During this special 20th Anniversary year, the dance society looks back at all the wonderful memories, but also the reasons why dance is important in our community.
Dance is the ultimate visual language, has proven to be beneficial in supporting mental capacity in seniors, is a fantastic cardiovascular exercise, builds self-confidence and athletic ability in our youth, entertains us with amazing visual and sensory experiences, and brings our communities together through special events.
What do We Do?
As a non-profit society who is funded by small government grants, ticket sales and fundraising endeavors, memberships and donations help us to provide the following services and programs:
- The Lois Smith Annual Scholarship Program. Help support an aspiring student of dance. Awarded annually in honour of the Society’s founder, this adjudicated scholarship is given to a talented Sunshine Coast student dancer (13 to18 yrs.) from any coast dance school. The Society also hopes to offer a separate scholarship to a talented adult dance artist of professional calibre from any genre. Any dancer or student currently living on the coast can apply for these scholarships.
- The Annual Artists-In-Resident program: Each year an “up and coming” dance artist/choreographer or collaboration is selected from numerous applications received across Canada. The society provides accommodation and rehearsal space on the coast while the artist develops their creative work. In exchange they provide a public performance of their new work, and a creative workshop or master class for local dancers. Most of the dancers are aspiring new dance professionals and often collaborate on their finished piece with local dance artists. This year marks the ninth season of this exciting program.
- Presenting exciting multi-disciplinary performances: This May the society hosted THE Source Dance Company for two multi-genre dance performances at the Raven’s Cry. The show featured several Coast Academy of Dance student alumni who are now dancing with this touring group across Canada. This program has proven to be a big hit on the coast and almost 30% of the tickets are usually given to the area dance schools so their students can check out THE Source as a possible stepping stone in their career advancement, after finishing high school.
- Introducing Art, Culture and a Message of Conservation: To mark the (2013) 20th Anniversary of the non-profit organization, the Society has assembled a select group of Sunshine Coast choreographers and professional caliber local dancers to perform “DANCES ON WATER.” The 20th Anniversary FESTIVAL DANCERS will bring their interpretation of a critical “environmental message” to various Sunshine Coast communities via the Festival circuit from June to October, culminating in a major “Mainstage” evening performance at the Sechelt Arts Festival in late October. This moving and flexible “tour de dance” will enlighten, educate, entertain and present our talented coast dancers and choreographers to the thousands of expected visitors and residents who attend these annual festivals.
(This excerpt from this year’s membership support letter provides an excellent summary of the Society’s mandate and activities.)
Why Support Dance?
For the benefit of young dancers pursuing the means to advance their dance training, for those adult performers looking for a nurturing and inspiring environment to create their craft, and for all coast residents seeking thought-provoking and intelligent dance performances available right here at home, the Sunshine Coast Dance Society represents the only coast-wide dance organization bringing dancers, producers and students together under one non-profit umbrella from Langdale to Lund.