The School of Dance

Merrilee Hodgins A.R.A.D., Artistic Director.

The School of Dance

Inspired. Learning.

 

Our dancers dance.

Janna Matoussova with Elena Ilin.

The School of Dance thanks Microsoft for their ongoing support.

Classical Ballet Training

The School of Dance ballet auditions

Photo: Lois Chan

<Read More>

Season 2023-24 AUDITIONS
Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 4:45-5:30pm

For details and to register, contact aide@theschoolofdance.ca or 613-238-7838

The School of Dance gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council.

Contemporary Dance Diploma

The School of Dance Contemporary Dance Diploma

Photo: Bill Juillette

<Read More>

The School of Dance is registered as a private career college under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005

The Contemporary Dance Programme is approved as a vocational training program under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005

Summer 2023

The School of Dance Summer 2023

Photo: D. Brian Campbell

Dance Camps Ages 4 to 11
<Read More> (pdf)

Dance & Drama Cecchetti Grades 2/3 or equivalent
<Read More> (pdf)

Dance Delights Cecchetti Grade 1 or equivalent
<Read More> (pdf)

Summer-Co Cecchetti Grades 5/6 (or equivalent) and above
<Read More> (pdf)

Adult Summer Registration
<Read More> (pdf)

Adult Weekend of Ballet with T.J. Milne
<Read More> (pdf)

Contemporary Dance Intensive
<Read More> (pdf)

Children's Classes

The School of Dance Children

Photo: Lisa Hebert

Our Children’s Dance Classes begin with Twirling Tots at the age of 2 years. Explore Creative Movement Classical Ballet and Jazz with our professional teachers and musicians.

Fall 2023-24 Coming Soon

Teen Classes

The School of Dance Youth

Photo: TSOD Archives

Our TED Classes - Teens Exploring Dance - give youth the space and time to delve into Classical Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary Dance, Choreography and Composition, guided by professional artists and musicians

Fall 2023-24 Coming Soon

Adult Programmes

The School of Dance Adult Classes

Photo: Nicola Fridgen

From beginner to advanced levels, we have an extensive selection of Adult Classes - Ballet, Pointe, Variations, Contemporary, Choreography, Jazz, Lyrical, Pilates, and Progressing Ballet Technique with fantastic teachers and accompanists

Fall 2023-24 Coming Soon

Dance is BEST® for Seniors

The School of Dance Seniors

Photo: Nicola Fridgen

Specially designed for older learners our Dance is BEST programmes help improve mobility and co-ordination, while boosting energy! Dance is BEST offers physical and mental health benefits with social interactions after classes to share and connect.

Fall 2023-24 Coming Soon

The School of Dance thanks Microsoft for their ongoing support.

The Hands of TIME
For Seniors and People with Parkinson’s

For Seniors and People with Parkinson’s at The School of Dance

Photo: TSOD Archives

Fall 2023-24 Coming Soon

DragonFly®

The School of Dance DragonFly® Programme for Learners with Down Syndrome

Photo: Barbara Roblin

Our Programme for Learners with Down Syndrome

DragonFly® develops critical skills needed by learners with Down syndrome. Based on international research and best practices, our DragonFly® programmes instill confidence and independence in movement, reading, math and social interactions. We believe that young people with Down syndrome can be independent, thoughtful contributors to society, capable of setting and achieving their own goals.

<Read More>

The School of Dance thanks the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

DanceONTour®

The School of Dance and DanceONTour®

Photo: Gilles Vézina

Workshops and Performances made accessible to students across Eastern Ontario and Western Québec, with our teaching artists and young dancers in training. Youth sharing art with youth.

Gallery 200

Gallery 200

Photo: TSOD Archives

Public art space <Read More>

Performances

The School of Dance produces a variety of performances each season featuring our young dancers in training. From studio to STAGE – at the National Arts Centre, the Museum of History Theatre, Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, Arts Court Theatre, and ODD BOX Theatre.

 

The School of Dance 44!

The School of Dance 44!

Photo: Nicola Fridgen and Gilles Vézina

Saturday, June 10, 2023, 7:00pm
Canadian Museum of History Theatre
100 rue Laurier, Gatineau, QC

Tickets: $35 each, by contacting aide@theschoolofdance.ca or 613-238-7838

A family-friendly performance featuring students from our Professional Ballet Programme in new choreographies by Mary Ross and Shaun Amyot.

The School of Dance thanks Microsoft for their ongoing support.

Photo Essay by
Felix and Javier

The School of Dance thanks the City of Ottawa for their ongoing support.

Virtual Campus

The School of Dance Virtual Campus

Photo: D. Brian Campbell

Instructional videos <Read More>

The School of Dance thanks the Province of Ontario for their support

The School of Dance would like to thank the City of Ottawa for its ongoing support.

