Development Weekend 2022

CDA's Development Weekend brings together a group of phenomenal faculty to provide the NS dance community with four days of intensive work focusing on dance technique, creation and exploration. Participants will have the opportunity to take classes in Ballet, Modern (Horton based), Contemporary Jazz and Composition. Each morning will begin with a clinic class to gently warm up the body and bring awareness and intention to the day ahead. Repertoire time is built into the schedule and the weekend will conclude with a demonstration for family and friends. 

Tution

CDA Students - $150 (CYCo and Elements Crew members will receive a 15% discount)

Non-CDA Students - $180

Drop-In for post-secondary students and professional - $18 per class

Proof of Vaccination and valid ID required for any participants ages 12 and older. 

Faculty for 2022

Diana Rutherford - Ballet Faculty

Based in K’jipuktuk/Halifax, Diana Rutherford is a passionate teacher, invested arts administrator

and advocate for the arts sector. Originally from Owen Sound, Ontario, Diana began her dancing

career in both ballet and highland dance. As a highland competitor, she represented Canada across

North America and Scotland. She is a scholarship recipient and award winner in both ballet and

highland dance. After a short preforming career, Diana aligned her performing and pedagogical

interests together focusing her studies on dance education and cultivating future generations of art

advocators. As a graduate of the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School as

well as a graduate from York University, Honours BFA in Dance, Diana built the foundations of her

teaching career. She holds an esteemed teaching qualification at the Licentiate level within Cecchetti

Canada and has been certified at the highest level with both Cecchetti Canada and the Royal

Academy of Dance for dance examinations. Diana currently sits on the Board of Governors for

Cecchetti Canada.

Diana’s lengthy career as a dance educator brought her from Toronto, Ontario to Halifax, Nova

Scotia. She has had the opportunity to deliver dance education to students and instructors across

Atlantic Canada and southern Ontario, as a guest artist, choreographer and private coach. In recent

years, Diana has expanded her experience and knowledge to arts administration as Dean of Dance

for a not-for-profit organization, located in Halifax, NS. While in this role, Diana produced two full

length ballets, implemented an accredited Dance Teacher Training program at the diploma level, as

well as further developed a pre-professional ballet program, encouraging continued education for

dance instructors and emerging artists. She has had the opportunity to work with many not-for-

profit arts organizations including the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, Votive Dance, Mocean Dance,

Nova Scotia Talent Trust, Canada’s Ballet Jorgen - Atlantic Council and Festival of Dance

Annapolis Royal.

Currently Diana is the director of DR Coaching and Consulting, an organization based out of

Halifax NS, which aims to assist dance students and dance studio owners in meeting their dance

education goals through private coaching, workshops and consulting.

Marcia Dysart - Modern Faculty

Marcia is a dancer, choreographer, collaborator and educator with over 25 years teaching experience. She studied contemporary dance at McMaster University’s Centre for Dance Performance in Hamilton, ON and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre’s summer intensives for teacher training. Currently a member of Artslink New Brunswick, she shares her passion for creation working collaboratively alongside musicians, visual artists, filmmakers and dancers. Marcia's work has received recognition by the New Brunswick Arts Board and Saint John Community Arts Funding Program and has been performed across Atlantic Canada.

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Marcia is a founding director of Connection Dance Works, a professional contemporary dance company. She assists in achieving the company's mandate to increase the regional audience for contemporary dance and offer more collaborative opportunities for artists. The company is a recipient of a Saint John Original award for excellence in dance.

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Marcia is an advocate for arts education and its accessibility to all. She’s developed curriculum for schools, delivering the content to both students and teachers and aids in the growth and support for arts education through her work on boards and juries. Marcia is an American Ballet Theater certified teacher and has a Bachelor of Education and Science. She is a graduate from Dance Education Canada and has certifications in Progressing Ballet Technique, Horton Technique and Boston Ballet School's Adaptive Dance program.

Chris Green - Contemporary Jazz Faculty

Chris Van Green took his first class in jazz at 13 and has been hooked ever since. He started his dance training in Nova Scotia at Truro Dance Academy where he trained in Ballet, Jazz and Modern. Green decided to pursue dance further after high school and received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Theatre Dance Performance at Ryerson University in Toronto. He showed huge growth and outstanding passion and was rewarded the Kenny Pearl Award in his graduating year.

Since Graduating Chris has worked and collaborated with many other dancers & choreographers. He has performed in numerous dance productions, musicals, flashmobs, weddings, galas, the MMVAs, television shows and music videos to list a few. Working with choreographers & collaborators such as Hanna Kiel, Kenny Pearl, David Earle, Robert Glumbek, Darryl Tracy, James Kudelka, Andrea Penã, and Fernando Melo. Green continues to dance professionally and has expanded his styles of movement to include Acro, Heels, Improv, Hip Hop, Urban, Cuban Contemporary, Swing, Salsa, Musical Theatre, Zumba and many styles of Fitness. He also has been teaching full time for half a decade in all styles and to all ages.

Working hard to inspire and progress the development of the next generation of artists, he has taught workshops and Master Classes all over Canada and is excited to share his knowledge to inspire others.

Michael Pinto - Accompanist

Michael is a working percussionist, versed is numerous styles such as latin, jazz, funk, classical, and world music. As with his performance you can always expect a lively attitude from Michael. He is engaged in the creative process and making musical experiences unique.

Michael gradated from Holland College’s School of Performing Arts with a diploma in Music Performance, and received the Paul Barrett Outstanding Jazz Musician award while at Cobequid Educational Centre.

Working professionally as an independent musician and song writer, he has worked and recorded with Bucket List, Indifference, Mark Shelley, Rocket Taylor and Punk Fungus.

Pinto is also a core member of the hit Rock Opera Hedwig and the Angry Inch- performed by Andrew Morrissey, directed by Margot Begin, which had a very successful touring run throughout Nova Scotia, PEI, and Ontario.

Micheal has on numerous occasions collaborated with Yohvn Blvck, most noteably for the NS Jazz Festival.

As an accompanist for modern dance, Michael has had the pleasure of playing for prominent dance educators and choreographers such as Darryl Tracy and Robert MacCollum. He is currently the accompanist for the Modern Dance Program at Cobequid Dance Academy.