In Practice 2026/27
What is the purpose of In Practice?
This program is designed for dance teachers, leaders, and for any artists curious to expand their knowledge of what leadership means in the arts community. From offering continued education and workshops, peer-to-peer exchanges, and community gatherings, In Practice is an opportunity to empower dance leaders to create an environment where dialogue grows into action in a welcoming and thoughtful practice.
Leadership in Practice Symposium 2027
Following the inaugural success of the first ever symposium held in March 2026 at the Roundhouse Community Centre, we are excited to bring dancers, teachers, choreographers, arts practitioners and industry thought leaders together again to create conversations for a more sustainable, inclusive future for the arts community.
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Missed out on the Symposium last year? Read this beautiful reflection and experience by Ileanna Sophia Cheladyn
→ Leading Through the Haunting
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 2022/23
In Practice began in 2022 as a place for critical conversations around teaching dance. In this inagural season, the series was broken into a series of professional development workshops focused on skill building, and big-picture conversations focused on fostering broader conversations around teaching as creative practice. The season included eight workshops, curated by Marco Esccer (Fall), and Carolina Bergonzoni and Lisa Mariko Gelley (Spring).
In Practice 2023/24
In Practice continued to grow as a space for continued education, peer to peer exchange, and knowledge sharing among dance teachers and leaders. This season was co-presented in partnership with The Dance Centre, and included six workshops over the course of the season. The Fall workshop series was curated by Kay Huang and Marco Esccer, and the Spring workshops were curated by Carolina Bergonzoni and Lisa Mariko Gelley.
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?
In Practice 2025/26
A year of creating thoughtful gatherings and community experiences that consisted of dynamic dialogues that help support the leaders, educators, choreographers and dance artists who build the community. This year we brought together the first ever Leadership in Practice Symposium, focusing on how leadership can be more responsive to the dance world we’re shaping together.
Photos: Leadership in Practice Symposium, photography by Clarence Tang