February 02, 2006 -

Ottawa (Canada) -- Canada’s National Arts Centre has launched ArtsAlive.ca Dance, the fourth module of its dynamic, interactive and bilingual performing arts education website, ArtsAlive.ca.

Geared to students in Grades 7 through 12, the dance module will provide resources and tools that will help students across Canada better understand and appreciate dance. ArtsAlive.ca Dance will also interest anyone who is eager to learn about the performing arts and professional dance in Canada.

ArtsAlive.ca is now four websites in one, with modules on Music, English Theatre, French Theatre and Dance. ArtsAlive.ca is the first website of its kind in Canada and provides young people of all ages with a dynamic and interactive way to learn about the performing arts.

“Since it launched in 2001, ArtsAlive.ca has become an invaluable resource to students and teachers everywhere,” said NAC President and CEO Peter Herrndorf. “The dance module, which presents information in a terrifically entertaining and innovative way, will help educate and excite young people about dance, helping them to form a more personal and lasting appreciation of the art form. We’re very proud of it.”

With ArtsAlive.ca Dance, students and aspiring dancers can learn about many aspects of dance, from its history and cultural significance to very practical applications. Other topics include: dance forms and styles, important contributions of Canadian dance artists, how to be a healthy dancer, anatomy, common dance injuries, stagecraft and management skills, a day in the life of a professional dancer, post-secondary dance options, and how to use technology to create and notate dance.

The Dance module, with its theme entitled Step Up to Dance, shows the NAC’s belief in arts education and the development of young audiences. While the website offers engaging learning resources for aspiring dancers, it will be just as important to young people who feel they don’t know enough about dance, said NAC Dance Producer Cathy Levy.

“Dance is one of the most natural of the art forms, and one which young people can easily relate to. I know that Artsalive.ca Dance will help enrich young people’s insight, knowledge and understanding of dance in an exciting and engaging way.”

“I am delighted to see the NAC extend its commitment to young people with information, imagination, and interaction through the Dance component of ArtsAlive.ca,” said NAC Board member, prima ballerina and filmmaker Veronica Tennant. “The abundance of features and applications reflecting the vitality of dance and dancers will invite people of all ages to explore ArtsAlive.ca Dance, to experience it and to make discoveries just by navigating the site. I know I will.”

The Dance module is divided into six sections: Dance 101, Understanding Dance, Making Dance, Meet the Artists, Mediatheque and Your Turn!

Highlights include:

• Hundreds of biographies of top Canadian and international dancers and choreographers
• A video and photo gallery (Mediatheque) containing dozens of performance clips and video interviews with great Canadian and international dance artists
• A one-of-a-kind interactive choreography tool that will allow users to learn about and test elements of dance composition in a virtual dance studio
• Information on the history of dance in Canada and around the world
• Tips on how to understand, watch and discuss dance
• Advice on how to train and become a professional dance artist

ArtsAlive.ca Dance is yet another example of the NAC’s deep commitment to youth and education. The module’s launch comes on the same day as the world premiere of the 2006 NAC Youth Commission for Dance—a new work choreographed for youth by a Canadian choreographer—in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts. This year’s performance, which has already had two successful student matinee previews for young audiences on Feb. 1 in the NAC Theatre, is Diary / Journal intime by Hélène Blackburn and her company Cas Public.

Launched to the Web in 2002, ArtsAlive.ca is the National Arts Centre’s performing arts education website targeted at Canadian teachers, students and parents. The website helps the NAC pursue its strategic goals of strengthening performing arts education across Canada and developing audiences among Canadian youth. In 2005, EduNET Connect, an Internet Educational Network, awarded ArtsAlive.ca an EduNET Choice Award for providing and maintaining valuable educational content. ArtsAlive.caDance is produced by the National Arts Centre New Media and Dance departments and is made possible by support from the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture Online (CCO) program.

The Department of Canadian Heritage is pleased to support this project through the Canadian Memory Fund, part of its strategy for Canadian Culture Online. This Fund supports federal institutions in putting Canada's key cultural collections online. The goal of the Canadian Culture Online strategy is to ensure a dynamic and diverse Canadian cultural presence on the Internet.

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For more information, please contact:
Mary Gordon
Communications Advisor
(613) 947-7000, ext. 524
mgordon@nac-cna.ca