After great anticipation, the Canada and Ontario arts councils launched an interactive map of dance in Canada on September 26. The map and microsite is the result of the Canada Dance Mapping study, an ongoing investigation of dance in Canada aimed at getting a complete image of the social and economic impact of dance across the country. The study was commissioned by the Canada Council for the Arts with additional support from the Ontario Arts Council. Other federal, provincial, municipal and territorial arts funders are also contributing to the study.
“The Canada Dance Mapping Study microsite is a living resource that connects dancers with each other and with Canadians from coast to coast to coast,” said Caroline Lussier, head, Dance Section at the Canada Council. “We wanted to find a way to visually represent where dance, in all its forms, takes place in Canada. We hope it will grow over time to paint a picture of this country’s entire ecosystem of dance.”
Currently, 900 dance-related organizations are represented on the map in genres including Asian, African, Aboriginal, European, latin, classical, folk, contemporary and urban. The map also displays areas in which people are active by dance in some way; this includes choreographers, companies, dance schools, dance students, festivals, presenters, funders, volunteers and audiences.
Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #yesIdance and keep your eyes open for the nationwide online survey of dancers, dancemakers and teachers also called ‘Yes I Dance’. The results from the survey, which is set to take place on November 4, will be added to the map.
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