TEAM STRUCTURES
Dance Force Toronto has different teams based on skill level, experience, and dance style: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced (note: these teams may be combined depending on each season's numbers). Dancers will also have the opportunity to audition or sign up for additional company pieces such as Hip Hop, Improv, Ballet, etc.
All dancers are expected to adhere to Dance Force Toronto’s Code of Conduct throughout the season.
Read the full level breakdowns below to see what team is best suited for you!
BEGINNER
Beginner dancers will start the season together with 8 weeks of technique as a chance to evaluate each dancer's skill level. After the 8 weeks, the dancers will be split into 2 separate teams: Beginner I and Beginner II. Each team will learn 1 full team dance from each teacher. Both teams will have teaching assistants as an additional resource!
General Competencies:
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2-5 years of Jazz & Contemporary experience
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Some familiarity with dance foundations in Jazz, Contemporary, and Lyrical (i.e., flexibility, jumps, turns, kicks, etc.)
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Needs assistance with picking up choreography
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Needs assistance with musicality, and staying in time (with music & fellow dancers)
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Requires teachers & TA's to provide corrections
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Minimal stage performance experience
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Minimal to no improvisation experience
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Minimal to no experience dancing in a group
What You’ll Work On:
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Picking up & retaining choreography
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Understanding musicality and how to stay on beat
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Spatial awareness in a dance environment & dancing as a group
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Learning dance foundations and technique
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Performance quality & stage presence
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Stage etiquette
Commitment Level:
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1.5 hours on Sunday from September - March
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Must have strong commitment to attend technique classes in Sept-Nov
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Will learn 2 full team dances
INTERMEDIATE
General Competencies:
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5-10 years of Jazz & Contemporary experience
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General knowledge of dance foundations (i.e., flexibility, jumps, turns, kicks, etc.)
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Strong ability to pick up & retain choreography
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Basic understanding of musicality
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Can process and apply teacher-given corrections
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Strong performance quality & stage presence
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General familiarity of stage etiquette
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Ability to comfortably improvise in a variety of styles
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Adequate spatial awareness in a dance environment & ability to dance in a group
What You’ll Work On:
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Movement quality and artistry (nuances and dynamics)
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Improving flexibility and expanding technical repertoire
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Develop and explore personal dance style and applying to choreography where necessary
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Ability to self-correct
Commitment Level:
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1.5 hours on Sunday from September - January
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1-2 hours on Sunday from January - March
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Will learn 2 full teams and 1 half team
ADVANCED
General Competencies:
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10+ years of Jazz & Contemporary experience
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Mastery of dance foundations (i.e., flexibility, jumps, turns, kicks, etc.)
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Effortlessly picks up & retains choreography (and can apply personal style to choreography where necessary)
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Understands diverse time signatures and complex musicality
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Identifies and applies corrections (both self & teacher-given) with ease
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Well-developed movement quality, artistry, performance quality and stage presence
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Strong knowledge of stage etiquette
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Ability to confidently improvise in a variety of styles
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Strong spatial awareness in a dance environment & ability to dance in a group
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Distinct personal style and can adapt to other styles
What You’ll Work On:
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Exploring new ways of moving and styles outside of one’s comfort zone
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Maintaining technique and developing specialized skills
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Identifying personal areas of improvement and actively working towards improving
Commitment Level:
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1.5 hours on Sunday from September - January
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1-2 hours on Sunday from January - March and additional rehearsals for small groups
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Will learn 2 full teams, 1 half team, and 1 small group
Advanced Light
Advanced Light is for those Advanced dancers who may not have the bandwidth to commit to Advanced due to their day job, personal life, etc. Advanced Light gives dancers the opportunity to still dance at their proper skill level, but at a commitment level they can handle and at a lower cost.
Commitment Level:
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1.5 hours on Sunday from September to January
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2 hours on Sunday from January to March
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Will learn 2 full teams and 1 half team