Finding a Dance Program: The School of Toronto Dance Theatre
This month, we sat down with Andrea Roberts to hear her advice for young dancers on Finding a Dance Program. For many Bloomies in our Canadian dance community, the transition from an aspiring dancer to a professional career is on the horizon. As rehearsal director, dance history teacher, and arts administrator, Andrea has watched many young dancers take the next steps in their careers through her 20 years at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. The School of TDT was established by the founders of the Toronto Dance Theatre in 1968: Patricia Beatty, David Earle, and Peter Randazzo. Over the last decades, The School of TDT has been known to offer a range of contemporary movement classes, training programs, and intensives catered to serious dance artists and the Toronto community. Andrea shares her advice on auditioning for training programs, as well resources for any dancer looking to explore the Toronto dance scene. Read her insightful words below.
Photo by Dahlia Katz
Our youth dance community may have not heard of the School of Toronto Dance Theater. To start off, can you explain what the School of TDT is?
For more than 50 years, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre has been training and educating dance artists, inspiring them with the passion and physical power of the human body in motion. We have a full-time post secondary Professional Training Program (known as the PTP) that spans over three years. Students in the PTP are exposed to a broad curriculum with an exceptional foundation of knowledge in modern and contemporary dance, a highly physical and imaginative introduction to the art form, extensive performing experience, and an environment for hands-on learning that prepares you for a professional career. We also offer a summer intensive each July that is a great way to enhance your studio training, and to prepare for the PTP audition.
Many emerging dancers from across Canada decide to move to Toronto to pursue dance. Because we are unaware of the dance community in Toronto, what tips would you give to a young dancer who has just moved to the city?
The School of Toronto Dance Theatre is located in the heart of historic Cabbagetown, on the east side of downtown Toronto. We are situated in a heritage-designated renovated church, which is also home to Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) and the Winchester Street Theatre. With shops and cafés right on our doorstep, and only a short distance from the heart of the city, The School is ideally located for all aspects of student life. There is a large dance community in Toronto and we encourage you to get out and explore! Toronto is one of the most vibrant and multicultural cities in the world, making it an extremely exciting place to live. Throughout the year, the streets and neighbourhoods are alive with entertainment and the buzz of major sporting events, internationally-renowned performances, global festivals, a hugely diverse selection of restaurants, and everything from vintage thrift shops to high-end designer stores. There really is something for everyone here!
You can find more information about the city here.
To any dancers looking to find a professional contemporary dance company or program, what advice can you give to best prepare for auditions and applications?
The best advice I can give is to take the time to research the company or school well. Figure out what they’re all about. What styles do they focus on? What philosophy does the organization follow? If possible, try and find out what the audition will involve so you can prepare. If they teach a ballet class, then take ballet classes prior to auditioning to build your confidence and understanding. If you find yourself challenged by the physicality of a school or company’s audition, a solution would be to build up some stamina (perhaps start going for runs, etc). Remember to always show your willingness to learn while attending an audition. Especially when applying for a school, it’s important to remember that most are looking for potential, not perfection. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask questions if you want to know more than what you find on the internet.
As a rehearsal director and arts administrator, you have worked with many young dancers over the length of your career. Have you noticed any recurring factors or decisions that cause dancers to commit to a certain program?
Students are usually drawn to a certain program because they are interested in the training and philosophy of the school. Sometimes, a student will follow in the footsteps of a teacher that they admire that has come from that particular program. See as much as you can so you can truly evaluate your options and what you want out of a program. Try watching videos on YouTube and learn about the style.
The people The School of TDT accepts come from all types of different backgrounds, but they’re all curious and interested in modern and contemporary dance. Also, think about the places that you want to explore in the next steps of your career. See if you can find connections to your goals through training programs or teachers. Lastly, an important decision to make is figuring out how much time you want to spend in the studio versus the classroom. University dance programs will have more of an even split between dance and traditional education compared to conservatory programs like The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, where we focus on dancing as much as possible.
To close, share any takeaways, experiences, or lessons from your career. What is next for you?
You can never know where you are going to end up! I danced at a small studio in the suburbs for my whole life and I had never even heard of Toronto Dance Theatre. Now I am teaching in the program and running admissions, something I couldn't have imagined when I was a teenager. There are more opportunities and different ways to live out your dance dreams than you might originally think. Choose something and start there — the path will reveal itself as you go. Do your research, take some chances, work hard, and have fun!
For more from Andrea, you can find The School of Toronto Dance Theatre through their website and Instagram.
