Health and dance therapy

The benefits of dance on well-being

In 2013, Les Grands Ballets inaugurated its National Dance Therapy Centre (NDTC) in Montreal, the first initiative of its kind to be conceived and implemented by a dance company. It is part of Les Grands Ballets' broader vision of promoting the benefits of dance to enhance individual well-being.

The CNDT is one of a kind around the world, as it focuses on three key elements:

offering dance services for well-being, adapted dance and dance therapy,
being involved in clinical research projects,
developing continuing education and professional training activities, including the first Canadian training program in dance therapy (Alternative Route).

Well-being through dance

The mission of our health unit is to develop dance therapy and adapted dance services for people with special needs. These services are offered to partner institutions, or directly to individuals, via our program of adapted dance classes. To ensure the quality of our activities, two training courses have been developed for artists and health professionals interested in using dance to intervene in health and social contexts. The Centre also collaborates with numerous researchers to help build knowledge on the benefits of dance on health in Canada.

Dance therapy is defined as a treatment modality used either as a complement to certain medical treatments or psychotherapy, or as the main therapy. The objectives of this therapy are determined jointly between the beneficiary and the dance therapist. With their specialized training in the analysis of movement, body expressiveness and psychotherapy, these therapists use dance and movement as a tool to achieve wellbeing through techniques of communication and body awareness development, motor function, creativity, expression and self-esteem.

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The NDTC by the numbers

The NDTC was created 10 years ago
3,600 persons have benefited from its services since its creation in 2013
20 specific needs are addressed, including Down syndrome, autism, mental health, intellectual disabilities, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer diseases, physical disabilities, aging, dementia, young people under judicial protection, etc.
Classes open to the general public: 28 classes offered to 600 participants in our studios over the past ten years
70 instructors trained or in training in dance therapy and adapted dance, thanks to the Alternate Route program
25 professionals hired on a regular basis each year
3 ongoing research projects

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Healthcare for dancers

A wide range of health care benefits are offered to Les Grands Ballets dancers:

Physiotherapy and massage therapy
- Weekly treatments offered in Montreal, in the Édifice Wilder, at Place des Arts and on tour
- A room exclusively dedicated to dancers in the Édifice Wilder, with the necessary equipment

Fitness and conditioning equipment for dancers
- Fully equipped gym reserved primarily for dancers and upgraded annually to meet their needs
- Dancers’ lounge for relaxation and recuperation
- Custom-made pointe shoes for each dancer of the company
- Leisure division: Studios GB - discounts for dancers
Comprehensive health insurance for physical care
- CNESST for dancers and ballet masters
- Daily training classes for dancers
- Ballet master’s annual salary
- Pianists’ annual salary

The dancers are at the heart of the company, and deserve all our attention. The company therefore takes great care to monitor and preserve their physical and mental health in order to prevent injury and allow them to practice their discipline in a safe way and for as long as possible, the cornerstone of performance quality.

For further information, contact us:

514 849-8681, ext. 232
philanthropie@grandsballets.com