On International Dance Day 2014, April 29, L’École superieure de ballet du Québec, École de danse contemporaine de Montréal (EDCM) and the Cégep du Vieux Montréal collectively announced the launch of a dance teacher certification program with tracks for classical and contemporary dance.
The initiative is meant to make dance education more standardized while providing a chance for Québec to compete on a national and international level with other educational institutions. “We’re delighted to be able to offer this training program to dance professionals and to help consolidate quality standards in dance training,” said Yves Rocray, executive director of the EDCM in a statement released by the school.
Although Université de Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) also awards diplomas for dance education in primary and secondary schools and specializations in somatic education, it is not nearly as comprehensive as this incentive. The new 720-hour program, opening this fall, is divided into three different semesters, one of which integrates ninety hours of applied field practice.
In an effort to attract both young professional dancers and experienced dance educators, the program also allows students to take time between semesters according to their needs. Lucie Boissinot, artistic director of EDCM, says: “This is especially interesting for those who are already teaching because they have the option of continuing their studies without sacrificing the rest of their lives.”
The program is designed to be accessible. Excluding administrative fees, the training is completely subsidized by Québec’s Ministère de la Culture et des Communications. “With this program,” Boissinot says, “we want the dance masters in the province to be able to pass on their professional knowledge in an applied training [program] that extends out to the field.”
Learn more >> edcmtl.com
Tagged: classical, Contemporary, dance education, Uncategorized, Montréal , QC
