While CCDT's primary activity is dance-making, the focus of its work with young people has naturally evolved into school and community outreach programs which aim to reduce the distance between audience and performer.

To accomplish this, the Company had condensed its 22 years of arts education experience into two main outreach programs - DancePlay workshops for students of dance and DanceGuide workshops for teachers of dance.

DancePlay workshops employ the same dance technique and choreography practiced by CCDT dancers, and are led by Company teachers and choreographers. Here, students can explore the vitally important physical component of dance.

Meanwhile, their teachers, who are responsible to meet curriculum requirements for dance, can benefit from DanceGuide professional development workshops. DanceGuide draws upon CCDT's twenty-one years of expertise with teaching the basics and then building upon these using progressive, clearly structured material and methodology.

Taken together, performances and workshops complement and reinforce one another, resulting in a complete community dance experience that should long outlast CCDT's all too brief visit. Please see our Education Outreach section for more information on these programs.

Finally, as a service to its local community, CCDT offers its BOLD! (Better Off Learning Dance!) scholarships program which assists young people who have a passion to explore any of dance's many styles from ballet and modern to hip hop and tap. Please see our scholarships page for more information on BOLD!.
 

“I like how the movement flowed with the music.”
“This dance was like moving in space.”

Attack of the Small Ones

“I liked how they used their own sounds with their body
movements to tell the story.”
“I liked how some movement was fast to go with the music and
how some music was slow with slow movement.”
“The lighting added a sense of timing.”
“It was like you acted it out but in dance movements.”
“I liked the part where they made their own music.”

Musical Chairs

“You could really understand the story behind the movement.”
“I liked the surprise near the end when the girl pushed the boy of the chair.”
“The music and dance made me feel cheerful. It made me laugh.”
“I loved all the suit costumes and the way they rolled the chairs down their back.”
“The sick part was when they were going to kiss at the end.”

Nine Person Ball Passing

“I liked the teamwork. Everyone cooperated.”
“I liked how the rhythm changed with different members of the team.”

Oh Mary Don’t You Weep

“The dance was beautiful.”
“I liked how the clothing shone when they moved.”
“It was a creative and graceful dance.”

General Comments

“I wish I could see all your dances.”
“I loved your dancing.”
“I really enjoyed the show!”

Questions

“Did it take a long time to practice?”
“Were the children that were the small ones actually small?”
“Why were there nine people in the ball pass?”
“How did you remember all those moves?”
“[in musical chairs] Why did the girl win, instead of a boy?”

Letter from a Grade 3 Student at
the Bawlinson Community School, Toronto

"Dear Canadian Children's Dance Theatre,

I really enjoyed it when you were passing the balls together because it made me think of sharing and caring for each other. I really liked it when the leader said the words. It made me think of the great times that I had with my friends. It made pictures of great times in my mind. But it also made me see lots of colourful rainbows. "