Longtime Member Jacque Foesier leaves the Dance Ontario Board of Directors

It is with much regret that we announce the resignation of Jacque Foesier from the Dance Ontario Board of Directors. He has been so important to our board and staff over the years and will be greatly missed.   Mr. Foesier has kept the history of our organization and its context within the sector ever present and, regardless of the many changes we have made, board and staff have always looked to him for guidance and as a weather vane for proposed new initiatives.

        In January 2015, the association will re-name its youth dance award the Jacque Foesier Youth Dance Award in recognition of his services both to Dance Ontario Association and to the Toronto dance community.

        Mr.  Foesier a Licentiate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (Cecchetti Faculty Branch) began his dance training in Edmonton at the age of nineteen with Earla Grey at the Edmonton School of Ballet. Earla received her training from Betty Oliphant in Ballet and from Bob Van Norman in Tap. Two years later Jacque attended Jacob’s Pillow on full scholarship where he studied with Ted Shawn, Myra Kinch, Isa Partch, Matteo, Carola Goya, Alfredo Corvino, and Margaret Craske.

         With the advice of Margaret Craske, the next year and a half was spent in New York City where he attended the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School studying with Ballet Mistress Margaret Craske, Anthony Tudor and Alfredo Corvino.

          While in New York he also studied Modern Dance at the 92nd Street ‘Y’ with Betty Jones and Jose Limon, and performed with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet.

          Returning to Canada to obtain his teacher’s certification, he continued his training with Betty Oliphant, Celia Franca and later at the National Ballet School. Mr. Foesier began his teaching career in Toronto founding the Leaside School of Dance, and in October of 1958 began teaching for the YM&YWHA Community School of Dance.

         In 1974 after building the YM & YWHA Community School of Dance from a single class of eight students, to one of the finest and largest schools in Canada with a registration of over 800 students, he was appointed director of the new Koffler Centre School of Dance, a position he held until 2002.

        Mr. Foesier has served as President of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (Ontario Branch) for three consecutive two year terms, founding Chair of Dance Ontario, founding advisor to the Ontario Arts Council, Board member of the Original North York Arts Council and the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Arts Policy. In 1968 he initiated a children’s summer arts program for the City of Burlington. He founded the Children’s Theatre School of Ballet in Burlington, the new Koffler Centre School of Dance in North York, the Etobicoke School of Dance to financially assist, and in co-operation with, the Danny Grossman Dance Company. His most recent accomplishment in partnership with his late wife Jeanne was the establishment of The Dance Place, a co-operative registered not for profit school providing opportunity for emerging artists. The Dance Place offers a family friendly and nurturing environment helping everyone explore their potential with the guidance of an outstanding and dedicated professional faculty.

         Under Jacque Foesier’s steady guidance and informed advice, Dance Ontario has moved ahead while firmly remaining true to its mandate providing services to our diverse membership.