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• Guiding Philosophy

Cadence is committed to fostering the love of dance and movement as forms of expression and action. Students are encouraged to take risks and explore their creativity in a safe and nurturing environment as developed by the caring and professional dancers who facilitate each session. Cadence believes that each student already possesses the ability to express themselves through movement, communicating ideas, feelings, and experiences. Our role is to give students an entry point into this powerful art form, to empower them as artists and agents of change, and support teachers in addressing curriculum expectations in dynamic, meaningful ways.

What You Get From Cadence

Cadence programs are designed by an Ontario Certified Teacher in consultation with dance professionals. Your students will reap the benefits of working alongside professional dancers and you will have the peace of mind of knowing your time with Cadence is not time away from the curriculum. A Cadence dancer will engage your students in the thrill of creation and self-expression through dance; with ties to literature and social justice issues, our programs move beyond traditional expectations in fun and exciting ways. At the end of your visit, you will receive follow-up activities and assessment strategies including a rubric which can be used in your summative assessment.

Programs

1) “It’s Okay to be Different”: students will engage with the beloved book by Todd Parr through developmentally-appropriate creative movement and improvisation activities. Through the guidance and mentorship of Cadence’s professional dancers, students will learn to make statements through movement and use collaboration to create a finished piece. Kindergarten to Grade 3

2) Response to Social Justice Issues: students will be empowered to act as agents of change as they explore dance as a form of civic action. Using a developmentally-appropriate issue ranging from personal to local to global, students will take a stand and find solutions, collectively imagining a better reality. Students will work alongside Cadence’s professional dancers who act as facilitators, guiding students through the process in a way that allows them to benefit from the dancers’ expertise and simultaneously find their own voices. Kindergarten to Grade 8

3) Ish: using Peter H. Reynold’s inspiring book, students will learn to embrace and use the ambiguity and profundity of communicating through art, abandoning and moving beyond existing preconceptions. Professional dancers from Cadence will guide students through the creative process in developing a finished piece to communicate ideas on a central theme…ish. Grade 4 to Grade 6

4) Cadence’s Best Dance Crew: so you think you can dance? Prove it! Students will be divided into small groups and led through the choreographic process by professional dancers from Cadence, learning to harness the group’s strengths to collaborate in the creation of a short piece. Students will enjoy a short performance and voting by their peers, all in safe and fun atmosphere. Grade 6 to Grade 8

Performances

Cadence is available to perform in your school! Instead of booking expensive busses and going through the hassle of organizing a trip to a theatre, your students can experience a professional performance without leaving the school. Cadence dancers will perform pieces from the company’s repertoire, providing explanations of the meaning behind their movements and insights into the creative process in accessible, student-friendly ways. Time will be left at the end for dancers to answer any questions as well, making this a truly interactive performance. Students may even be called up to participate and experience contemporary dance first-hand!

Cadence is passionately committed to building bridges between art forms and communities.

Offering performances and classes to pre-professional and professional dancers and workshops for all ages and levels Cadence hopes to bring a higher appreciation and understanding of Canadian contemporary art.

For more information contact:

Robyn Ecclestone, OCT
Director of Educational Outreach
recclestone@courtnae.com