This year has been unlike any before. Truly. For all of us.

When this pandemic hit in March of 2020, we braced ourselves and buckled down. We shifted for the first time to online classes and modified the end of our year. There was no Showcase in 2020. At the time, we thought that a momentary stoppage in regular programming would give us the time we needed to regroup and begin again "like normal". Spoiler alert: Normal never came back.

We persevered all year, pivoting and pirouetting from online to studio and back again. Wow. As we wrap up this 21-22 dancing season, we knew that we had to create something BIG to celebrate this adversity. We needed to show off everything that we had been working on all year and have fun doing it. HOT! Off The Press (our news themed Showcase for 2021) is going to be exactly that. Some classes have already begun filming and some will get underway this week, but we look forward to highlighting the hard work and dedication that the students have put in over this past season!

Let's head into the spaces of our very special guests, Alice, Eva, and Emily, as they prepare their dancing spaces for optimal online Zooming and Filming. Read on to pick up tips and tricks for preparing your very own space in preparation for HOT! Off The Press Showcase 2021. (Special note: Each instructor may have different requests or recommendations on preparing your space, so always listen to them first and foremost!)

AT HOME WITH ALICE

Watch the video below to see into the space of Alice, School of CCDT Dancer and current Young Apprentice for the CCDT company. Dancing at home may be an unconventional performing space but as old Shakespeare said "all the world's a stage... even your basement!" (We may have added that last part)

HOME SET-UP TIPS:

• Clearing as much floor space as possible (move big furniture)

• Hanging a plain backdrop such as curtains or a bedsheet

SCROLL THROUGH TO SEE IMAGES OF ALICE'S SET-UP!

EVA PREPS FOR DANCING

Watch the video below of Eva, a dancer with The School of CCDT and current Core apprentice with CCDT, preparing her space. Some space requires a methodological setup on a daily basis as we all work to work with the space we have.

HOME SET-UP TIPS :

• Positioning good front-lighting (a light source placed behind your laptop/camera)

• Finding the best spot to set up your laptop/camera to capture as much of the dancer's body as possible

SCROLL THROUGH TO SEE IMAGES OF EVA'S SET-UP!

EMILY MAKES SPACE

Last but not least we head into the home of Emily, a dancer with School of CCDT and current Core member. While dancing at home is not everyone's favourite thing to do (We know because we ran an Instagram poll and the results were very clear) you can at least take comfort in knowing that your furry friends are there to cheer you along.

HOME SET-UP TIPS:

• Find a quiet place away from your family (if possible) and create a space that you can focus in.

• Make sure that you have all of your supplies nearby (including water) so that you do not need to head too far away from your class.

SCROLL THROUGH TO SEE IMAGES OF EMILY'S SET-UP!

Thank you to Alice, Eva, and Emily for inviting us into their spaces! We wish you all a happy time filming. We are so proud of all of the hard work you have put in this year and we look forward to celebrating with you at the reception for HOT! Off The Press Showcase 2021 on Sunday, June 13th at 630pm.

Try to stay positive and have an open mind

The first few dance classes can be tough. You might be new to dance or moving up to a new level. You are probably meeting a lot of new people. Maybe you have a new teacher. It is easy to feel intimidated and uneasy but remind yourself that everyone is in the same shoes. Be kind and encouraging to your fellow dancers and remember that the most important thing is to have fun!

Enrol in the right class

Our instructors are excellent at making class recommendations for students but if you feel like you aren’t in the right class, talk to us! We want to make sure you’re taking the classes that you want at the correct level.

Listen to your body

It’s good to push yourself to new levels but be smart about it. Ease in to new things and make sure your muscles are warmed up. Listening to your body properly will help avoid injury.

Listen to your teacher

Come to class ready to listen and learn. Don’t be offended or discouraged when your teacher offers corrections. Learning how to take constructive criticism is a very important skill. Not only will it help you become a better dancer, it will help you throughout your life! Maybe that’s why dancers are such great people : )

Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher for help

There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking your teacher to repeat something. If you can’t master a certain step or you are having trouble remembering choreography, ask for help.

Don’t compare yourself to other dancers

Everyone learns at a different pace. Comparing yourself to others will hurt your self-esteem and distract you from learning. Try to remember that all dancers were once at your level. It takes time and effort to improve. Confidence in yourself will help you get to where you want to be.

Don’t miss the warmup

Make sure you’re on time or early for class so that you don’t miss the warm up. If you’re running late, see if there is anything you can do to warm up your muscles before you get to class. You don’t want to set yourself up for potential injury.

Eat a light, healthy snack one hour before class

Fueling your body with healthy protein, carbs and fat will give you the energy and strength for a great class. Some good examples include a banana, whole grain toast with nut butter or avocado, veggies and hummus.

Remember to bring your water bottle

Staying hydrated is very important when you are moving a lot. Reusable water bottles are very important for our environment!

Follow the dress code

The dress code is put in place for very good reasons. It provides structure which helps young dancers focus in class. The dress code also ensures that every student is wearing the necessary clothing to dance safely and comfortably.

