Dance in Canada

A traditional Quebecois dance.

First Nations Pow Wow inWendake,Quebec.

A large variety ofdancecompanies exist inCanada,encompassing a wide tradition of dances that represent both its manyindigenous cultures,as well as that of its European-descended population.

Ballet companies and dance groups

See also:Category:Ballet in CanadaandDance companies in Canada

Someballetcompanies include theRoyal Winnipeg Ballet,theNational Ballet of Canada(which is based inToronto),Ballet Jörgen Canada(also based in Toronto),Les Grands Ballets Canadiens(based inMontréal), theAlberta Ballet(based inCalgary),Ballet BC(based inVancouver),Ballet Kelowna,Ballet du Printemps(also based in Vancouver),Ballet Victoria,Canadian Pacific Ballet(based inVictoria), and theGoh Balletin Vancouver. There are also many modern dance companies includingToronto Dance Theatre,O Vertigoin Montréal,Compagnie Marie Chouinardin Montréal, Par B.l.eux founded byBenoît Lachambrein Montréal,Danny Grossman Dance Companyin Toronto,The Chimera Projectin Toronto,Mocean Dancein Halifax andWinnipeg's Contemporary Dancers.

The largest company in the country is The National Ballet of Canada. The Royal Winnipeg is the second oldest and longest continuously running ballet company in North America. It was the first ballet company in the Common Wealth to receive the Royal charter. Canada is home to hundreds of amateurUkrainian dancegroups as well as professional and semi-professional companies such as theCheremosh Ukrainian Dance Companyin Edmonton.

Modern dance companies in Canada

Dancemakersis a modern dance company in Canada created in 1974 byMarcy RadlerandAndraya Ciel Smith.In 1977 Peggy Baker andPatricia Minerwere the first co-directors of Dancemakers.In 1979Anna Blewchampand then Peggy Baker were directors of Dancemakers.In 1980 Carol Anderson and Patricia Fraser became co-artistic directors of Dancemakers.Carol Anderson became the sole artistic director of Dancemakers from 1985-1988.

Another modern dance company in Canada is theDanny Grossman Dance Company.In 1975, the Danny Grossman Dance Company was founded in Toronto, Ontario.The Danny Grossman Dance Company originally consisted of dancersDanny Grossman,Judy Hendon,Erik Bobrowand Greg Parks.The company has performed around the world as well as withinCanada.Presently, the company goes and teaches the work of the Danny Grossman Dance Company to dancers who are currently getting their dance education in academic institutions.

Post-Secondary dance programs in Canada

There are dance programs in Canada at the post-secondary level.York University,University of Québec,Concordia,University of Calgary,andSimon Fraser Universityall offer studies in Dance.There are college programs for dance atToronto Metropolitan University(formerly Ryerson University),George Brown CollegeandGrant MacEwan College.

Ballroom dance in Canada

See also:Category:Canadian dancers

Canada is an active member of two largestballroom danceassociations,WDSF(national branch called Canada DanceSport) andWDC.It hosts such noticeable annual dance competitions asSnowball ClassicandLa Classique du Quebec.

Indigenous dance

TheRed River Jigis a traditional dance of theCanadian Métis.The origins of the dance lie in the traditional dances of theFirst Nations,French,English,Scots,andOrcadianpeoples from whom theMétis Nationwas born. The name refers to theRed River of the Northwhich forms the border betweenNorth DakotaandMinnesotaflowing northward throughWinnipeg, ManitobatoHudson Bay.

A Round Dance is a traditional dance of several Indigenous groups in Western Canada. Apowwowtypically includes several dances such as jingle dress dancing and hoop dancing. Northwest coast Indigenous nations in the smokehouse or longhouse traditions include ceremonial, social and performative dancing such as the archer dance and the down-spreading dance.

Notable Canadian dancers

Canadian dancershave been recognised in international competitions.

• Alain DoucetandAnik Jolicoeur-Doucetwere four time professional ten dance world champions.
• Maurizio VescovoandAndra Vaidilaitewere professional Latin World Cup champions 2013 in Moscow.
• Anton BelyaevandAntoaneta Popovawon third place in World Ten Dance Championship 2013 in Vienna.
• Vadim Garbuzovwas Canadian youth Standard champion 2004and Canadian youth Latin champion 2003with Nadiya Dyatlova. Then with Kathrin Menzinger he became 2015 world champion in Latin showand world champion in standard show.
• Richard Lifshitz and Greta Korju: World Champions 2013 U-19 and U-21 WDC AL Youth Latin (Paris, France), Canadian Champions 2013 U-21 and Youth Latin, North American Champions 2013 16+ and Youth Latin.

Jacqueline Lemieux Prize

The Canada Council for the Arts administers the Jacqueline Lemieux Prizethat recognizes outstanding contributions to dance in Canada from established dance professionals.

The prize was established in 1980 and is awarded in memory of Jacqueline Lemieux and her contribution to the development of Canadian dance. Lemieux and her husband Lawrence Gradus co-founded a summer school in Lennoxville, Quebec. She was a teacher, administrator, and member of the Canada Council for the Arts’ Advisory Panel.

The Lemieux Prize has rewardedperformers, choreographers, teachers, film makers, journalists, theatre technicians, and community workers. The prize winners come from dance forms that include ballet, contemporary, classical Indian dance, flamenco, and indigenous dance forms. Recipients includeRobert Desrosiers,Daniel Léveillé,Jennifer Mascall,Louise Bédard,Michael Montanaro,Lucie Boissinot,Marie Chouinard,Cylla Von Tiedemann,Sylvain Émard,Jo Lechay,Elizabeth Langley,Benoit Lachambre,David Earle,Bill Coleman,Judith Marcuse,Philip Szporer,Crystal Pite,andSerge Bennethan.