Candidates
Healthy Dancer Canada members will not be voting this December, as there are no opponents for the four available positions on the Board of Directors. We are pleased to share with our membership the statements of returning HDC directors Rhonda Roberts Smid (ON) and Alex Thompson (BC), as well as new director Nathalie Gérard (QC). See the applicant statements of interest below.
We would also like to introduce Michèle Moss (AB) and Maria Haralambis (USA), who will be joining the team, serving as members of HDC operating committees.
We would also like to introduce Michèle Moss (AB) and Maria Haralambis (USA), who will be joining the team, serving as members of HDC operating committees.
Statements of Interest
Rhonda Roberts Smid (ON)
It has been my honour to serve on the Board of Healthy Dancer Canada this term.
I have gained perspective and knowledge over the last year exploring how HDC works within our dance communities. I also have been involved with HDC during a difficult time for the arts. The pandemic has shifted the lives of dancers, has destroyed dance companies, and closed studios. It is during this difficult time of poor mental health, economic trouble, and loss I see the how HDC has moved to make strides to assist, educate, and support dancers in need during this time. HDC stepped up and served our dance communities, and I hope we continue to strive to do more.
As chair of the BIPOC Advocacy working group, I have been able to work collaboratively with our members to create a scholarship fund which helped to assist two young artists on their professional journey. The working group is in the process of exploring how to further achieve its mission and how to embed these ideologies into the HDC community. This group’s mission and vision serves to encourage dancers from this community to “take up space” at HDC events and beyond. I believe we still have work to do, but I am encouraged by how far we have come.
As a retired dancer myself and the mother of an aspiring dancer, I look to the industry now with a different eye. My hope for Healthy Dancer Canada is that we are able to educate students, inspire teachers and foster healthier approaches in our dance environments, competitive events and the overall education community. The pandemic clearly outlined our weaknesses within our industry and society itself. The Arts continues to respond, but now we need to be proactive in our approach to the issues we find in our industry. We have been awakened, so let’s continue to strive for something new.
We are in a state of transition and this transition can and will lead us to new places. But we can also get burned out. Changes sometimes come fast and hard and it is not always easy to stay the course. We can get lost in our old directions and forget that we are striving for something new. Perhaps this is why I still feel my presence is needed at HDC. As a part of the board, I can see myself contributing in a range of unique ways; being a voice for marginalized peoples and a voice for moms of aspiring dancers. I am a dance adjudicator so my involvement with the competitive dance industry may allow me to act as a mediator between the competitive dance world and HDC. I have also started to teach in the different educational settings and have seen how the resources we provide can assist them. The transitions in my own career from professional dancer, to trainer, to mom has made it possible to view the dance world with a sense of possibility. I hope to continue to bring a fresh perspective to the great work that Healthy Dancer Canada is already doing.
It has been my honour to serve on the Board of Healthy Dancer Canada this term.
I have gained perspective and knowledge over the last year exploring how HDC works within our dance communities. I also have been involved with HDC during a difficult time for the arts. The pandemic has shifted the lives of dancers, has destroyed dance companies, and closed studios. It is during this difficult time of poor mental health, economic trouble, and loss I see the how HDC has moved to make strides to assist, educate, and support dancers in need during this time. HDC stepped up and served our dance communities, and I hope we continue to strive to do more.
As chair of the BIPOC Advocacy working group, I have been able to work collaboratively with our members to create a scholarship fund which helped to assist two young artists on their professional journey. The working group is in the process of exploring how to further achieve its mission and how to embed these ideologies into the HDC community. This group’s mission and vision serves to encourage dancers from this community to “take up space” at HDC events and beyond. I believe we still have work to do, but I am encouraged by how far we have come.
As a retired dancer myself and the mother of an aspiring dancer, I look to the industry now with a different eye. My hope for Healthy Dancer Canada is that we are able to educate students, inspire teachers and foster healthier approaches in our dance environments, competitive events and the overall education community. The pandemic clearly outlined our weaknesses within our industry and society itself. The Arts continues to respond, but now we need to be proactive in our approach to the issues we find in our industry. We have been awakened, so let’s continue to strive for something new.
