Get to know your CADA/West

April 2014 Member's Newsletter

This edition features the CADA/West Annual Conference; celebrate International Dance Day; reminder: Membership Renewal; our monthly dance citizenship challenge & dance and the 2015 Federal Election.


CADA/West Annual Conference

We are pleased to announce the program for this year's CADA/West Annual Conference taking place on May 10, 2:30–5:30pm @ the downtown branch of the Vancouver Public Library.

Register Here

The conference features programming for emerging, mid-career and senior artists who are living and working in dance. Focussing on personal administration, mentorship/collaboration, and fundraising, we’ll be utilizing workshop formats, speed-dating and a panel discussion to keep the conference fresh and informative. For Members residing outside of Vancouver, please watch for a full report.

CADA/West Annual Conference




Celebrate International Dance Day

International Dance Day was introduced in 1982 by UNESCO and is celebrated on April 29 every year. These celebrations are to recognize the contributions of dance/dancers to our societies, to raise the status of the form within official establishments and to bring people together with the universal language of dance.

Check out what is happening in your area:

The Dance Centre—Vancouver
See what's going down in Calgary
Got Dance? Weekend—Edmonton
Canadian Dance Assembly



Membership Renewal

Visit our website to learn more about renewing your CADA/West membership, as well as membership benefits.




Speak With Your Feet

This month's dance citizenship challenge...

Tell Your MP that Dance Matters

Advocacy Alert from the Canadian Dance Assembly:

With the 2015 federal election on the minds of every MP, this International Dance Day remind your MP that your vote is directly-related to arts support. The major parties have already started thinking about election platforms for next year. Help ensure that dance is not forgotten by sending this email message.

  • Look up your MP’s email address
  • Cut & paste the letter below into the message
  • Sign it with your address so your MP knows you are a constituent
  • Copy the CDA on your message

That's it!

Dear Member of Parliament,

Did you know that April 29th is International Dance Day? Thousands of Canadians will be celebrating dance by participating in events and attending performances across the country. I hope you consider attending one of these events.

On this special day, I want to remind you that your party’s support for the arts sector, dance specifically, affects how I vote. The arts and culture are essential to the vitality of Canadian society. Increased support for the Canada Council and programs at the Department of Canadian Heritage, Industry Canada, and the Department of Foreign Affairs are necessary to keep the arts sector healthy. I work in dance and I vote with dance in mind.

I will be in touch next year during the election campaign to ask you specific questions about your arts platform.

Sincerely yours,




Already Thinking about Federal Election 2015

On Wednesday April 16th, representatives of the Performing Arts Alliance, including Kate Cornell from the Canadian Dance Assembly, met with Stéphane Dion of the Liberal Party.

Mr. Dion, the Heritage and Culture Critic for the Liberals, is interested in supporting the arts sector now and next year in the Liberals’ election platform. The productive conversation focused on federal funding for the arts and the government’s plans for Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017 (and the apparent lack of arts activities).

These types of meetings are essential for the CDA to make sure dance is at the table with opera, theatre, orchestras and presenters. The Performing Arts Alliance intends to meet with Pierre Nantel, Heritage and Culture Critic with the NDP, and Minister Shelley Glover of the Conservative Party.




CADA/West and its Members,

ensuring dance remains vital to our culture.


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designed, written and built by Deanna Peters, CADA/West Communications Officer