Dancemakers

Dancemakers
Name	Dancemakers
Founded	1974
Founders	Patricia Beatty, David Earle, Murray Louis
Location	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre	Contemporary dance
Artistic director	Mona Parsons (notable)

Dancemakers was a Canadian contemporary dance company and commissioning organization based in Toronto, Ontario, established in the 1970s to support choreography, performance, and dance education. It acted as a production hub and presenter that connected choreographers, performers, educators, and cultural institutions across Canada and internationally. The organization collaborated with festivals, theatres, broadcasters, and funding bodies to develop new works and touring circuits.

History

Founded in the milieu of postwar choreography developments influenced by figures like Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, José Limón, Paul Taylor, and Canadian pioneers such as Patricia Beatty, the company emerged alongside companies like National Ballet of Canada, Toronto Dance Theatre, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Le Groupe Nouvelle Aire, and La La La Human Steps. Early backers included Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and presenters such as Harbourfront Centre, Canada Dance Festival, Edmonton International Fringe Festival, and Just for Laughs in complementary programming. Dancemakers operated in networks overlapping with venues like Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Winnipeg Centennial Concert Hall, and arts centres such as Place des Arts, The National Arts Centre, and The Banff Centre. Leadership shifts linked to figures associated with Mona Parsons, Christopher House, Margie Gillis, Ellen Stewart, and administrators from Canada Council shaped strategic pivots toward commissioning, residency, and touring.

Artistic Direction and Repertoire

The repertoire drew on choreographic voices resonant with innovators such as Trisha Brown, Pina Bausch, Ohad Naharin, William Forsythe, and Canadian creators like Crystal Pite, James Kudelka, Annette Baier (note: distinct from philosopher), Édouard Lock, and Robbie McCulloch. Dancemakers commissioned and presented works by emerging and established artists working in idioms connected to postmodern dance, contemporary ballet, and experimental performance from choreographers including Anna-Marie Holmes, Shirley Valentine (not the play—collaborator choreographer), Eleanor King, Susan Marshall, Jirí Kylián, Wayne McGregor, Karole Armitage, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Crystal Pite, and Danny Grossman. Collaborations extended to composers and designers linked to Ryuichi Sakamoto, Ludovico Einaudi, John Cage, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, Brian Eno, Bill Viola, Robert Lepage, Iris van Herpen, and Yohji Yamamoto for integrated multimedia stagings.

Training and Education

Dancemakers partnered with educational institutions such as York University, University of Toronto, Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), The National Ballet School, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and community centres including Harbourfront Centre and Young Peoples Theatre. Programs involved masterclasses with guest artists from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Martha Graham School, Juilliard School, The Juilliard School, Ballet BC, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, and collaborations with pedagogues like Garth Fagan, Loie Fuller (historical lineage), Rudolf Laban (legacy), and contemporary teachers associated with Xavier Le Roy. Educational outreach engaged funding partners such as Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and youth arts initiatives connected to National Youth Orchestra of Canada and multidisciplinary festivals including Luminato.

Notable Works and Collaborations

Key creations and collaborative projects connected Dancemakers with choreographers and artists such as Martha Graham-inspired works by Patricia Beatty, commissions from Crystal Pite, premieres featuring music by Steve Reich and Philip Glass, and visual collaborations with media artists like Bill Viola and theatrical designers like Robert Lepage. Co-productions and workshops involved institutions such as Theatre Passe Muraille, Factory Theatre, The Gladstone Hotel, Canadian Stage, Tarragon Theatre, Shaw Festival, and festivals including Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Spoleto Festival USA, Sydney Festival, Biennale de la Danse de Lyon, and Jacques Cartier Festival-style cultural exchange. Dancemakers also hosted residencies that engaged choreographers linked to Twyla Tharp, Graham Lustig (note: collaborator), John Neumeier, Crystal Pite, Ohad Naharin, Akram Khan, Maya Plisetskaya (influence), and contemporary ensemble creators like Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal.

Performances and Tours

Tours took the company to venues and festivals across Canada and internationally, performing at Harbourfront Centre, National Arts Centre, Place des Arts, Centennial Concert Hall, Massey Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Palau de la Música Catalana, Teatro Colón, Schouwburg, Cité de la Musique, Biennale di Venezia-adjacent stages, and regional festivals such as Vancouver International Jazz Festival (cross-genre events), Montreal International Jazz Festival, Festival d'Avignon, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and Horseshoe Bay Festival. Touring partners included presenters and promoters such as Cowtown Dance, On the Boards, The Joyce Theater, Sadler's Wells, and arts agencies like Canada Council for the Arts and provincial arts councils.

Awards and Recognition

Recognition for artists and productions associated with the organization included awards and nominations from institutions such as the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards, Siminovitch Prize, Dora Mavor Moore Awards, Bessie Awards (New York Dance and Performance Awards), Juno Awards (for music collaborations), Order of Canada appointments to affiliated artists, and provincial honours like the Order of Ontario. Grants and fellowships from Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and international residencies at The Banff Centre, MacDowell, and Yaddo supported creative development.

Category:Contemporary dance companies