We are in a state of transition and this transition can and will lead us to new places. But we can also get burned out. Changes sometimes come fast and hard and it is not always easy to stay the course. We can get lost in our old directions and forget that we are striving for something new. Perhaps this is why I still feel my presence is needed at HDC. As a part of the board, I can see myself contributing in a range of unique ways; being a voice for marginalized peoples and a voice for moms of aspiring dancers. I am a dance adjudicator so my involvement with the competitive dance industry may allow me to act as a mediator between the competitive dance world and HDC. I have also started to teach in the different educational settings and have seen how the resources we provide can assist them. The transitions in my own career from professional dancer, to trainer, to mom has made it possible to view the dance world with a sense of possibility. I hope to continue to bring a fresh perspective to the great work that Healthy Dancer Canada is already doing.
Alex Thompson (BC)
It has been an honour to serve as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Healthy Dancer Canada for the past two years. Seeing the passion and dedication of those behind the scenes of this important organization is inspiring and I hope to continue to serve as a Director-at-large. As HDC looks forward to 2022, we are embarking on an exciting journey of strategic planning that I would be thrilled to participate in, contributing both personal and professional experience to the process.
I work as a Registered Physiotherapist treating many young dancers and I am committed to promoting healthy dance practice both in and out of the clinic. My childhood and undergraduate experiences in the dance community equip me with the unique ability to approach my patients’ goals from a dance-specific perspective. As a clinician, I have the opportunity to teach young dancers how to advocate for themselves in the studio and manage their injuries independently and safely. It also allows me to communicate directly with dance educators to help them support their students’ health and wellbeing. Treating this population has reinforced the importance of organizations such as HDC to promote healthy practice, especially at an early age. Consequently, I am eager to continue offering my experience as a physiotherapist to assist in the creation of a development framework for dance as a part of the Long Term Development Working Group.
It has been an honour to serve as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Healthy Dancer Canada for the past two years. Seeing the passion and dedication of those behind the scenes of this important organization is inspiring and I hope to continue to serve as a Director-at-large. As HDC looks forward to 2022, we are embarking on an exciting journey of strategic planning that I would be thrilled to participate in, contributing both personal and professional experience to the process.
I work as a Registered Physiotherapist treating many young dancers and I am committed to promoting healthy dance practice both in and out of the clinic. My childhood and undergraduate experiences in the dance community equip me with the unique ability to approach my patients’ goals from a dance-specific perspective. As a clinician, I have the opportunity to teach young dancers how to advocate for themselves in the studio and manage their injuries independently and safely. It also allows me to communicate directly with dance educators to help them support their students’ health and wellbeing. Treating this population has reinforced the importance of organizations such as HDC to promote healthy practice, especially at an early age. Consequently, I am eager to continue offering my experience as a physiotherapist to assist in the creation of a development framework for dance as a part of the Long Term Development Working Group.
Nathalie Gérard (QC)
C’est avec passion, intérêt et humilité que je souhaite présenter ma candidature pour me joindre à l’équipe de Healthy Dancer Canada.
Depuis plus de dix ans, j’ai la chance de cumuler les fonctions de professeur de danse et de responsable du service de santé pour le programme danse-étude de l’École supérieure de ballet du Québec. Ce programme de formation professionnel est reconnu par les Ministères de l’Éducation et de L’Enseignement supérieur, ainsi que par le Ministère des Arts et de la Culture du Québec.
Lorsque j’ai décidé de revenir à la danse il y a quinze ans, c’était avec le désir profond de faire les choses autrement, et avec la ferme conviction que danse et souffrance ne faisaient pas le meilleur pas de deux. C’est ce qui guide ma pratique d’enseignante. Et c’est aussi ce qui m’a amenée à innover sur le plan de la santé dans le milieu de la danse.
Appuyée par l’ouverture de la direction de l’École supérieure, et motivée par mon amour de la danse, j’ai créé un département de la santé au sein de notre école, et développé un programme unique favorisant la santé globale de l’élève, programme qui priorise la prévention et l’éducation, tant sur le plan de la santé physique que de la santé mentale. Au cœur de cette démarche, l’écoute des besoins des élèves, et la volonté de mettre sur pied en environnement sain et sécuritaire.
