Introduction

“The School of Contemporary Dancers’ programs are vitally important to the discipline and to the Canadian artistic community.”– Canadian Heritage Assessor

The School of Contemporary Dancers is recognized as a leading national centre for professional contemporary dance training in Canada. The School’s Professional Program is renowned across the country for the excellence of its training methods and high calibre of its students and graduates.

The Professional Program of The School of Contemporary Dancers is a four-year professional training program for dancers seeking a career in contemporary dance performance. The Fourth-Year of the Program is a special bridging year from the professional student to the professional emerging artist level. Fourth-Year dancers are given opportunities to connect with the professional community and to undertake professional projects.

The School of Contemporary Dancers is a recognized post-secondary institution. The School is approved as a registered Designated Learning Institution (DLI) by the Government of Manitoba and by Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) International Student Program (ISP). In addition, the School is approved by the Manitoba Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy whereby students are eligible for the Canada Student Loans Program and the Manitoba Student Aid Program.

The Professional Program, while maintaining its autonomy, has undertaken an affiliation with the University of Winnipeg whereby students may elect to receive up to 14 credits for their work in the Program. Upon completion of 6 additional non-dance academic credits, students are eligible for a BA (Honours) Degree with specialization in Dance through the Department of Theatre and Film. These additional credits may be undertaken concurrently during the years within the Professional Program. Therefore, the Professional Program and the Universtiy of Winnipeg degree may both be completed within the four-year period. Independent of university credits, all dancers who successfully complete the four-year Program are certified gradutates of the Professional Program of the School of Contemporary Dancers.

The School of Contemporary Dancers is located on Treaty 1 Territory, on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene Peoples and in the homeland of the Métis Nation. We offer our respect and gratitude to the traditional caretakers of this land.

The Professional Program of The School of Contemporary Dancers gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Manitoba Arts Council and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council.

The School of Contemporary Dancers
Co-Directors: Odette Heyn, C.M. and Faye Thomson, C.M.
For further information please contact:

The Professional Program
Contact Person: Hillary Smith, School Administrator

104 – 211 Bannatyne Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 3P2

telephone: (204) 452-1239 facsimile: (204) 287-8693
e-mail: info@schoolofcontemporarydancers.ca