Research Projects
Service for All Dancers and for the Public
National Survey of Professional Dancers
The DTRC conducts periodic in-depth surveys of professional dancers across the country.
The results of these surveys reveal the current trends within the dance profession and the current challenges faced by professional dancers. Survey results are widely cited by other arts organizations and within dance-related publications nationwide.
Results 2016
Professional dance performers
Among the 532 professional dancers who responded to the survey, contemporary / modern dance
is by far the most common primary dance form:
• Contemporary / modern: 57% of respondents
• Ballet: 15%
• Musical theatre / Jazz: 13%
• Urban: 9%
• 12 other dance forms were each selected by 3% or less of performers (Aboriginal; Aerial;
African; Baroque; Capoeira; Classical Spanish; East Asian; Folkloric; Integrated and mixed
abilities; Middle Eastern; Percussive; South Asian)
• Note: The percentages add to more than 100%, as a small proportion of performers entered
multiple primary dance forms.
Senior Artists’ Research Project (SARP)
In 2006, a group of artists’ associations and individuals came together in response to the growing awareness that senior Canadian artists are experiencing significant challenges. Before they could develop the programs and services to respond to these challenges, they realized they needed quantitative data. In 2009, they launched the Senior Artists Research Project (SARP), a three-year project which investigated the circumstances, situation, needs and interests of Canadian senior artists, looking at what services were available to them, and examining relevant international models.
Steering Committee
In 2011, the SARP steering Committee agreed to launch the Canadian Senior Artists’ Resource Network (CSARN), a new organization that would be focused exclusively on assisting professional artists to live out their senior years in dignity and respect.
SARP Steering Committe Members
- The Actors’ Fund of Canada
- ACTRA
- Actra Fraternal Benefit Society
- American Federation of Musicians, Canada
- Canadian Actors’ Equity Association
- Canadian Artists’ Representation (CARFAC)
- Canadian Music Centre
- Cultural Careers Council Ontario
- Dancer Transition Resource Centre
- Directors Guild of Canada
- PAL Canada Foundation
- Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
- Union des artistes
- Writers Guild of Canada
- The Writers’ Union of Canada
- Carol Anderson
- Joysanne Sidimus, Project Director
- Celine Marks, Administrator
- Garry Neil, Consultant
