What Happens in a Class?

 Currently living in Tkarón:to, on the Traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and the Mississaugas of the Credit River, Danielle graduated from the Professional Program of the National Ballet of Canada in 2002. There she worked with highly respected teachers: Bob McCullum, Lindsey Fischer, Veronica Tennant and Martine van Hamel. Danielle also trained and worked with the Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre, receiving Limon training with Donna Krasnow and performing works by such celebrated choreographers as Tedd Robinson, Darryl Tracy and Holly Small. After her studies, Danielle spent two years working with Robert Desrosiers followed by three seasons with Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, giving her the opportunity to perform premier works by Aszure Barton, Rodrigo Pedeneiras and Crystal Pite. Danielle has also performed with ProArte Danza and Dreamwalkers Dance Company. In 2006, she became a member of ezdanza, a part-time contemporary company, where she worked as interpretive artist and artistic assistant to choreographer and director Edgar Zendejas.

Danielle became a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Yoga Instructor, Rehabilitative Functional Trainer and Chronic Disease Recovery Coach specializing in compassionate, meditative and trauma-informed processes. After working in clinical practice for 10 years supporting ages 0 - 80, Danielle deepened her relationship with health education, acquiring a BA in Child Studies from Concordia University, a MA in Social Justice Education and is currently a 6th year PhD Candidate in Curriculum & Pedagogy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

Concomitant with her academic studies, Danielle has mentored under Elders Lorenna Bousquet-Kacera and Shantree Kacera at The Living Centre Eco-Spiritual Education Sanctuary in the fields of spiritual permaculture, eco-spirituality, eco-somatics and peace education. She currently works as an inter-arts curator and researcher for Dreamwalker Dance Theatre while completing her PhD. Her research, artistic co-productions and community work explore the emancipatory role of the arts for holistic health cultivation and environmental stewardship. 

  Zachary Cardwell shares dance with people of all ages, physical capabilities, and skill levels across North America. He is proud to be a queer artist working on Indigenous land we know as Canada. 
​
Motivated by quality and accessible arts education, Zachary leads contemporary dance, ballet, and movement workshops at established and developing institutions. This Includes: University of Toronto, Canadian Contemporary Dance Company, Assemblée Internationale, and Zachary currently teaches at Canada’s National Ballet School among public schools in the GTA. 

Programs engaged with community impact drives Zachary to question what dance can be, how dance can be, and for whom. 
Zachary teaches in the Adaptive Dance Program co-created by Canada’s National Ballet School and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, providing creative movement classes for children with diverse cognitive, physical and developmental needs. Additionally he co-leads ballet, modern, and improvisation workshops for dance studios in rural BC and Ontario. Everyone can –and should have access to– share in the magic and joy of dance! 
​
A graduate of Arts Umbrella in Vancouver BC, Zachary has had the pleasure of working closely with Crystal Pite. He performed remounted repertoire, engaged in creation processes, and participated in a choreographic mentorship program supporting 6 young choreographers to create work under the guidance of Crystal Pite over two years. All of this shaped Zachary's love for choreography, discussion, and enabling young dancers.