawa’s Cultural Leadership Committee, was a member of the board of directors for Dance Ontario, and has been awarded Canada Council grants to research and develop projects to introduce children to dance. Recent projects include choreographic commissions from the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, a collaboration with Canadian poet Susan McMaster, and a commission to produce a concert version of Stravinsky’s Firebird for the Brott Music Festival in Hamilton, Ontario.
Sylvie Desrosiers, BAV, Director Contemporary Dance Studies
Workshop Leader
Director of Contemporary Dance Studies at The School of Dance, Sylvie Desrosiers trained with Peter Boneham, Risa Steinberg and Peggy Baker. She was Director of the school of Le Groupe de la Place Royale and has conceived and taught many Contemporary Dance classes and workshops throughout Eastern Ontario and Western Québec. Mme. Desrosiers is a consultant with the Ontario Ministry of Education, the Association francophone pour l’éducation artistique en Ontario and the Centre franco-ontarien de ressources pédagogiques. Her recent work in that field includes the development and revision of the francophone dance curriculum for Ontario schools. Mme. Desrosiers has extensive experience in the conception and the delivery of dance classes and workshops in high schools, colleges and universities and has been a guest choreographer in many performing arts schools.
Availability of DanceONTour in 2011-2012
Classical Creative Workshops with Merrilee Hodgins are available throughout the year on request.
The Contemporary Dance Workshops with Sylvie Desrosiers are available during the weeks of November 7 and December 5, 2011.
Workshops with our other faculty members can be booked, based on availability, throughout the school year by contacting Mr. Pauzé .
2012 dates to be announced.
Fees 2011-2012:
Workshops at your school or at The School of Dance
For dance workshop classes we will work with groups of 15-32 students:
$200.00 for each 90 minute session
$290.00 for a half day (2, one hour sessions)
$375.00 for a full day (3, one hour sessions or 2 90 minute sessions)
4th Stage in Movement at the National Arts Centre
Fee for students to attend a one-hour performance on
Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 at the NAC is
$3.00 per person based on spaces reserved. Performances at 9:30/11:00/1:15
(Capacity is 120 audience members in the 4th Stage of the NAC)