The GYD Company was formed in 2008, by Janet Johnson and Catrina von Radecki as a means of further celebrating, enhancing and training young dancers. The GYD Company only hires professional, established Canadian dance choreographers with great skill and artistry as well as experience with youth education.
For aspiring dancers 14 – 19 years (by audition)
Performance Opportunities
In addition to the December Open House and the Spring Show at the River Run Centre, company members will have several other performance opportunities throughout the year.
In recent years they have performed at DanceOntario Weekend, Harbourfront Centre, Art Harvest, Guelph Dance Festival, River Run Centre, and have participated in a summer residency with Tara Luz Danse in Ottawa, a week long exchange in Moncton New Brunswick, a 10 day tour throughout China, an exchange with the Halifax Young Company through Experiences Canada, 7 Linamar for the performing arts performances at the River Run Centre just to name a few opportunities!
In March 2019 the Guelph Youth Dance Company will tour to Spain, performing in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia!
Company members have worked with highly acclaimed professional choreographers including: Karen Kaeja (Toronto), Anik Bouvrette (Ottawa), Lina Cruz (Montreal), Suzanne Miller (Montreal), Lacey Smith (London) , Jordana Deveau (Toronto) and Dancetheatre David Earle (Guelph). In order to build relationships with other creative youth in our community, we have built regular partnerships with the Suzuki String School, Season Singers and Swansea School of Dance. In 2016-2017, the company worked with Kate Hilliard (Toronto), Janet Johnson and perform a collaborative piece with the Halifax Young Dance Company at the Guelph Dance Festival.
The GYD Company classes and rehearsals run from September, 2018 – May, 2019. If accepted in to the Company, members would be required to attend every company rehearsal and attend every performance.
GYD Company weekly training & rehearsal schedule 2018-2019
Mandatory for all company members:
Monday: Company Ballet and Rehearsal: 6:15-8:30pm
Tuesday: Contemporary Technique and Composition-4:45-6:30 (2004), 6:30-8:15 (2003 and earlier)
Thursday: Contemporary Technique and Rehearsal 5:00-7:00pm
Additional Classes highly recommended
Thursday: 4:15-5:oo Conditioning (2004 and earlier)
Friday: 7:30-8:30 am: New Contemporary Barre class (2004 and earlier)
Saturday: 10:30-11:30 Extra Ballet (2004 and earlier )
Optional
Saturday:
11:30-12:30 Jazz (2003 and earlier)
12:30-1:30 Jazz (2005-2004)
1:30-2:30 Hip Hop (2005-2002)
5:30-6:30 Hip Hop (2001 to adult)
A little look into a performance day when in the company!
The first piece is High Tide by Jordana Deveau, the second is a DansEncorps, our SEVEC Exchange partners from New Brunswick performing Afro Blue and the third is the GYD Company performing Robert Desrosiers’ Seascapes with the Concorde String Ensemble.
Thank you to videographer Michele Ayoub.
