Toronto Online Dance Collective

Toronto dancers and dancers everywhere! Professional teachers from different local studios are coming together to launch the Toronto Online Dance Collective: one shared platform for live online classes so that we can socially connect and dance together while we’re physically distant.

FAQ

What platform will you be using for classes?

Zoom, which has free apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. You’ll need the app, but you don’t need to sign up for a Zoom account.


How do I join a class?

Email your teacher to find out more about their classes and schedule. Their contact info below! Please use the same email address to send an e-transfer to your teacher if you are able to make a donation.

Your teacher will send you the link to the Zoom group 15 minutes before the start time, so look out for an email from them.

And here are a couple of tips: your teacher will be able to see you more clearly if you light yourself from the front and if your clothes contrast with the (plain, if possible) background.


Is there a cost?

Please check out the teachers' bios below for more information!


I’d love to teach too! How can I join in?

Send an email to todancecollective@gmail.com. Let us know:

  • A description of the class you'd like to teach (style, level)

  • When you would prefer to teach

  • What might be a reasonable donation for an online class

  • Where and what you normally teach (in person)

  • How to reach you by email + phone (and confirm that we can post that email address on the website, or provide a different one to post)


I have another question or suggestion!

Send an email to todancecollective@gmail.com.

Teachers and their Classes

Johanna Bergfelt

Johanna teaches a centre Contemporary class several times a week, and she plans to get her dancers moving as much as possible

To sign up for Johanna's classes, please email bergfeltjohanna@gmail.com. Her suggested donation for an online class is $5.

In person, Johanna teaches contemporary and ballet at In Studio, a regular contemporary classes at TDT (email her for details!), and in the professional training program at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre.

Stephanie Graham

Stephanie's online Theatre Jazz classes will inspire and challenge dancers of all levels. Class will include a warm-up and a final combination. The class combo will be choreography from the musical theatre repertoire and stay fairly stationary to accommodate dancing in your home.

Please email sign up for Stephanie's classes at http://metromovement.com/classes-faculty/.

In person, Stephanie is the Theatre Jazz Coordinator at Metro Movement.

Kalie Hunter

Kalie's online Jazz classes will begin with a thorough warm-up involving technique, cardio and stretching. Starting with our spine and working our way through the body, we will tone, isolate and work on flexibility. Normally we would do across the floor exercises, but given the limited space we are working with we will go straight to choreography. The beginner jazz will be more directed towards Actor/Singers first and people who have 1-3 years of dance experience. The intermediate/advanced jazz will be directed towards people who consider themselves dancers first. Kalie can’t wait to living room dance with you all!

Please email sign up for Kalie's classes at http://metromovement.com/classes-faculty/.

In person, Kalie teaches at and is co-owner of Metro Movement.

Phil Nero

Phil's online Broadway Jazz classes will focus on classical jazz technique and vocabulary that would be found in most musical theatre choreography. The level is intended to be intermediate/advanced but all levels are welcome as this class has a heavy emphasis on emotion and musicality, which anyone at any level can work on.

Please email sign up for Phil's classes at http://metromovement.com/classes-faculty/.

In person, Phil teaches at and is co-owner of Metro Movement.

Christine Wright

Though based on sound principles of anatomy, Christine's online Ballet barre will focus on movement, flow and musicality, teaching dancers skills that enable them to bring out their own innate abilities. Her Fundamentals class is designed to address issues too specific to deal with in the complex setting of a class, lumbar instability for instance. The class will vary covering different areas and problems throughout the body. It will be helpful if you have a TheraBand, a small hard ball and a foam roller for the Fundamentals class, but Christine will try to design classes that don't require anything and will try to notify participants of classes that do require them. All levels are welcome in all of her classes.

To sign up for Christine's classes, please email cwiris33@gmail.com. Her suggested donation for an online class is $10, or whatever you can donate. You can also rent a video of a previous class from vimeo.com/ondemand/cwballet.

In person, Christine teaches open classes for Peggy Baker Dance Projects. She has taught for Toronto Dance Theater, the School of Toronto Dance Theater, Ryerson University, the National Ballet School and a restorative class for the National Ballet of Canada.