JOIN US ON STAGE!
Since 2003, hundreds of talented kids from across Ontario have had the experience of a lifetime, joining our shows on stage. Imagine working along side professional cast and crew in large productions, touring to some of the most beautiful theatres in Ontario and Quebec, entertaining and delighting thousands of school children with song, dance, humor and wonderful stories. This unique work/study program offers young performers an opportunity to participate in a large scale professional musical — and to make a difference in the lives of our grateful audience members. Many former Kids Troupe performers have gone on to major roles on stage and screen, but ALL performers make incredible memories that will last forever.
How to Audition
Education Arts Canada and its production partner, All Together Now Corporation, work with top dance schools and kids’ theatre troupes. All auditions and casting decisions for kids’ troupes are made exclusively by the local studios (list below).
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity is best suited to performers who are:
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- In grade 4-9
- Strong dancers who have had previous dance experience
- Energetic, hard working kids who love to sing, dance and perform
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- Able to miss up to 7 days of school throughout the year
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- Able to commit 100% to all rehearsals and performances without exceptions other than unanticipated illness
- Serious performers who want to take it to the next level!
How does it work?
Interested young performers audition through their local performance groups (listed below). Successful candidates must commit to all rehearsals and performance dates. The local performance group charges a fee for lessons and rehearsals (the ‘study’ side of the work/study experience).
Once a member of the troupe, the young performer will attend classes with the other local performers in preparation for the tour. Again, attendance is mandatory. Unlike casual performance groups, every class will be teaching a critical part of what they need to know for the tour and cannot be missed.
Just before the tour, a dress rehearsal will be arranged with the main professional cast. This could be in your local troupe’s studio or at some other location including one of the theatres on the tour. After the dress rehearsal, there will be up to seven days of performances (not in a row), typically of 2-3 shows per day. Each show is approximately 55 minutes long.
Youth performers do not receive payment, but parents are offered a limited number of free tickets to performances. The production also provides all costumes (beyond the performer’s basic under-costume / dance blacks), a tour t-shirt and healthy snacks. Parents provide transportation to and from performances, but many arrange for car pools. Some local performance groups also help with transportation.
Where will we be performing?
We currently perform in beautiful theatres all over Ontario. Occasionally we perform in alternative venues like a local church that is also used for concerts, dance shows, etc. Generally, troupe members will be performing in the venues that are closest to their area of the province.
Here are some of the groups we have worked with in the past. This list will be updated when our live in-theatre touring resumes.
BROCKVILLE
Boldt Dance Studio
555 California Ave., Unit 9A
Brockville, ON
613-246-1992
boldtstudio@hotmail.com
https://www.boldt.dance
CHATHAM
Pure Dance Academy
121 Heritage Rd.
Chatham, ON N7M 5W7
519-352-5000
info@pureacademy.ca
http://pureacademy.ca
INNISFIL
Miss Jennie’s Performing Arts Studio
847 Innisfil Beach Road
Innisfil, ON
705-431-5678
missjennies@live.ca
http://www.missjennies.com
ACTON
Ambition Performing Art Centre
16 Main St S
Acton, ON L7j 1X1
647-801-9159
http://ambitionarts.ca
RICHMOND HILL
Ovation Arts
556 Edward Ave
Richmond Hill, ON L4C9Y5
1-877-229-2787
Bonnie Craig – Academy Director
bonnie@ovationarts.ca
Chris Madsen – Business Director
chris@ovationarts.ca
http://www.ovationarts.ca
KESWICK
CORE School of Dance 131 The Queensway S Unit 7
https://www.coreschoolofdance.com/
905-989-2017
WOODBRIDGE
Woodbridge School of Dance
140 Woodbridge Ave
Woodbridge, ON
905-851-5511
http://www.woodbridgedance.com