Artist in Residence Programme


Maryse Maynard

Maryse Maynard

Artist in Residence Programme Maryse Maynard

<Read More>


Beth Ross

Beth Ross

Artist in Residence Programme Beth Ross

<Read More>

The School of Dance thanks the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support

Workplace Charitable Campaign

Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign and The School of Dance

 

Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign and The School of Dance

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The School of Dance thanks the J.P. Bickell Foundation.

Community

The School of Dance Helps the Community

<Read More>

Studio Rental - Not available at this time.

The School of Dance thanks the City of Ottawa for their ongoing support.

Awards


Rich Little Endowment Fund
for the Performing Arts Awards

The School of Dance Rich Little Endowment Fund for the Performing Arts Awards

Rich Little Endowment Fund
for the Performing Arts Award

Ottawa, January 2023

The School of Dance announced today the winner of the 2022 Rich Little Endowment Fund for the Performing Arts, provided by the City of Ottawa to The School of Dance for administration:

Madison Chadwick
(Ward 13 - Rideau-Rockcliffe, represented by Rawlson King)

The School of Dance is proud to collaborate with the City of Ottawa in the important role of supporting young dance artists. The School of Dance gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the City of Ottawa.

Congratulations to Madison!

Rich Little Endowment Fund for the Performing Arts

This program was designed specifically to assist young emerging artists in the continuation of intensive professional training in the performing arts (dance, theatre, and music).

In 2022, local arts training organizations with solid track records of providing professional arts training to young adults were invited to act as third-party recommenders in a partnership approach to the awarding of funding. Each organization selected one to three deserving students to receive a grant, funded through the Rich Little Endowment Fund for the Performing Arts.


Celia Franca Award

2020 Celia Franca Award

 

Ottawa, October 2022

The 2022-23 Celia Franca Award was presented today to Kirsten Viitaniemi, a Level 9 student in The School’s Professional Ballet Programme (Ward 22 - Riverside South-Findlay Creek, represented by Councillor Steve Desroches).

The Award, in honour of Miss Franca, a great Canadian icon and a Co-Artistic Director of The School of Dance for many years, is presented annually to a young dancer showing commitment, dedication, excellent work ethic, exemplary behaviour and an outstanding love of dance.

The Celia Franca Award is represented by the sculpture After Arabesque by Canadian Artist Anne Harris. This year’s award is sponsored by The John McHale & Renee Levcovitch Foundation.

The School of Dance wishes to thank those who contributed via The Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign

Stuart Conger Learning Centre

Stuart Conger Learning Centre

Stuart Conger

The Centre, named for Stuart Conger to acknowledge his years of dedicated support of The School, is located on the second floor of The School of Dance. <Read More>

The School of Dance thanks the Conger Family for their support

Dance of Life Health!


Physiotherapy for Dancers

The School of Dance Physiotherapy for Dancers

Pamela Place PT FCAMPT CAFCI

Clients are encouraged to contact Pam Place directly at 613-899-3947 or physiopam@gmail.com

<Read More>


The School of Dance thanks the City of Ottawa for their ongoing support.

About The School

History
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Staff and Faculty
<Read More>


Guest Teachers and Choreographers
<Read More>


General Information
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Accessibility, Privacy, Policies and Procedures
<Read More>


Donate to The School of Dance
<Read More>


Wikipedia article
<Read More>

- The School of Dance and the Government of Ontario’s Seniors Community Grant program -

Thank You

The School of Dance gratefully acknowledges the generous support of:

Canada

Ontario

OAC

City of Ottawa

Ottawa Community Foundation

Jumpstart

The School of Dance thanks the Province of Ontario for their support

We would like to thank

Ministry of Culture for Ontario, Canada Council for the Arts, Cultural Human Resources Council, Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, Ontario Trillium Foundation, The Ontario Arts Foundation, City of Ottawa, The Celia Franca Foundation, The Chawkers Foundation, Cold Nose Productions, The Harold Crabtree Foundation, The George Lunan Foundation, The Community Foundation of Ottawa, Acacia Fund, Gunther, Inge Abrahamson Fund, Betty Davison Fund, The Ottawa Citizen, Shirley and Stuart Conger, Joyce Conger Fund for the Arts, Stephen Conger, Jane Low, Microsoft, TechSoup, MDS Nordion, Canada Post Corporation, J.P. Bickell Foundation, TD Canada Trust, Cross Border Management, TELUS, CIBC, mbna, Victoria and Walter Prystawski, Michael Potter, Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, Bridgewater Systems, Spiteri, Ursulak LLP, Kathleen Grimes, Iain Trevena, anonymous, Anonymous.

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I Love The School of Dance Campaign

I love The School of Dance

 

A button for you
(and a second one two)
We hope that you pass it along
On backpacks and shoes
(we’re spreading the news)
The School is where dancers belong

Pick up your free button in the office.