Statement from David Fancy, Chair

‘How are you going to do theatre online, and teach theatre online?!’

This was a question that came up regularly in the spring when it became clear the pandemic was going to interrupt so much of our studio, workshop and laboratory work that involves people being in the same place in the same time.

Well, we’re doing it!

Faculty and staff worked all summer to meet (virtually!) with other instructors across Canada and around the world to determine ‘best practices’ for online teaching and creation.

We worked with our returning and incoming students all summer to figure out what people’s dreams and concerns were for the 2020-21 academic, and planned accordingly.

We’ve made it clear to our students how much of an opportunity for resilience and creativity COVID-19 can be. DART students have risen to the challenge!

Whether it be the new student-led DART ‘Buddy System’ that brings students together for encouragement, community and support; student run events, and students contributing to our informational Town Halls, DART students have been front and centre.

Faculty have flexed online teaching technology in new ways to be able to teach Performance, Production and Design, and Drama in Education and Applied Theatre.

We have created large scale MainStage events such as the recent Scenes From An Execution featuring 14 actors and 8 technicians in 12 separate spaces (including our theatre!) from Niagara to Mexico!

Regardless of the activity, we at DART are showing our true colours: flexibility and strength during times of rapid change, super-strong community bonds, and a deep belief that theatre and performance will thrive no matter what conditions we find ourselves in!