Cette démarche s’est basée sur les nombreuses avancées des sciences de la danse dans les dernières années. La fluidité de l’information entre direction artistique, corps professoral, intervenants de la santé, parents et élèves a été l’une des clés de la réussite de ce projet. Au fil des ans, le département de santé que je dirige a développé un réseau fiable et des partenariats privilégiés avec des professionnels de la santé au fait des spécificités des besoins des danseurs. La préparation physique et l’entrainement complémentaire ont été favorisés afin de prévenir les blessures. Des ateliers de psychologie, de préparation mentale et d’amélioration de la performance ont été élaborés. Ils abordent entre autres les questions de l’estime de soi, de la perception de l’image corporelle, de l’anxiété, des troubles alimentaires, de l’autonomie, de la communication, et des réseaux sociaux. J’ai également innové en créant un programme de nutrition inscrit dans le cursus de l’élève, offrant des ateliers pratiques de cuisine exclusifs pour ses jeunes danseurs.
C’est la raison pour laquelle je crois avoir une bonne connaissance des enjeux auxquels fait face le monde de la danse, et détenir une expertise diversifiée pouvant contribuer à la mission de HDC d’améliorer la santé, le bien-être et les performances des danseurs. Je souhaiterais mettre à profit pour la grande communauté de la danse au Canada, l’ensemble de mes expériences et de mes compétences pour aider les danseurs à danser en santé et en équilibre.
Si vous retenez ma candidature, je suis intéressée à travailler sur le Comité d’évaluation des danseurs, ou le Comité de communication et de sensibilisation.
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It is with passion, interest and humility that I wish to present my candidacy to join the Healthy Dancer Canada team. For more than ten years, I have had the opportunity to be both a dance teacher and the person in charge of the health department for the dance-study program at the L’École supérieure de ballet du Québec. This professional training program is recognized by the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, as well as by the Ministry of Arts and Culture of Quebec.
When I decided to return to dance fifteen years ago, it was with a deep desire to do things differently, and with the firm conviction that dance and suffering were not the best of both worlds. This is what guides my teaching practice. It is also what led me to innovate in the area of health in dance.
Supported by the openness of the Superior School’s management, and motivated by my love of dance, I created a health department within our school and developed a unique program that promotes the overall health of the student, a program that prioritizes prevention and education, both in terms of physical and mental health. At the heart of this approach is the desire to listen to the needs of the students and to create a healthy and safe environment for them.
This approach has been based on the many advances in dance science in recent years. The flow of information between artistic direction, faculty, health care providers, parents and students has been one of the keys to the success of this project. Over the years, the health department that I lead has developed a reliable network and privileged partnerships with health professionals who are aware of the specific needs of dancers. Physical preparation and complementary training have been promoted to prevent injuries. Workshops on psychology, mental preparation and performance enhancement have been developed. They address issues such as self-esteem, body image perception, anxiety, eating disorders, autonomy, communication, and social networks. I also innovated by creating a nutrition program as part of the student’s curriculum, offering exclusive hands-on cooking workshops for its young dancers.
For this reason, I believe I have a good understanding of the issues facing the dance world and have a diverse expertise that can contribute to HDC’s mission of improving dancers’ health, well-being and performance. I would like to use my experience and skills to help dancers dance in health and balance for the greater Canadian dance community.
If considered, I am interested in serving on the Dancer Screening Committee or the Outreach and Communications Committee.
C’est avec passion, intérêt et humilité que je souhaite présenter ma candidature pour me joindre à l’équipe de Healthy Dancer Canada.
Depuis plus de dix ans, j’ai la chance de cumuler les fonctions de professeur de danse et de responsable du service de santé pour le programme danse-étude de l’École supérieure de ballet du Québec. Ce programme de formation professionnel est reconnu par les Ministères de l’Éducation et de L’Enseignement supérieur, ainsi que par le Ministère des Arts et de la Culture du Québec.
