Children and Youth Dance Theatre of Toronto

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CYDT is a charitable organization that offers pre-professional, competitive and recreational dance to marginalized children and youth 3yrs to 18yrs. Founded in 1993 CYDT offers Creative Movement, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Tap, Acro. West African and Afro-Caribbean dance.
Developed to fill a void in artistic education for interested and talented students, mainly black students in the Jane Finch neighborhood, CYDT’s Artistic Team, CYDT offered a structured program first to students in neighborhood schools, later extending its service to all marginalized children and youth, providing a program for children and youth from any community where opportunities to attend a structured arts program was relatively non-existent.

CYDT’s program creates opportunity for youth to become active, engaging them in create play in a safe space and developing diverse life skills such as discipline, creativity and commitment, contributing to their personal growth. For recreational dancers it releases anxiety and tension from their bodies and minds, building confidence along the way, For the more professionally inclined dancers it provides artistic knowledge and gives them meaningful engagement and affiliations at a professional level.

CYDT members have performed locally and internationally, flying the flag as Canadian ambassador in the USA, Mexico, Scotland, and the West Indies. For every child in CYDT there is the opportunity to showcase their creative work at community celebrations, and at our annual culminating end of year recital called “Studio to Stage”

Our students also continue to successfully audition for Arts institution such as Earl Haig, Etobicoke, and Wexford schools for the Arts, in Toronto and in the Peel region Mayfield SS, St Thomas Aquinas Secondary and Cawthra SS, Regional Arts Program. Our graduates have attended Ryerson, Laurier University, Humber, University of Windsor and York University while others apprenticeship with Toronto-based companies such as COBA, Kashedance and Ballet Creole.
4507 Chesswood Drive, North York, ON
(416) 855-3400
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Language(s): English, , Dance is universal language all are accepted
Communities served: Children, Youth
Price range of programming: $ - $0-$20/hour
Venue accessibility: Accessible parking, Not applicable
Organization type: Charitable organisation, Non-profit

  • Community Engaged Arts
  • Dance
  • Performance Art
  • Out-of-School Time

    “IGNITE” is also an Arts Education program which allows CYDT to partner with schools. The IGNITE program provides structured dance classes to schools on their school site. Classes are held during school as designed by participating schools. The focus of this program is to: scaffold the arts education (dance) needs of the school or supplement units or topics being studied by students in their academic classes. Classes also build creative capacity and support concepts in the curriculum and teach dance as culture and global connections. This program can be held on site during or beyond the hours of school

  • In-School Performances

    CYDT offers performance programs in schools upon request and in collaborative agreement and within the speculations of Board and Community partnership. Performances can be specifically either as cultural and global dance connection, or it can be designed to specific curriculum arts expectations.

  • In-School Workshops

    “IGNITE” is also an Arts Education program which allows CYDT to partner with schools. The IGNITE program provides structured dance classes to schools on their school site. Classes are held during school as designed by participating schools. The focus of this program is to: scaffold the arts education (dance) needs of the school or supplement units or topics being studied by students in their academic classes. Classes also build creative capacity and support concepts in the curriculum and teach dance as culture and global connections.

  • Performances

    CYDT performance programs for community and community organization upon request. We would be excited to receive an email or a visit to our studio from members of any community who would like to have us. For the performances CYDT offers, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, as most especially our cultural speciality of traditional and contemporary West African and Afro-Caribbean. F. For these performances we do accept compensations that can contribute to our sustainance.

  • Group Classes

    The Children & Youth Dance Theatre is a North York dance studio - one of the leading dance studios - that train and cultivate children from 4 to 18 years of age in recreational and pre-professional dance. CYDT offers a comprehensive program roster that is designed to support a wide range of the children and youth, parents and caregivers within our community. We even partner with schools to offer inschool programming. Classes offered include: Modern Technique; Classical Ballet; Creative Movement; Afro Caribbean; Hip Hop; West African; Jazz; Acro. Our pre-professional program provides experiential opportunities for those with strong interests in pursuing arts at the Secondary, Tertiary and/or professional level

  • Camps

    Join our Summer Arts Camp for in July and enjoy “triple treat” with Dance, Theatre Music and Visual Arts. Jumpstart your Competitive Dance entry in our Dance Intensive in August! It helps students hone and advance their skills in the areas of dance, theatre, choreography as well as cultural studies. At just $250 per week, and free before and after care, the CYDT Summer Camp is the most fun and best value around.

  • Workshops

    “IGNITE” is an Arts Education program which allows CYDT to partner and share with community. The focus of this program is to build creative capacity and support to marginalized children and youth in the general community. Dance workshops are offered every Saturday for a minimum of 2hrs. each week. The focus is the learning of dance as recreation, and as culture and as global connection.

  • Outreach Programs

    CYDT’s program creates opportunity for youth to become more active, engaging them in create play in a safe space and developing diverse life skills such as discipline, creativity and commitment. The exposure that participants receive contribute to their personal growth. Out-reach programs to community groups and organizations can be facilitated upon request and as a collaborative proposition Performances can be specifically either as cultural and global dance connection, or it can be designed to specific curriculum arts expectations. Facilitation will require and agreed on compensations that can contribute to our sustainance.

Profile last updated: May 27 2020

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