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ABOUT DANCEFEST

ABOUT DANCEFEST
ABOUT DANCEFEST
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers with instructor
OSS DANCEFEST dancers

Who We Are

OSS DANCEFEST logo

Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has been a registered not-for-profit organization since 2015 and operates with a volunteer Board of Directors. A passionate group of teachers, performing artists, and volunteers have welcomed secondary students from across the province since 2003. Secondary schools offering Dance classes in the curriculum and extracurricular dance teams are invited to join us for an enriching performing arts experience.

OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers with instructor
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
Who We Are
OSS DANCEFEST logo
Who We Are

Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has been a registered not-for-profit organization since 2015 and operates with a volunteer Board of Directors. A passionate group of teachers, performing artists, and volunteers have welcomed secondary students from across the province since 2003. Secondary schools offering Dance classes in the curriculum and extracurricular dance teams are invited to join us for an enriching performing arts experience.

Who We Are

Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has been a registered not-for-profit organization since 2015 and operates with a volunteer Board of Directors. A passionate group of teachers, performing artists, and volunteers have welcomed secondary students from across the province since 2003. Secondary schools offering Dance classes in the curriculum and extracurricular dance teams are invited to join us for an enriching performing arts experience.

OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers with instructor
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST icon
Ontario Secondary School text
DANCEFEST text

What We Do

OSSDF organizes a 3-4 day annual event to provide opportunities for secondary dancers and their dance teachers/coaches to broaden their knowledge, creativity and experience through sharing, collaboration, performance, and educational development in a friendly forum.

We strive to open the lines of communication between high school teachers of Dance in Education classes and after-school dance programs, elementary teachers of curricular/extracurricular dance, and university dance crews. We want to create links for students of all ages to give them choices of how they can continue supporting their lifestyle, including their passion for Dance.

What We Do

OSSDF organizes a 3-4 day annual event to provide opportunities for secondary dancers and their dance teachers/coaches to broaden their knowledge, creativity and experience through sharing, collaboration, performance, and educational development in a friendly forum.

We strive to open the lines of communication between high school teachers of Dance in Education classes and after-school dance programs, elementary teachers of curricular/extracurricular dance, and university dance crews. We want to create links for students of all ages to give them choices of how they can continue supporting their lifestyle, including their passion for Dance.

Katie Knowlton video thumbnail
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A Message From our President

From our PresidentOSS DANCEFEST Icon

“It is with great pleasure and excitement that I extend my warmest welcome to all of you for the upcoming season of DANCEFEST. As the President of this event, I am deeply honored to be a part of such an inspiring group of board members, adjudicators, workshop leaders and of course, dance educators and talented dance students.” Read Full Message

Katie Knowlton video thumbnail
play button icon
A Message From
our President

“It is with great pleasure and excitement that I extend my warmest welcome to all of you for the upcoming season of DANCEFEST. As the President of this event, I am deeply honored to be a part of such an inspiring group of board members, adjudicators, workshop leaders and of course, dance educators and talented dance students.” Read Full Message

A Message From our President

“It is with great pleasure and excitement that I extend my warmest welcome to all of you for the upcoming season of DANCEFEST. As the President of this event, I am deeply honored to be a part of such an inspiring group of board members, adjudicators, workshop leaders and of course, dance educators and talented dance students.” Read Full Message

Katie Knowlton video thumbnail
play button icon

Land Acknowledgement

As an organization and settlers on this land known as Kanata and Kanadario, we are proud to acknowledge those who were on this land before us.

We live, teach and practice on land that has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples from the beginning. As settlers, we are grateful for the opportunity to reside here, and we thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land for thousands of years. We acknowledge the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Ojibway/Chippewa, Haudenosaunee, Neutral peoples and many other Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island. Although this territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treatise, we acknowledge that we are also critical of how it has largely been breached by settlers and newcomers. We support the movement toward a renewed Indigenous sovereignty and deeply appreciate their historic connection to this place. We seek to learn more.

We also want to acknowledge Indigenous black people of colour and LGBTQ2+ who have been marginalized for centuries and our collective responsibility to take action for a better world that is free from oppression, discrimination and racism.