Lorsque j’ai décidé de revenir à la danse il y a quinze ans, c’était avec le désir profond de faire les choses autrement, et avec la ferme conviction que danse et souffrance ne faisaient pas le meilleur pas de deux. C’est ce qui guide ma pratique d’enseignante. Et c’est aussi ce qui m’a amenée à innover sur le plan de la santé dans le milieu de la danse.
Appuyée par l’ouverture de la direction de l’École supérieure, et motivée par mon amour de la danse, j’ai créé un département de la santé au sein de notre école, et développé un programme unique favorisant la santé globale de l’élève, programme qui priorise la prévention et l’éducation, tant sur le plan de la santé physique que de la santé mentale. Au cœur de cette démarche, l’écoute des besoins des élèves, et la volonté de mettre sur pied en environnement sain et sécuritaire.
Cette démarche s’est basée sur les nombreuses avancées des sciences de la danse dans les dernières années. La fluidité de l’information entre direction artistique, corps professoral, intervenants de la santé, parents et élèves a été l’une des clés de la réussite de ce projet. Au fil des ans, le département de santé que je dirige a développé un réseau fiable et des partenariats privilégiés avec des professionnels de la santé au fait des spécificités des besoins des danseurs. La préparation physique et l’entrainement complémentaire ont été favorisés afin de prévenir les blessures. Des ateliers de psychologie, de préparation mentale et d’amélioration de la performance ont été élaborés. Ils abordent entre autres les questions de l’estime de soi, de la perception de l’image corporelle, de l’anxiété, des troubles alimentaires, de l’autonomie, de la communication, et des réseaux sociaux. J’ai également innové en créant un programme de nutrition inscrit dans le cursus de l’élève, offrant des ateliers pratiques de cuisine exclusifs pour ses jeunes danseurs.
C’est la raison pour laquelle je crois avoir une bonne connaissance des enjeux auxquels fait face le monde de la danse, et détenir une expertise diversifiée pouvant contribuer à la mission de HDC d’améliorer la santé, le bien-être et les performances des danseurs. Je souhaiterais mettre à profit pour la grande communauté de la danse au Canada, l’ensemble de mes expériences et de mes compétences pour aider les danseurs à danser en santé et en équilibre.
Si vous retenez ma candidature, je suis intéressée à travailler sur le Comité d’évaluation des danseurs, ou le Comité de communication et de sensibilisation.
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It is with passion, interest and humility that I wish to present my candidacy to join the Healthy Dancer Canada team. For more than ten years, I have had the opportunity to be both a dance teacher and the person in charge of the health department for the dance-study program at the L’École supérieure de ballet du Québec. This professional training program is recognized by the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, as well as by the Ministry of Arts and Culture of Quebec.
When I decided to return to dance fifteen years ago, it was with a deep desire to do things differently, and with the firm conviction that dance and suffering were not the best of both worlds. This is what guides my teaching practice. It is also what led me to innovate in the area of health in dance.
Supported by the openness of the Superior School’s management, and motivated by my love of dance, I created a health department within our school and developed a unique program that promotes the overall health of the student, a program that prioritizes prevention and education, both in terms of physical and mental health. At the heart of this approach is the desire to listen to the needs of the students and to create a healthy and safe environment for them.
This approach has been based on the many advances in dance science in recent years. The flow of information between artistic direction, faculty, health care providers, parents and students has been one of the keys to the success of this project. Over the years, the health department that I lead has developed a reliable network and privileged partnerships with health professionals who are aware of the specific needs of dancers. Physical preparation and complementary training have been promoted to prevent injuries. Workshops on psychology, mental preparation and performance enhancement have been developed. They address issues such as self-esteem, body image perception, anxiety, eating disorders, autonomy, communication, and social networks. I also innovated by creating a nutrition program as part of the student’s curriculum, offering exclusive hands-on cooking workshops for its young dancers.
For this reason, I believe I have a good understanding of the issues facing the dance world and have a diverse expertise that can contribute to HDC’s mission of improving dancers’ health, well-being and performance. I would like to use my experience and skills to help dancers dance in health and balance for the greater Canadian dance community.
If considered, I am interested in serving on the Dancer Screening Committee or the Outreach and Communications Committee.