The Dance Ontario Awards Committee is delighted to announce that Claire Whitaker will be the recipient of this year’s Jacque Foesier Youth Dance Award. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, January 20, 2017 during DanceWeekend’s 25th Anniversary at the Fleck Dance Theatre in Toronto.
 
“Since coming into the Professional Training Program of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Claire Whitaker has excelled and shone. Her teachers have given her high praise in their regular evaluations, for her artistry, her commitment, and her positive and enthusiastic attitude. She has been a class representative, a member of the Student Council, and Co-Producer of the School’s 2017 student-run Coffee House production.  She works well under pressure and has strong leadership skills. Claire is personable, engaging, and has exceptional organizational abilities.

Before coming to the School of TDT, Claire studied at Unionville High School, winning a dance scholarship, and at K&K Dance Dreamz, where she was a teacher’s assistant, and participated in numerous competitions including Bedazzled.  In addition to her school activities, Claire volunteers for charitable organizations such as Leucan, an organization supporting children with cancer and their families, and she recently offered her talents to the dance community volunteering for the Asian Community Games, Toronto Dance Theatre’s Tour de Danse, and Fall for Dance North.

Patricia Fraser (Artistic Director)
Susan Macpherson (Artistic Associate)
The School of Toronto Dance Theatre
The School of Toronto Dance Theatre has been at the forefront of dance training for 50 years. Their full-time, three-year, post-secondary Professional Training Program is delivered by world-renowned faculty and guest artists who are fully invested in fostering the next generation of dance artists. The program provides strong technical training through concentration on extensive studio work, well-rounded and challenging curriculum, and exceptional opportunities to create, collaborate, and perform. The graduates of the School are recognized as outstanding teachers, creators, and artistic leaders throughout Canada and around the world.
 
 
The Youth Dance Award is named in honour of long time Board member and founding Chair of Dance Ontario Association, Jacque Foesier whose lifetime commitment to bringing dance to youth from all backgrounds is a shining example for us all. Due to the generosity of the Foesier Family and their friends Martha Jarrell, Roberta Kremer & the Finkelstein Family, Gerald P. King, Susan Lapell, Amy Stone, Karlee Vukets, this award will carry a cash contribution towards the recipient’s ongoing training.
 

Come and congratulate Claire at DanceWeekend on Saturday January 20, 2018!

Image: Claire Whitaker