We encourage all who visit our site and interact with our organization and all Canadians to do the same. We have provided sources of information to provide a source of education and to pass on to others.

mouse icon
Dancing to Mother Earth’s Drums painting by Pam Cailloux

Dancing to Mother Earth’s Drums

Pam Cailloux
Land Acknowledgement

As an organization and settlers on this land known as Kanata and Kanadario, we are proud to acknowledge those who were on this land before us.

We live, teach and practice on land that has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples from the beginning. As settlers, we are grateful for the opportunity to reside here, and we thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land for thousands of years. We acknowledge the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Ojibway/Chippewa, Haudenosaunee, Neutral peoples and many other Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island. Although this territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treatise, we acknowledge that we are also critical of how it has largely been breached by settlers and newcomers. We support the movement toward a renewed Indigenous sovereignty and deeply appreciate their historic connection to this place. We seek to learn more.

We also want to acknowledge Indigenous black people of colour and LGBTQ2+ who have been marginalized for centuries and our collective responsibility to take action for a better world that is free from oppression, discrimination and racism.

We encourage all who visit our site and interact with our organization and all Canadians to do the same. We have provided sources of information to provide a source of education and to pass on to others.

mouse icon
Dancing to Mother Earth’s Drums painting by Pam Cailloux
Dancing to Mother Earth’s Drums
Pam Cailloux

Board Members

Meet the dedicated board members behind DANCEFEST, a passionate team committed to fostering creativity and inclusivity in the world of dance.

Katie Knowlton

Katie Knowlton

President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest


Meghan Kidd

Meghan Kidd

Vice President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest


Laurel Brown

Laurel Brown

Co-Founder and Past-President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest

Cathy Bowman

Cathy Bowman

Secretary/treasurer of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest


Nikkie Price

Nikkie Price

Member at Large

Cathy Harris

Cathy Harris

Member at Large

Brianne Mauro

Brianne Mauro

Member at Large

Maddy Eby

Maddy Eby

Member at Large

Joanna Perlus

Joanna Perlus

Teachers’ Council Convenor

Christina Kemp

Christina Kemp

Member at Large


Board Members

Meet the dedicated board members behind DANCEFEST, a passionate team committed to fostering creativity and inclusivity in the world of dance.

Katie Knowlton

Katie Knowlton

President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest


Meghan Kidd

Meghan Kidd

Vice President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest


Laurel Brown

Laurel Brown

Co-Founder and Past-President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest

Cathy Bowman

Cathy Bowman

Secretary/treasurer of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest


Nikkie Price

Nikkie Price

Member at Large

Cathy Harris

Cathy Harris

Member at Large

Brianne Mauro

Brianne Mauro

Member at Large

Maddy Eby

Maddy Eby

Member at Large

Joanna Perlus

Joanna Perlus

Teachers’ Council Convenor

Christina Kemp

Christina Kemp

Member at Large

OSS DANCEFEST Adjudicators

Adjudicators
Alan Goetten

Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator

Shawn Byfield

Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator

 Jocelyn Bell-Summersby

Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator

OSS DANCEFEST Adjudicators

Adjudicators
Alan Goetten

Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator

Shawn Byfield

Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator

 Jocelyn Bell-Summersby

Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator

History and Timeline

Discover how Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has grown from its start in 2003 into a leading showcase of student dance talent and creativity.

2003 – 2012 The First Ten Years image

2003 – 2012

The First Ten Years

The idea of hosting “something similar to the SEARS Drama Festival for dancers” sprang from a Research Inquiry project presented by WRDSB teachers, Laurel Brown and Tabatha DeBruyn at the York University DANCE Additional Qualification course during the winter of 2002.

2013 – 2015 Changing venues for a better DANCEFEST celebration image

2013 – 2015

Changing venues for a
better DANCEFEST celebration

The “work to rule” action in 2013 changed the course of DANCEFEST. Never again would the event be held in a secondary school venue.

2015 – 2019 OSSDF is a Not-For-Profit & Bridging the Gap with Elementary and Post-Secondary Panels of Education

2015 – 2019

OSSDF is a Not-For-Profit
& Bridging the Gap with Elementary
and Post-Secondary Panels of Education

In February 2015, Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST incorporated as a not-for-profit organization with legal assistance from Les Protopapas, of Protopapas and Spielberg, of Kitchener, and Shelley Wickenheiser, CPA Wickenheiser Tax Advisory Professional Corporation of Elora.