Photos by David Hou

Carmen Cairns - Associate Artistic Director, School of CCDT - Dip RBS (TC), BA Hons Dance Education, CBMN

Miss Carmen has been teaching ballet with us since 2007. Born in England, she began her training at Tring Arts Educational School, continuing on to the Royal Ballet School, London to gain her teaching qualifications. From there she proceeded to teach internationally, and can now be found teaching courses for the Royal Academy of Dance across Canada and the USA. Her passion and dedication to her art form is driven by the students who cross her path, and her wish to see them reach their potential.

Andrea Downie - Adult Contemporary, Creative Movement, Conditioning

HonBFA, Dance Performance, MS, Dance Studies (York University)

Miss Andrea completed her professional training at Dance New Amsterdam in New York City, and performed with Jody Oberfelder Dance Projects while there. She is the Founder and Director of EnhaceDance, an initiative established to share evidence-based best practices in dance teaching, training and performance. She is a Founder and the President of Healthy Dancer Canada, a non-profit organization established to enhance the health, well-being and performance of all dancers. She is also a third party teacher tutor for RAD Canada. She works actively as a guest dance instructor, teacher tutor, choreographer and speaker across Canada, enthusiastically sharing her passion for dance with teachers and dancers of all ages, levels and abilities.

Megan Nadain - Director CCDT Core Apprentices - Creative Movement, Ballet, Modern

Graduate, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre

Ms. Megan, a native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, is a Toronto-based dancer, choreographer and dance educator. She is a graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, for which she received scholarships from the School, the Hnatyshyn Foundation and the BC Arts Council. She is a company member with Dancetheatre David Earle, and has worked independently with Darryl Tracy, inDANCE, Toronto Heritage Dance and Event Horizon Dance. ​As a choreographer, her work has been presented across Canada. She also teaches and rehearsal directs at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre and teaches in several high schools in Toronto.

Nicole Nigro - Director CCDT Young Apprentices - Creative Movement, Ballet, Modern

HonBFA, Dance, RAD (UK)

Nicole Nigro is a dance-theatre artist currently based in both Canada & Italy. She was a faculty member of the School and the Director of CCDT Company’s Core Apprentices for many years before relocating to Europe. She has returned for a short time and will be with us until the end of first term. She is a graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre (CA) where she was also a long-time faculty member, and she holds an Honours BFA from York University (CA), a Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies with The Royal Academy of Dance (UK), and is an MFA candidate at Accademia dell’Arte (IT). Nicole is a member of Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists and the Dancer Transition Resource Centre. She has had the privilege of interpreting as a guest artist with many companies and independent choreographers. Her work has been presented in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Mexico.

Natasha Poon Woo - Associate Artistic Director, Rehearsal Director - CCDT Company.

SCCDT Modern - BFA, Dance

Ms. Natasha began her training with CCDT and is now the Associate Artistic Director of the Company, and the Limón Modern instructor for the School. She completed her studies at the SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Dance in New York, where she graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance in 2012, receiving the President’s Award for Achievement. Natasha has had the opportunity to work with some of Canada's leading dance artists. She has also danced throughout Holland, in Switzerland, France, New York and China. She continues to collaborate and perform with companies in Toronto and is a founding member of The Garage dance collective and an instructor of The Extension Method™. She is also the Managing and Rehearsal Director for Human Body Expression (Hanna Kiel, Artistic Director). Through her ongoing experiences, Natasha strives to cultivate and foster her love for creation, performance, teaching, and exploring all things related to dance, movement, and the arts.

Kailey Sanford - Creative Movement, Ballet

Ms. Kailey is from Middle Sackville Nova Scotia where she started dancing at the age of 5 and grew a passion and love for the art form. She has trained in various styles at Maritime Dance Academy and Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, a private career college where she graduated with a diploma in their teacher training program. There she became certified in The Canadian Dance Teachers Association in Ballet, Tap and Jazz. Currently she is studying and training at Canada’s National Ballet School teacher training program.

Ryan Scheel - Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre

Ryan is a graduate of the Sheridan Musical Theatre Performance Program with extensive training in Singing, Dance and Acting. He has appeared in numerous stage productions such as Peter Pan, Annie, HSM2, Mary Poppins & Hairspray to name a few, and has performed around the world on Norwegian and Celebrity Cruise Lines. Ryan has worked with many artists including Madonna, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Julia Michaels, and Sting. He has worked extensively in television and has choreographed for many international events. He is also a reputable International Adjudicator certified under I.A.D.A (International Academy of Dance Adjudicators). Ryan is one of our head faculty members training dancers in Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre. He is honoured to be working with each & every student sharing his knowledge & passion.

Stephanie Violin - Advanced & Intermediate Ballet

Ms. Stephanie's love of Ballet began at the age of four. After competing across Canada and the US, she was accepted into NBS’ Teacher Training Program. There, she completed her National Dance Associate Examination through the ISTD as well as all of her advanced examinations with the Royal Academy of Dance, graduating with distinction and becoming a registered teaching member. After graduating, Stephanie went on to teach pre-professional and recreational students at The Quinte Ballet School, where she completed her Cecchetti Associate Examination. She spent many summers in New York as the Directors Assistant to the late Mignon Furman, later becoming a ballet teacher at the program. During this time she also taught at different schools across the GTA and performed with Toronto International Ballet Theatre. Toronto is now her home where she loves teaching the students of CCDT.