Maho Sakai; photo Shawn Kim
Vision: We envision a world where dance artists are socially and economically celebrated.
Mission: We pursue resources, opportunities and partnerships that empower dance artists.
Mandate:We achieve our mission through the maintenance and development of our core programs, in consultation with our members and stakeholders:
- Training Subsidy Program for dance artists
- setting professional Fees & Rates Standards for pay and working conditions
- creating contract templates like the Basic Dance Agreement
- providing professional tools and Resources for managing a career in dance
- providing Outreach opportunities for dance artists to network, collaborate and share resources with one another
- maintaining partnerships with similar organizations that support dance and the cultural workforce
History: CADA/West’s been supporting dance artists for over 20 years!
- 1992 Workers Compensation coverage established for BC dance artists through membership letter writing campaign
- 1997 First version of CADA/BC Basic Dance Agreement
- 1999 Incorporated as a provincial organization
- 2000 Training Subsidy Program established
- 2001 2nd version of CADA/BC Basic Dance Agreement
- 2002 Professional Contemporary Technique Classes & Workshops initiated
- 2006 CADA/BC becomes a member of the Standing Committee for the Performing Arts for SHAPE BC (advisory organization to WCB BC)
- 2008 Communityzero, online Members site, launched through CADA-ON
- 2008 First version of CADA/BC Fees & Rates document
- 2009 CDA joint membership initiated
- 2009 3rd version of Basic Dance Agreement
- 2011 Dance Response Program
- 2012 updated Fees & Rates Standards
- 2012 Members’ Unconference
- 2013 name changed to CADA/West, to incorporate growing membership
- 2015 updated Basic Dance Agreement
- 2015 members voted to update Fees & Rates Standards minimums to refect a unifed national average with CADA-East
- 2017 initiation of Studio Subsidy Program
- 2019 increase in Training Subsidy Program reimbursement amounts
- 2019 initiation of Childcare Subsidy Program
- 2020 emergency measures & funds in response to COVID-19