Co-presented by New Works and The Dance Centre

Share Dance In Practice 2024/25

Building on the insights and experiences of our previous seasons, the 2024-2025 In Practice program continues our commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive, and innovative dance environment. We aim to address the essential question: What does good practice and support look like in these environments? 

What is the purpose of In Practice?

Our goal is to empower dance leaders to create an environment where everybody in the dance studio feels safe, cared for, welcomed, and valued.

Who is In Practice for?

This program supports dancers, teachers, choreographers, rehearsal directors, movement leaders, and dancers transitioning into leadership roles within dance and studio/rehearsal hall spaces. It's designed for those interested in leading with empathy, care, and best professional practices through skill development workshops, facilitated broad discussions, and case studies. The work we’re diving into is applicable across so many fields of teaching and facilitation and many participants have joined in who don’t identify as dance teachers.

Upcoming Workshops:


Past Workshops:

  • Kay Huang Barnes - In practice facilitator 2023
    I would say that this is such a great opportunity to grow in our dance practices, whether it is choreographing or teaching or collaborating or performing, as it is about creating safe spaces.
    Kay Huang Barnes - In practice facilitator 2023
  • Virginia Duivenvoorden - In Practice participant 2022/23
    "This program is perfect for artists who want to be supported and inspired while teaching, leading workshops, rehearsals or facilitating practice."
    Virginia Duivenvoorden - In Practice participant 2022/23
Registration and Cost
  • Suggested Workshop Registration $23
  • Sliding Scale Option $10-23

*Workshop registrants will never be turned away for lack of funds. If a registration fee is financially inaccessible to you, we invite you to self-identify to request a scholarship, no questions asked. Please reach out to marco@newworks.ca to request a scholarship to attend the next workshop. 

Common questions: 
Is In Practice one event or a series?
In Practice is a professional development series for dancing humans to gather around topics of teaching, leadership, and facilitation. While each workshop will complement the others, the series will focus on addressing and supporting needs in community driven spaces through a diversity of topics and angles. Each workshop is led by different artists/professionals in their fields, who guide the conversations and questions. We welcome you to join us for the full series of conversations/workshops or a selection.
How is the accessibility in the venue?
Scotiabank Dance Centre is a wheelchair accessible and scent reduced venue.

Gender Neutral washrooms are located on 6th and 7th floor.
If you have any other questions.. 

Feel free to reach out to Marco Esccer, Program Coordinator at marco@newworks.ca with any questions about the upcoming workshops.


In Practice 2024-25 is co-presented with:

Advisory Committee 2024/25:

To further strengthen our program, we are establishing an Advisory Committee to provide guidance and feedback on In Practice programming as it aligns with inclusive, trauma-informed, and diverse practices.  

This season we welcome Kay Huang & Isak Enquist to support the program as Advisors. We believe this model will expand the reach of this program, ensuring it continues to grow and adapt to the needs of our community. 

The roots of the program... In Practice

In Practice started as an extension of the Share Dance program in response to the community and the needs of our teachers. In the 2022-23 season, New Works took the next leap to offer In Practice, a professional development series for dance teachers and leaders which was envisioned and co-curated by artists + teachers Carolina Bergonzoni, Marco Esccer, and Lisa Gelley. The dance classroom can be an isolating space where teachers are often lesson planning, teaching, and problem solving with very little feedback. This series brings teachers together to question, investigate, and expand their own teaching practices.

In 2023-24 the In Practice series returned in partnership with The Dance Centre, continuing to broaden and deepen topics of conversation and diversify voices in the room.  We deepened our exploration into the needs of dance educators and leaders, focusing on diversity, inclusion, and trauma-informed learning. While each workshop, panel discussion, or community conversation may shift in format to best support the chosen topics, each is led by a selection of experts and artists from across the dance community and beyond, and offers up meaningful learning for all dancing humans. 

In Practice is presented with The Dance Centre and it is generously supported by public funders and individual donations. We gratefully acknowledge the support of Metro Vancouver’s Regional Cultural Project Grants program, the City of Vancouver and the Province of BC, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada and the National Arts Centre who has supported the Spring Conversation Series. Without them this program would not be possible!

 

Photos: Share Dance In Practice Workshops, 2023. Photos by Carla Alcántara.