The School of Dance
Encyclopedia
The School of Dance – 32 Years of History
The School of Dance was founded by Merrilee Hodgins and Joyce Shietze. It opened its doors on Wellington Street in Ottawa's near west end in 1978 as a nationally registered, educational, charitable, non-profit organization designed to provide professional training for dance. The budget was $11,000, the staff number was 3 and the studios were rented. The School now reaches 70,000 people each year through its various classes, public events and community outreach activities. Students come from across Canada and from every Municipal Ward in Ottawa to attend classes at The School of Dance. Past graduates of The School's Professional Division can be found in Ottawa and worldwide working as independent dancers, directors, administrators and choreographers.Celia Franca, Founder of the National Ballet of Canada and Co-Founder of the National Ballet School, joined Hodgins and Shietze as a Co-Artistic Director, in 1979.
From the mid 1980's until 1999 The School rented a three-studio facility on Catherine Street.
In 1996, The School added contemporary dance and profesional development for teachers to its calendar.
In 1998, The School of Dance began its co-operative relationship with the National Arts Centre producing choreographies in orchestral settings to introduce dance to children.
In 2000, The School of Dance purchased their new home at 200 Crichton Street. Since that time, The School of Dance has grown from 375 students to over 1,000.
In 2001, The School launched DanceONTour as its outreach vehicle of arts education for academic schools in Ottawa and surrounding areas, completing 20 projects in its inaugural year.
In 2002, The School of Dance doubled the number of its outreach programmes to the over 300 projects it now delivers per annum. In the same year, The School launched DanceAbility, a specially designed dance programme for individuals with disabilities, completing 24 projects at the Dovercourt Recreation Centre in its first year.
In 2003, The School launched the Inside Out Series of creative process lectures and performances, now named ISO 200, and hired a co-ordinator to manage the outreach and arts education projects which now reached 200.
In 2004, The School expanded its bilingual programming with the recognition that its enrolment included as many French as English students. The School also launched its Artists in Residence Programme with five visual artists and a poet.
In 2005, The School more than doubled the DanceONTour projects to 59, and included tours to Montreal, Quebec City, Cornwall, Hamilton, and the upper Ottawa Valley.
In June 2006, The School produced a theatrical celebration for Celia Franca's 85th birthday.
In 2007, Collected New Works on Film, The School's 30 year archival collection of choreographic materials, was launched as a national project; the extensive collection which includes the works commissioned by The School of Dance from some of Canada's greatest choreographers is available as a research tool to young professionals learning their craft.
In 2008, The School expanded DanceONTour to 107 projects, produced over 20 theatrical performances and launched Dancing in the Street, a series of 50
urban events throughout the City of Ottawa. Shall We Dance? a specialized music and movement programme was launched in numerous Ottawa hospitals.
In 2009 The School celebrated its 30th anniversary in the community with a Gala Performance at the National Arts Centre with national stars as well as our own students. There were 30 other performances in Ottawa theatres, 105 arts education projects, and 100 Dancing in Street Events. The School further expanded its outreach programmes in hospitals and long-term care facilities, collaborating with Bruyère Continuing Care, Dovercourt Recreation Association and the Impressions In Jazz Orchestra.
In 2010 the extension services provided to the Ottawa community by The School include workshops, short courses, guest lectures, a book and video library and mentorship for new and emerging Ottawa choreographers and musicians.
In 2010 more than 1,800 hours of off-peak studio time is provided for use by Ottawa's independent choreographers, dancers and small arts organizations. The School of Dance charges fees on a sliding scale to artists and organizations that have the budgets and the ability to contribute. Despite space being available through the City of Ottawa in locations such as the new Shenkman Centre, the independent artists of our community are often unable to pay even the City's fees and they turn to The School for assistance to nurture their craft. In 2009-10 an additional 700 hours were provided free of charge to Ottawa arts organizations and Ottawa artists. 2,500 hours represents a market value of $35,000 (based on Ottawa Board of Education). In 2008-09 The School earned revenue of $6,839.03 in this category; the balance represents a community investment by The School of Dance of approximately $28,000. These figures are relevant for the 2010-11 year and forward. The School will continue to absorb all increased hard costs associated with the studio time used by Ottawa artists.
The School itself rents space all over the City to accommodate its growing programmes; this includes renting studio space on a project basis at ArtsCourt from the City of Ottawa, plus community centres such as Sandy Hill, and La Nouvelle Scene and the ArtsCourt Theatre
Now in its 32nd year, Merrilee Hodgins directs The School; there is an operating budget of over $1M; there are 1,100 students in attendance; there is a growing staff of 53; there are 3 visual artists and 5 choreographers in residence.