Alberta Dance Theatre is where young artists don’t just perform – they co-create, collaborate, and let their wild ideas loose. It’s a training ground for bold ideas, real skills, a little bit of a magic, and lifelong confidence.

Over the course of 11 weeks every Fall, Alberta Dance Theatre pairs young people in grades 1-12 from the Calgary area with local professionals to adapt a piece of children's literature to the stage using dance, theatre, and original compositions. It is through this educational experience that dancers not only learn to create choreography and gain performance training, but also develop skills such as creative problem solving, healthy risk taking, collaboration, and leadership.

We promise to treat every kid like an artist, and every artist like they belong.

At the end of the rehearsal process the Youth Artists perform their original production in a professional theatre setting complete with immaculately created costumes, set and props, and a professional lighting design.

We offer sliding scale tickets so attendees can pick the ticket price that is right for them. We also offer sliding scale tickets to school groups to attend our production at the theatre! Tickets are donated to families where the ticket price is not accessible. When the audiences cannot make it to the theatre ADT visits local age care facilities, senior's residencies, pop up venues and festivals to share their love of storytelling through movement throughout the year.

We take the work seriously. Just not ourselves.

The work created by ADT may be playful, unexpected, and full of sparkle, but it’s also rooted in artistic excellence. Each production is a reflection of true collaboration between youth and professionals, resulting in high-quality performances that feel honest, bold, and uniquely theirs. It’s serious art, that’s joyfully made. It’s a space where imagination meets rigour, where playful ideas become polished productions, and where young people are treated as artists – because they are.

Scholarship opportunities are offered annually to reduce barriers for dancers with a dedication to performing access our programming. 

Senior Dancers in the company are offered extra professional development opportunities to learn more about running an arts company. Graduating Youth Artists are also given the opportunity to work one on one with a professional artist and choreograph their own solo that is featured in the show.

Come as you are. Grow into who you’re becoming.

This isn’t just a program, it’s a second home. At ADT, every child is welcomed just as they are – shy or bold, quirky or curious, new to dance or bursting with ideas, there are no velvet ropes here. Just open arms, kind words, and the joy of creating something together. Friendships form, families find their community, young people learn to trust themselves and each other – on stage and in life.