ABOUT DCD

Dance Collection Danse (DCD) is the national, Toronto-based, non-profit charitable corporation  dedicated to Canadian dance history. We have achieved a world-wide reputation as a pioneer in the collection, preservation and dissemination of Canadian dance legacies. We collect dance-related material as represented by text-based documents, moving and still images, 3-dimensional objects, and other artifacts and memorabilia.

We maintain the personal and business records of dance artists including choreographic notes, correspondence, films, house programs, videotapes, audiotapes, photographs, props, sets, costumes, and other memorabilia. We receive archival material as donations from arts professionals and the general public. We share our unique resources through public and virtual exhibits, workshops, publications and performance.

Nesta Toumine and David Earle at the Encore! Encore! reconstruction project, 1986. Photo: Cylla von Tiedemann
40 YEARS

DCD is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026. As the guardian of our Country’s largest theatrical dance collection, DCD exists for the purposes of research, education and celebration of the history of the dance arts in Canada. It is the only organization in Canada with this mandate. DCD is multi-dimensional and encompasses: a museum, archives, resource centre and publishing house.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

Preservation, research, animation, education and publication ‒ emanate from our expansive collection of dance-related materials dating from the late-19th century to current day. Artists and organizations across the country have entrusted their treasured archives to us so that worldwide and for all time, Canadian dance history can be uncovered, understood and celebrated.

WHAT WE DO

Through its research facility, publishing projects, virtual and live exhibits, film screenings, public talks, workshops and educational opportunities for youth, DCD’s collection is continually shared. For more details about our collection and organization, please visit the website at dcd.ca.

THE BEGINNING

In 1983, under the banner ENCORE! ENCORE!, Lawrence and Miriam Adams launched an historic project to reconstruct and preserve choreographies created by Canadian dance artists working in the 1940s and 1950s.

Works from six Canadian choreographers were chosen based on existing records and the availability of the original choreographer and/or dancers. It was the first such project to acknowledge the foundation of dance history in Canada.

Miriam Adams and Lawrence Adams / Photo: Marilyn Westlake 1986

The project culminated with the launch of the Encore! Dance Hall of Fame at which nine inductees were honoured at a gala event held at Casa Loma in Toronto… a long-overdue recognition of founding pioneers in Canadian dance history. There has to date been no other organization that has recognized the legacies of Canada’s dance artists.

Assuming the enormous task of uncovering Canada’s fleeting theatrical dance story, as well as recognizing the importance of disseminating this information, DCD, with the assistance of the Laidlaw Foundation, began the task of interviewing dance pioneers as well as gathering documentation of their choreography. DCD is committed to the ongoing process of preserving works of artists through documentation so that the bank of work for future reference and performance continues to grow.

MEDIA AND NEWS

  • CTV – Catherine Wreford and Ryan Richard (Miss Sandi Bay) talk about the first-ever Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame in Winnipeg
  • Edify Edmonton – Fresh off a national Dance Hall of Fame-induction, Canada’s only professional company is training a new generation of displaced dancers
  • Classic 107 – Winnipeg dance luminaries to receive national recognition from DCD
  • CBC News – Edmonton dance artists to be inducted into Canadian Dance Hall of Fame
  • Hamilton Spectator: Frank Augustyn with Karen Kain. Together they sold seats, even to people who didn’t care about ballet, Gary Smith writes
  • Broadway World: Marie Chouinard Inducted into Dance Collection Danse’s Hall of Fame
  • About Town With Jody Glaser – Dance Collection Dance Hall of Fame
  • Pancouver: Founders of Goh Ballet Academy inducted into 2024 Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame
  • Lethbridge Herald: Grant Strate watches during a rehearsal at the National Ballet of Canada in the 1960s
  • Toronto Star: Frank Augustyn partnered Karen Kain, among other greats. Now, the dance legend is getting his due with a new honour
  • The Georgia Straight: Vancouver butoh dancers Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashi to be inducted into Canadian dance hall of fame
  • Alberta Native News: Powwow Dancer Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane Inducted Into The Canadian Dance Hall Of Fame
  • The Gateway: Lifelong dancer Peggy Baker’s unrelenting pursuit of self-discovery
  • CBC: Evelyn Hart to be inducted into Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame
  • Dancing Black in Canada – Article on 2021 inductee, tap dance legend Ethel Bruneau
  • The Suburban: Margie Gillis to be inducted into The Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame
  • Globe & Mail: Miriam Adams resurrects the Dance Hall of Fame.
  • Turn Out Radio (CIUT): DCD Hall of Fame celebration: With Rhodnie Désir and Alejandro Ronceria
  • Nuvo Magazine: Canadian dancers earn recognition.
  • Classical 96.3 fm: Micah Barnes chats up “The Encore! Dance Hall of Fame” with Mike & Jean
  • The Dance Current: Dance Collection Danse brings back the Encore! Dance Hall of Fame

2025 HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE

A special thanks to this year’s committee.

  • Ahava Halpern
  • John Myers
  • Patti Caplette
  • Catherine Wreford
Director of Development and Producer/ Hall of Fame: Vickie Fagan
Vickie Fagan