Professional Training Program
CLICK HERE to view the audition schedule for the 2012-2013 Professional Training Program
Download The 2011 Professional Training Program Brochure
Professional Training Program Brochure (631 KB)
Decidedly Jazz Danceworks is thrilled to announce the sixth year of our new, daytime, Professional Training Program (PTP). The program is designed for hard-working, self-motivated, talented and dedicated dancers who feel a passion for both jazz and the work of DJD.
Dancers in the program attend 15 hours a week of morning classes at the DJD studios (schedule TBA) in jazz, tap, West African, jazz history and DJD repertoire. Students in the program are also welcome to attend evening classes at the School of Decidedly Jazz. In leiu of payment for participation in evening classes, students must fulfill a volunteer commitment to the company and society (assisting with fundraising events, etc.) and must complete a set amount of shifts at the company's fundraising bingos before the end of the season.
DJD’s Professional Training Program also provides performance and choreographic opportunities with its Professional show, Footprints. Presented each May, Footprints is performed and choreographed by PTP students under the Artistic Direction of Jamie Freeman Cormack, the PTP Director. Members of PTP also have an opportunity to audition for our school tour, a 4 - 6 week paid contract position that provides performance exposure to the most open and honest audience members we have - children from 5 to 12 years.
Cost of the PTP is $2900 + GST (program is 8 months)
Auditions for the 1-year Professional Training Program will be held each spring.
Please contact Jamie Freeman-Cormack, Pre-Professional Director for more information.
Programme d’Entraînement Professionnel (PEP)
C’est avec beaucoup d’enthousiasme que la compagnie DECIDEDLY JAZZ DANCEWORKS offre pour une troisième année le nouveau Programme d’Entraînement Professionnel (PEP). Ce programme, offert le jour, a été conçu pour des danseurs assidus, motivés, doués, dédiés à la danse et qui ont une passion pour le jazz et pour les réalisations de DJD.
Les danseurs inscrits au programme suivent onze heures de cours en matinée : des cours de jazz, de danse à claquettes et de danse africaine, plus particulièrement de l’Afrique de l’Ouest ainsi que des cours en histoire du jazz. De plus, les danseurs seront initiés au répertoire de DJD. Ces cours sont donnés aux studios de la compagnie et l’horaire sera annoncé sous peu. Les étudiants enrôlés dans ce programme sont également invités à suivre les cours du soir à l’École de Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. Toutefois, en guise de paiement pour leur participation à ces cours du soir et ce, avant la fin de la saison, les étudiants seront appelés à s’engager bénévolement envers la compagnie et la communauté et à participer aux collectes de fonds et devront également exécuter un nombre précis d’heures de travail durant les séances de bingo organisées par la compagnie.
Le PEP de DECIDEDLY JAZZ DANCEWORKS offre également à ses étudiants l'occasion de danser sur scène et de participer à la chorégraphie de son spectacle professionnel, Footprints. En effet, présenté à chaque mois de mai, Footprints est exécuté et chorégraphié par des étudiants du PEP, sous la direction artistique de Jamie Freeman Cormack, le directrice du Programme d’Entraînement Professionnel. Les membres du PEP ont aussi la chance de se présenter aux auditions et de participer à la tournée qui aura lieu dans différentes écoles. Cette participation comprend un contrat rémunéré de quatre à six semaines et donne l’occasion à ceux qui auront été choisis de se faire connaître auprès de notre auditoire le plus accueillant et le plus équitable, des enfants âgés de cinq à douze ans.
Le coût du Programme d’Entraînement Professionnel est de 2,900$, taxe fédérale en sus. Le programme est d’une durée de huit mois.
Les auditions pour l’année du Programme d’Entraînement Professionnel se tiennent au printemps et en ce qui concerne la saison 2010-2011, auront lieu dans quatre villes canadiennes, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg et Toronto. (Pour Le programme de ces auditions, nous vous prions de consulter notre site Web www.decidedlyjazz.com).
Par ailleurs, les étudiants désireux de s’inscrire aux auditions du Programme d’Entraînement Professionnel et qui n’habitent pas la région de Calgary doivent noter que le logement n’est pas fourni ; toutefois nous nous ferons un plaisir de les aider dans la mesure du possible à trouver des appartements ou des chambres à louer dans les environs des studios de DECIDEDLY JAZZ DANCEWORKS.
Veuillez communiquer avec Jamie Freeman Cormack, Directrice du Programme d’Entraînement Professionnel au 403-245-3533 / jfcormack@shaw.ca pour de plus amples details.
Footprints
Quotes from the 2007/2008 Pre-professional Students
"At DJD, not only have I tapped into my own personal groove, but the exploration and knowledge of music I've received has made me the dancer I am today. when I leave this program, I’ll take knowledge of not only the styles that make Jazz what it is, but an understanding of music that has allowed me to genuinely feel and move to a piece of music I can connect with. "
"Coming from Toronto, not knowing what to expect, I was welcomed with open arms. Dancing at DJD with the pre-professional training program has been a great experience. From training with the most wonderful teachers who offer nothing but intelligence and wisdom to making great friends, I am honored to be a part of this program."
"I like that this program only accepted a small number of dancers. This is very beneficial as all of the dancers receive a lot of individual attention. I have personally learned a lot about music and rhythm. I feel this has helped my dancing to become more dynamic. We also do a lot of improvisation and this has helped me to figure out my personal style and to listen to my body’s impulses. I have also enjoyed the variety of teachers that I’ve been able to train with. They all have different expertise and information to pass on. So far this program has made me more aware of the music that I am dancing to, the rhythms my body is making, the space I am moving in and the other dancers I’m dancing with. I find that I am more excited about dance than I’ve ever been."
"DJD has taught me how important it is as dancer to connect to the music and understand how integral it is to the movement. We have listened to music, broken it down, and put it back together and I understand that by committing to it, I have become a more dynamic dancer. There is something very satisfying about connecting my emotions and movement together with a piece of music and I feel this process has taught me a lot about myself. The pre-professional training program has been an amazing experience and I think it is a great step towards dancing at a professional level."
"This school and staff have completely changed the way I think about dance, the way I feel when I dance and how I listen to the music when I dance. This program has helped me to relax and move in ways that I never imagined. I have lost tension in my movement and have gained freedom instead. (I still have a long way to go, but it’s a start!) I’m getting trained in a one of a kind program that would be hard to find anywhere else. The company members and teachers are amazing role models that show where this training can take you in the future and the evening open classes are a great opportunity to work with other people in the city who love this style too. I honestly cannot say enough about the program and what it has done for me in the past year. I have barely even begun to scratch the surface of this style since it is so unique. I would highly recommend this program to any dancer who wants to challenge themselves artistically and as individuals."