National Arts Centre ArtsAlive website

[Allana Lindgren]

The following is a press release from the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.



Ottawa (Canada) – Canada’s National Arts Centre has launched 
ArtsAlive.ca Dance, the fourth module of its dynamic, interactive and 
bilingual performing arts education website, ArtsAlive.ca.

Geared to students in Grades 7 through 12, the dance module will 
provide resources and tools that will help students across Canada 
better understand and appreciate dance. ArtsAlive.ca Dance will also 
interest anyone who is eager to learn about the performing arts and 
professional dance in Canada.

ArtsAlive.ca is now four websites in one, with modules on Music, 
English Theatre, French Theatre and Dance. ArtsAlive.ca is the first 
website of its kind in Canada and provides young people of all ages 
with a dynamic and interactive way to learn about the performing arts.

“Since it launched in 2001, ArtsAlive.ca has become an invaluable 
resource to students and teachers everywhere,” said NAC President and 
CEO Peter Herrndorf. “The dance module, which presents information in a 
terrifically entertaining and innovative way, will help educate and 
excite young people about dance, helping them to form a more personal 
and lasting appreciation of the art form. We’re very proud of it.”

With ArtsAlive.ca Dance, students and aspiring dancers can learn about 
many aspects of dance, from its history and cultural significance to 
very practical applications. Other topics include: dance forms and 
styles, important contributions of Canadian dance artists, how to be a 
healthy dancer, anatomy, common dance injuries, stagecraft and 
management skills, a day in the life of a professional dancer, 
post-secondary dance options, and how to use technology to create and 
notate dance.

The Dance module, with its theme entitled Step Up to Dance, shows the 
NAC’s belief in arts education and the development of young audiences. 
While the website offers engaging learning resources for aspiring 
dancers, it will be just as important to young people who feel they 
don’t know enough about dance, said NAC Dance Producer Cathy Levy.

“Dance is one of the most natural of the art forms, and one which young 
people can easily relate to.  I know that Artsalive.ca Dance will help 
enrich young people’s insight, knowledge and understanding of dance in 
an exciting and engaging way.”

“I am delighted to see the NAC extend its commitment to young people 
with information, imagination, and interaction through the Dance 
component of ArtsAlive.ca,” said NAC Board member, prima ballerina and 
filmmaker Veronica Tennant. “The abundance of features and applications 
reflecting the vitality of dance and dancers will invite people of all 
ages to explore ArtsAlive.ca Dance, to experience it and to make 
discoveries just by navigating the site. I know I will.”

The Dance module is divided into six sections: Dance 101, Understanding 
Dance, Making Dance, Meet the Artists, Mediatheque and Your Turn!

Highlights include:
	Hundreds of biographies of top Canadian and international 
dancers and choreographers 	A video and photo gallery 
(Mediatheque) containing dozens of performance clips and video 
interviews with great Canadian and international dance artists 
	A one-of-a-kind interactive choreography tool that will allow 
users to learn about and test elements of dance composition in a 
virtual dance studio 	Information on the history of dance in 
Canada and around the world 	Tips on how to understand, watch 
and discuss dance 	Advice on how to train and become a 
professional dance artist ArtsAlive.ca Dance is yet another example of 
the NAC’s deep commitment to youth and education. The module’s launch 
comes on the same day as the world premiere of the 2006 NAC Youth 
Commission for Dance—a new work choreographed for youth by a Canadian 
choreographer—in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts. This 
year’s performance, which has already had two successful student 
matinee previews for young audiences on Feb. 1 in the NAC Theatre, is 
Diary / Journal intime by Hélène Blackburn and her company Cas Public.

Launched to the Web in 2002, ArtsAlive.ca is the National Arts Centre’s 
performing arts education website targeted at Canadian teachers, 
students and parents. The website helps the NAC pursue its strategic 
goals of strengthening performing arts education across Canada and 
developing audiences among Canadian youth. In 2005, EduNET Connect, an 
Internet Educational Network, awarded ArtsAlive.ca an EduNET Choice 
Award for providing and maintaining valuable educational content. 
ArtsAlive.ca Dance is produced by the National Arts Centre New Media 
and Dance departments and is made possible by support from the 
Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture Online 
(CCO) program.

The Department of Canadian Heritage is pleased to support this project 
through the Canadian Memory Fund, part of its strategy for Canadian 
Culture Online. This Fund supports federal institutions in putting 
Canada's key cultural collections online. The goal of the Canadian 
Culture Online strategy is to ensure a dynamic and diverse Canadian 
cultural presence on the Internet.


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For more information, please contact:

Mary Gordon
Communications Advisor
(613) 947-7000, ext. 524
mgordon at nac-cna.ca



Dr. Allana Lindgren
SSHRC Post Doctoral Research Fellow
Faculty of Fine Arts
University of Victoria