Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre (CCDT) is a modern dance repertory company of dancers under 20 years of age. Founded in 1980 by Deborah Lundmark and Michael deConinck Smith to present gifted young artists in professional productions, the Company has staged more than one-thousand performances from Barrie to Beijing and has been hailed by Toronto’s Globe and Mail as “a national treasure”. CCDT members experience the life of professional dancers, including weekly classes in ballet and modern, extensive repertoire training and work with celebrated Canadian choreographers in the creation of original dance works. CCDT performs locally and abroad to critical and popular acclaim.
The Canadian Children's Dance Theatre produces two distinct programs. TEASING GRAVITY- dances for the young and fearless and WINTERSONG - dances for a sacred season, feature repertoire created by more than thirty-five North American choreographers. Individual performances are tailored to CCDT's broad diversity of audiences, from pre-school to adult, and include showcases for long-time lovers of dance at such events as the Canada Dance Festival and the Dancers for Life gala benefits.
The Company's eleven month season consists of 40 to 50 performances divided equally between local stages and touring and often accompanied by movement workshops, master classes and lecture-demonstrations. CCDT has appeared at many of Canada's international children's festivals including eight engagements with Harbourfront Centre's MILK International Children's Festival in Toronto where it received a major 20th Anniversary commission for 2001. For nearly two decades the Company's home seasons have been produced in December and in May at Toronto's historic Winchester Street Theatre and at Canada's leading showcase for modern dance, the Premiere Dance Theatre. CCDT frequently shares these stages with such stellar guest artists as Peggy Baker, Margie Gillis and the Toronto Children's Chorus and as the guest of such companies as Toronto Dance Theatre (Court of Miracles), Danny Grossman Dance Company (human form divine) and the Desrosiers Dance Theatre (Jeux).
CCDT has evolved a movement style entirely its own - contemporary, articulate and natural to its youthful character. Its technique base originates from that of José Limón and was introduced to the company in 1988 by Canada's leading Limón devotee, Donna Krasnow. CCDT now enjoys regular visits by members of the Limón Dance Company, notably during its SunDance summer school, and hosted its first Limón Company residency in 2001. Company members complement their modern dance study with Royal Academy of Dance ballet, improvisational dance and dance composition. The resulting technical virtuosity has delighted the Company's guest choreographers and formed a model for core training programs in the resident School of Canadian Children's Dance Theatre.
CCDT also offers two apprentice training programs for dancers aged 8-14:
- CCDT’s Young Apprentice Program (YAP) is comprised of dancers aged 8-12. YAP is geared towards dancers who wish to develop their training and performance skills in modern dance. Under the direction of Rebecca Mendoza, YAP has a growing repertoire of dances created specifically for this spirited ensemble. YAP includes performance opportunities during the year and each dancer is paired with a CCDT company member in a mentor relationship. Many have gone on to become full CCDT dancers!
- CCDT’s Core Apprentice Program, the senior division of the apprentice training curriculum, consists of 11-14 year-old dancers. The Core experience includes more advanced training in modern technique and performance artistry. The 11-14 year-old dancers are encouraged to explore their creativity through choreographic work with Core Apprentice director Arwyn Carpenter, and they perform alongside the YAP dancers. The Core Apprentice Program provides a bridge for young dancers aspiring to join the CCDT company.
In 1995, CCDT purchased and renovated its own studios at 509 Parliament Street in Toronto's picturesque Old Cabbagetown district. Shared with long-time partners, the Danny Grossman Dance Company and many hundreds of visiting dancers, actors and musicians, 509 Dance thrives as a crossroads for the performing arts in Canada.
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