A Board of Directors was formed with a group of dedicated dance teachers, most of whom had been advocates since 2003: Jocelyn Bell-Summersby; Laurel Brown; Melissa Lolarga Chiandussi; Tara Duffy; Michelle Hillier; and, Debra Kapp.

2020 – 2022

The Virtual Years

In March 2020, the world shut down. A global pandemic, COVID-19, would force the cancellation of OSSDF2020 that was planning to return to the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls. A small virtual event was offered with 7 “live” dance workshops. This platform would continue to grow over the next 3 years and offer OSSDF2021 and OSSDF2022 as virtual events as well and expand the virtual “live” workshops to 31.

The introduction in 2020 of OSSDF Teachers’ Council meetings allowed Ontario dance educators to meet and share information and resources; participate in “live” teacher workshops; and, gain opportunities to discuss the changes/reactions in education occurring during the pandemic.

2023 – present We are LIVE & In Person Celebrating Dance

2023 – present

We are LIVE & In Person
Celebrating Dance

OSSDANCEFEST2023 was LIVE! and in person with 208 dance entries performed by 373 participants from 16 registered schools plus 1 independent and 1 home school participant. The event was held at the University of Waterloo, Theatre of Art, in Waterloo where OSSDF2024 continued in 2024 and is planned for the Humanities Theatre for OSSDF2025.

History and Timeline

Discover how Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has grown from its start in 2003 into a leading showcase of student dance talent and creativity.

2003 – 2012 The First Ten Years image
2003 – 2012
The First Ten Years

The idea of hosting “something similar to the SEARS Drama Festival for dancers” sprang from a Research Inquiry project presented by WRDSB teachers, Laurel Brown and Tabatha DeBruyn at the York University DANCE Additional Qualification course during the winter of 2002.

2013 – 2015 Changing venues for a better DANCEFEST celebration image
2013 – 2015
Changing venues for a
better DANCEFEST celebration

The “work to rule” action in 2013 changed the course of DANCEFEST. Never again would the event be held in a secondary school venue.

2015 – 2019 OSSDF is a Not-For-Profit & Bridging the Gap with Elementary and Post-Secondary Panels of Education
2015 – 2019
OSSDF is a Not-For-Profit
& Bridging the Gap with Elementary
and Post-Secondary Panels of Education

In February 2015, Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST incorporated as a not-for-profit organization with legal assistance from Les Protopapas, of Protopapas and Spielberg, of Kitchener, and Shelley Wickenheiser, CPA, Wickenheiser Tax Advisory Professional Corporation of Elora.

A Board of Directors was formed with a group of dedicated dance teachers, most of whom had been advocates since 2003: Jocelyn Bell-Summersby; Laurel Brown; Melissa Lolarga Chiandussi; Tara Duffy; Michelle Hillier; and, Debra Kapp.

2020 – 2022
The Virtual Years

In March 2020, the world shut down. A global pandemic, COVID-19, would force the cancellation of OSSDF2020 which was planning to return to the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls. A small virtual event was offered with 7 “live” dance workshops.

This platform would continue to grow over the next 3 years and offer OSSDF2021 and OSSDF2022 as virtual events as well as expand the virtual “live” workshops to 31.

2023 – present We are LIVE & In Person Celebrating Dance
2023 – present
We are LIVE & In Person
Celebrating Dance

OSSDANCEFEST 2023 was LIVE! and in person with 208 dance entries performed by 373 participants from 16 registered schools plus 1 independent and 1 home school participant. The event was held at the University of Waterloo, Theatre of Arts, in Waterloo where OSSDF2024 continued in 2024 and is planned for the Humanities Theatre for OSSDF2025.

Want to dig into the full history of DANCEFEST?

Click here to see a chart from 2003 – present that shares the Venue, Hosts, Adjudicators, Workshop Artists and number of participants that attended each year.

Want to dig into the full history of DANCEFEST?

Click here to see a chart from 2003 – present that shares the Venue, Hosts, Adjudicators, Workshop Artists and number of participants that attended each year.

OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers

Contact us At DanceFest

DanceFest

Questions, comments, assistance

Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to learn more, get involved, or register for our upcoming events!

Contact us At DanceFest
Questions, comments, assistance
Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to learn more, get involved, or register for our upcoming events!
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers
OSS DANCEFEST dancers