EDANS 

The EDANS Spring Conference is a Professional Development opportunity for Nova Scotia teachers presented by the Educational Drama Association of Nova Scotia (EDANS), a Professional Association of the NSTU

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What is the EDANS Spring Conference?

Three Days of Theatre!

The Educational Drama Association of Nova Scotia (EDANS) Spring Conference is a professional development opportunity for teachers that is somewhat different from regular conferences. The most striking difference is that it takes place in conjunction with the Nova Scotia High School Drama Festival (DramaFest), a three day festival for high school students which has been running for over 40 years! DramaFest and the EDANS Spring Conference has become a key component in EDANS’ commitment to support drama in schools and teachers of drama.

This connection to Dramafest is what makes the EDANS Spring Conference such a unique learning experience for teachers. A portion of each day will be spent learning alongside students!

A teacher’s day at the EDANS Spring Conference is divided into two key professional development opportunities. The Teacher Workshops in the morning sessions offers an in-depth learning opportunity. Teachers work with professionals in the dramatic arts and with experienced drama educators in a smaller studio class setting on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday morning, conference participants will have the opportunity to share teaching strategies, resources and assessment ideas. Please bring along any items and ideas you wish to share. This is a great opportunity to network with other teachers of Drama.

The 2025 Teacher Workshops will be led by Theatre Nova Scotia's Executive Director Mark Ferraro-Hauck with a focus on Resilience in the Classroom.

The afternoon Master Class provides an opportunity for teachers to learn alongside the student DramaFest participants. These classes are taught by skilled professionals in the field of the dramatic arts and represent a professional development opportunity unlike any other offered in the province.

As an added bonus, teachers can take advantage of the Theatre Festival that runs every evening at DramaFest. The Drama Festival provides an opportunity for students from across the province to share their drama work with other students as more than half of the productions at the festival are original plays written and performed by the students. This is an excellent opportunity for teachers to experience a wide range of performances created by students as part of their drama coursework in classrooms around the province.

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Where is the EDANS Spring Conference held?

The EDANS Spring Conference and DramaFest is hosted by Dalhousie University's Fountain School of Performing Arts Theatre Department in the Dalhousie Arts Centre. Events take place in the department’s two theatres: the Sir James Dunn and David MacMurray (Studio One), as well as the studios and classrooms of the theatre and music departments. Since all classes cannot be contained within the Arts Centre some classes are held across the Dalhousie University campus.

Teachers are responsible for arranging their own meals and accommodations for the conference.

The Fountain School of Performing Arts is located on the Dalhousie University Campus at 6101 University Ave, Halifax, NS, B3H 1W8 (MAP)

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How To Register

Click HERE to go to the Teacher Registration Page now!

Payment is to be made by cash or cheque and will be handled on-site. Please make all cheques payable to “EDANS”.

• $25 for current EDANS Members (eg. you became a member when you registered for the October EDANS provincial conference)

• $70 for Non-Members (Registration for non-members provides you with an EDANS membership for the current school year)

• EDANS Members who are attending DramaFest as a chaperone and wish to participate in the EDANS Spring Conference are admitted to all conference sessions and activities for FREE!  

• Non-EDANS Members who are attending DramaFest as a chaperone and wish to participate in the EDANS Spring Conference are admitted to all conference sessions and activities for $25 (the cost of an EDANS Membership)

•  Take me directly to the EDANS Spring Conference Registration Form

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, May 6

6:00 - 10:00 pm - Early Registration

Wednesday, May 7 (times are approximate)

8:00 - 11:00 am - Registration

10:00 am-12:30 pm - Morning Teacher Workshop

1:30-4:00 pm - Masterclass #1 (Dress for physical activity)

6:00 pm - DramaFest Opening Ceremonies

7:00 - 11:00 pm - DramaFest Student Productions

Thursday, May 8

10:00 am-12:30 pm - Morning Teacher Workshop

1:30-4:00 pm - Masterclass #2 (Dress for physical activity)

6:00 - 9:30 pm - DramaFest Student Productions

10:00 - 11:45 pm - Student Talent Show

Friday, May 9

10:00 am-12:30 pm - Morning Teacher Workshop - Resource Sharing

1:30-4:00 pm - Masterclass #3 (Dress for physical activity)

1:45 - 3:30 pm - Resource Sharing Session - take an opportunity to share your best ideas and practices with other drama teachers!

6:00 pm - Closing Ceremonies

7:00 - 9:30 pm - DramaFest Student Productions

10:00 - 11:45 pm - Student Dance

•  Take me directly to the EDANS Spring Conference Registration Form

Contact Us

• Jonathan Grady - edansnstu@gmail.com - (EDANS Spring Conference Registrar)

• Jennifer Priddle  - jennpriddle@gmail.com - (EDANS President)

 Click HERE to access the contact form

•  Take me directly to the EDANS Spring Conference Registration Form