Our Mission

Dance Collection Danse is the unique repository dedicated to Canadian dance history. We have achieved a world-wide reputation as a pioneer in the preservation and collection of Canadian dance artifacts. We preserve the personal records of dance artists: choreographic notes, correspondence, films, videotapes, photographs, props, sets and costumes. We receive archival material as donations from arts professionals and the general public.

Our initial efforts focused on connecting with elderly dance artists who were at risk of passing on without sharing their stories. Today we continue this focus while incorporating contemporary histories into our mandate and educating dance professionals in building and preserving their own legacies as they unfold.

In the late 1980s Dance Collection Danse established the publishing arm of it’s archives and to date DCD has produced 42 books in addition to an annual magazine. Dance Collection Danse Press/es is the only organization in Canada dedicated solely to producing books about Canadian dance.

About DANCE COLLECTION DANSE

Founded in 1986, Dance Collection Danse (DCD) is Canada’s national dance archives and publisher dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of Canadian theatrical dance history. DCD’s programming combines ongoing activities in collection, preservation, research, publishing and education.