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:
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.
A wide range of health care benefits are offered to Les Grands Ballets dancers:
Fitness and conditioning equipment for dancers
Comprehensive health insurance for physical care
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.
