Business & Financial Workshop Series (Zoom)
Learn from artist-experts about business and financial strategies to support your career – in, alongside and beyond dance. Find out what works and how to put it into practice for yourself. Discover tips, tools, tactics, and tricks to move you into a savvy and sustainable future.
How do you build a solid and sustainable foundation for your career?
This Zoom-based workshop series focusses on business strategies, employment skills and financial tactics for dance artists. Workshops will be led by dance artists who have additional expertise, training or work experience in entrepreneurship, business, finances or money matters.
Participants will benefit from the relatable, lived experience of the dance artist-presenters and acquire knowledge and tools they can immediately apply to support their career management and development.
FREE
Registration required.
English and French options or simultaneous translation, ASL/LSQ provided, with captioning upon request, where applicable for group sessions.
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DETAILS
Open to all professional dancers who are legally entitled to work in Canada, and to Canadian professional dancers working abroad, including DTRC members.
See registration form for full eligibility criteria.
Must be at least 18 years of age.
REGISTRATION DEADLINES
If you register for the Full Package or a Series, you DO NOT need to register for Single Sessions.
Series 1: Entrepreneurship Strategies
Presented by Lopa Sarkar
1.1: Core Elements
Oct. 3, 12:30-2:00 EDT
Who, what, when, where, why, how. Construct your career with a solid base in business principles. Whether your goal is to work in, alongside and/or beyond dance, this workshop will help you understand the basics by asking the right questions.
1.2: Building Your Business
Oct. 10, 12:30-2:00 EDT
Take the right next steps. Clarify your goals and create a solid framework for your activities. Understand who you’re working for and how to organize your offerings. This workshop will help you focus your approach and move forward with your vision.
1.3: Entrepreneurship in Action
Oct. 17, 12:30-2:00 EDT
Learn by example. Consolidate your understanding of the principles and elements of entrepreneurship. Hear from 3 dance artist-entrepreneurs who’ve levelled up their own careers in, alongside and/or beyond dance. This workshop will illustrate how it all comes together through live conversation with our guests.
Lopa Sarkar
Lopa Sarkar (Series 1) is an established dancer and entrepreneur. She owns a performing arts company and has performed and taught internationally. Lopa has an MBA in Marketing, Strategy and Arts & Media management and is a certified Executive Coach and Life Coach. She helps clients identify their skill set, focus their job search, write cover letters and resumes and build strong interview skills. She used to oversee the Creative Entrepreneurs Incubator at the world-famous UK conservatoire, The Guildhall School of Music & Drama. She is passionate about helping dancers build fulfilling and financially rewarding careers both in dance and outside of dance. Outside of dance and coaching, Lopa works as a Senior Digital Product Manager in technology for RBC.
lifecoachlopasarkar.com / lopasarkar.com
Series 2: Employment Skills
2.1: Networking & Negotiation
Oct. 24, 12:30-2:00 EDT
Presented by Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli
Know your value. Stand in your self-worth. Share what you do and why you do it. Building relationships that generate fulfilling opportunities starts with a strong sense of self. Authenticity, creativity and curiosity invite exchange. Be ready to engage in dialogue, define your needs, and get to “yes”!
2.2: You & Your Profile
Oct. 31, 12:30-2:00 EDT
Presented by Ming-Bo Lam
You are your business. Dancer, entrepreneur, or potential employee, you’re ultimately promoting yourself. Learn to identify your unique strengths and opportunities. Translate your expertise across diverse industries. CV, Resume, Bio, Socials. Finesse these tools and present your profile with clarity and confidence.
2.3: Collaboration & Teamwork
Nov. 7, 12:30-2:00 EST
Presented by Olenny Pelletier
“Works well with others”. A key quality in an ideal employee. Essential in a leader. Whatever your role, understand how to cultivate a growth mindset in yourself and in others. Contribute to a culture of communication and accountability. With shared values and shared goals, you’ll arrive at your destination – together.
Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli
Photo by Jerick Collantes
Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli (Series 2.1) is a world-renowned dancer, choreographer, motivational entertainer, and dance educator with over 20 years’ experience. He has developed a unique dance style incorporating his crutches and the strength in his arms, that has garnered him worldwide recognition. Lazylegz has been featured on Ellen, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, America’s got Talent, and many more. He was the segment director and lead performer for the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Opening Ceremonies and is one of the few fully certified representatives for the Olympic breakin’ qualifiers. Luca is the founder and artistic director of the ILL-Abilities™ Crew, an international B-boy crew comprised of the world’s best “ILL-Abled” dancers. He has been recognized with a Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada for his dance outreach programs. lucapatuelli.com
Ming-Bo Lam
Photo by Kendra Epik Photography
Ming-Bo Lam (she/her) (Series 2.2) is a multi-disciplinary creative, educator and dance artist, with over 15 years of industry experience. Ming-Bo graduated with an Honours BFA in Theatre Performance Dance from Toronto Metropolitan (Ryerson) University, as valedictorian. She also holds a Master’s degree in Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business. Currently, she teaches at TMU’s The Creative School and Sheridan College’s Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program. Through all her endeavors, Ming-Bo is recognized for her ability to lead with unwavering empathy, integrity, and courage. mingbolam.com
Olenny Pelletier
Olenny Pelletier (Series 2.3): Trained in contemporary dance and Simonson jazz, Olenny has had a career on the commercial stage, as well as perfected her skills in commercial hip-hop. In 2004, at 18 years old, she opened HIPNOZE studio, which has grown to include sport studies as well as recreational and competitive programs. She founded OBNL MOOD, a professional dance company to explore more artistic avenues, mixing her passion for neuroscience with dance. Subsequently, she became a therapist working on an approach based on the release of emotions held in the body. For 20 years, Olenny has been in the entrepreneurial world and her journey has remained organic and based on her original vision: self-expression through movement. olennypelletier.com
Series 3: Financial Tactics
Presented by Jennifer Long
3.1: Basics of Budgeting
Nov. 14, 12:30-2:00 EST
Define your vision and give it shape. Balance the numbers and make it real. Personal or project-related, a budget is a key tool to support decision making and practical action. This workshop will help you conquer your fear and find the creativity behind the calculations.
3.2: Saving & Investing
Nov. 21, 12:30-2:00 EST
Develop a practice. Keep it consistent. With some practical strategies and the discipline to apply them, a little can go a long way. Refresh your understanding of financial tools like TFSAs, RRSPs and more. This workshop will familiarize you with common language and provide some key tactics to take away.
3.3: Taxes for Creatives
Nov. 28, 12:30-2:00 EST
Unavoidable? Yes. Overwhelming? Doesn’t have to be. Understand what’s required and prepare for what’s coming. Minimize your tax stress by maximizing your control. This workshop will help you clarify your context, identify relevant categories, and provide you with techniques to tackle your taxes with ease.
Jennifer Long
Jennifer Long (Series 3) is a double-certified tax and bookkeeping pro who specializes in helping Canadian creative professionals conquer their finance overwhelm. She also brings over 20 years of professional performing experience with entertainment contracts across the globe, in addition to management roles with the Vancouver Circus School, Army of Sass International, and Canada Games. As founder/CEO of “The Smart Artist”, Jennifer understands first-hand the challenges of building a career in the arts and is passionate about helping other creatives feel confident handling the money side of their career. corporatecanuck.com
Community Guidelines
- We gather in a spirit of mutual support and respect for each other. We acknowledge the diverse learning journeys we are all on.
- We listen to learn. We accept and expect non-closure.
- We leave our assumptions at the door in order to facilitate a non-judgmental space for dialogue.
- We don’t assume pronouns, gender, or other identifiers based on someone’s name or appearance.
- There is zero tolerance for those promoting violence on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or ability. Anyone inciting harm towards other participants will be removed at the discretion of our technical team and moderator.
Waiver
EVOLVE | Foundations events will be recorded to allow registered participants to access recorded content until January 31, 2024. In addition, some images or segments of these videos may be used for promotional purposes by the DTRC to promote their programs subsequently.
The Dancer Transition Resource Centre (DTRC) requests your permission to use your name, voice and image on this type of material strictly for the purposes mentioned above. The duration of use of the material for promotional purposes is limited to a period of five (5) years from the date of the recording.
Portions of some sessions may not be recorded to allow informal and candid exchange among speakers and participants.
By registering for EVOLVE | Foundations, you consent to the usage described above.
If you have any questions about the recording, please reach out to us: evolve@dtrc.ca.
Dancer: Janelle Hacault
