The DTRC's mandate isto help dancers make necessary transitions into, within and from professional performing careers.
DTRC programming reflects the complete career cycle of a professional dancer. Emerging, mid-career and retiring dancers are able to access a range of relevant and compassionate support.
Services for Members
The following programs and services are available to DTRC members. Members choose the services they find most appropriate to their needs. Learn how to become a member >
COUNSELLING SERVICES
Members have access to a full range of
counselling
services
offered by
DTRC-approved professional counsellors in
five areas: Academic, Career, Financial, Legal & Personal Learn more>
GRANTS
• Skills Grants Skills Grants help dancers develop skills readily transferable to any profession. Members can use their skills grants to take courses in such areas as second languages, computer and business studies, driver education, as well as towards pre-requisite courses for university or college admission.
Learn more>
• Retraining and Subsistence Grants Retraining & Subsistence Grants are available to members to pursue studies leading to parallel or second careers. Through DTRC Retraining & Subsistence Grants, dancers have entered careers as diverse as osteopathy, education, horticulture, dance notation, woodworking, film, veterinary technology, translation, library & information technology, medicine and psychology.
The DTRC also offers a Career Exploration Grant. This grant is intended for members who may need to further explore a second career path by taking a preliminary course or apprenticeship before committing to a retraining program. The grant is meant to be a companion tool to counselling, mentorship and/or independent research. Eligibility for all grants is determined by length of performance career, length of membership and age.
Learn more about retraining & subsistence grants >
DISCRETIONARY AWARDS
Discretionary Awards are competitive and are awarded by the Board of Directors only when financially feasible.
•Founder's Award
Established to honour the vision, dedication and compassion of Joysanne Sidimus, Founder and former Executive Director of the DTRC, the Founder's Award is given once every two years to a dancer who needs time to reflect on, and explore, different career paths before embarking on a second career. Learn more >
•Special Awards & Bursaries Special Awards are distributed based on excellence in a chosen course of study, demonstrated financial need and duration of performing career. Learn more >
OTHER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Opportunities to learn through DTRC conferences, seminars and workshops.
Access to the DTRC's resource centre, with information on career and transition issues
Subscription to the DTRC newsletter, Update, and e-bulletin, half hour call
Access to DTRC publications, such as Connections: A Networking Directory;
On Transition: dialogues from the DTRC conferences, 1985 – 1998, Carol Anderson, editor;
and 21 Transitions: 21 Stories of Inspired New Beginnings
Compassionate and knowledgeable staff.
Services for the Dance Community and Public
The DTRC also operates as a resource centre for the dance community and the general public by providing seminars, educational materials, networking and information, as well as supporting activities that enhance the socio-economic conditions of artists.
on the MOVE/ danse TRANSIT conference
on the MOVE/ danse TRANSIT is a dynamic career planning and networking conference designed specifically for dancers entering professional careers.
Presented by the Dancer Transition Resource Centre (DTRC) in collaboration with regional and national arts service organizations, on the MOVE/ danse TRANSIT welcomes young dancers into the professional dance community, and provides them with the skills, resources and networking opportunities they need to make an inspired and informed transition into the profession.
Each year, on the MOVE/ danse TRANSIT is presented to hundreds of young dancers across Canada in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Halifax. on the MOVE/danse TRANSIT programming has also been offered at the Canada Dance Festival in Ottawa.
As a dancer-driven organization, the DTRC conducts periodic in-depth surveys of professional dancers across the country to ensure the Centre's programs and services meet the needs of its members and the wider dance community. The results of these surveys reveal the current trends within the dance profession, and the current realities faced by professional dancers. The survey results are widely cited by other arts organizations and within dance-related publications nationwide.
