The Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award recognizes outstanding emerging Canadian dance choreographers or companies, celebrating new voices, ideas, and approaches to professional dance. Established in 1978 by the Clifford E. Lee Foundation, the award supports the creation and development of innovative choreographic work.
Sage Theatre is excited for you to apply to the IGNITE! Festival!
The festival takes place June 4 - 7 2025 in the Pumphouse Theatres. Projects occupy both the Victor Mitchell and Joyce Doolittle Theatres.
For nearly 20 years, the IGNITE! Festival of Emerging Artists has put a focus on helping develop Calgary’s rising talent by presenting their work to the public and connecting them to a network of established industry professionals.
Sage Theatre and IGNITE! Festival provide rehearsal space, production support, marketing of the festival, and an honorarium to all of the artists involved.
Be a part of Calgary’s IGNITE! Community – submit your project to the festival and share your creativity with the stage! Or submit yourself as an artist interested in being paired with a project!
Applications open until April 8.
Project Application Form: https://airtable.com/appI6iliTWyhSs80b/pagHMOZ84BBQYwAAD/form
Individual Artist application form: https://airtable.com/appI6iliTWyhSs80b/pagUpC7kOv4kKLo8J/form
Submissions open for the IGNITE! 2025 Emerging Artist Fest! Submit projects or artist interest!
Submissions open for the IGNITE! 2025 Emerging Artist Fest! Submit projects or artist interest!
Submissions open for the IGNITE! 2025 Emerging Artist Fest! Submit projects or artist interest!
Sage Theatre is excited for you to apply to the IGNITE! Festival!
The festival takes place June 4 - 7 2025 in the Pumphouse Theatres. Projects occupy both the Victor Mitchell and Joyce Doolittle Theatres.
For nearly 20 years, the IGNITE! Festival of Emerging Artists has put a focus on helping develop Calgary’s rising talent by presenting their work to the public and connecting them to a network of established industry professionals.
In 4-weeks, you’ll learn how to creatively express your burning thoughts, dreams, and passions with conviction! Throughout this series, you'll explore your favorite moving works of art and take part in group discussions. You’ll also have the chance to create your own work and say what’s on your mind in a safe, collaborative, and supportive environment.
This class is great if you love music, poetry, movies, theatre, and more. Come ready to discover your power through words and images!
Register here: accessarts.ca/whats-on/say-it-like-you-mean-it
Ado Nkemka is a pop-rock musician and multidisciplinary writer (theatre, poetry, journalism) with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Her artistic practice and education inform her perspective, channeling her visceral responses to personal experiences through art while interrogating power, her own identity development, as well as her relationship to self and the outside world.
From 2022-2024 she was a part of Mount Royal University's Artist as Changemaker residency program, collaborating with the Alcove Centre for the Arts on a project titled "Letters to my Younger Self; Exploring Inclusivity in the Arts." She has also worked on Western University's FAARM project since early 2024, sharing her songwriting knowledge with NaAC artists.
Ado has performed at Sled Island, SoundOFF Summit, and FoundFest, among other events. She was a part of the 2023-2024 TD Incubator program offered by Arts Commons and also participated in MacEwan University's TD Artist in Residence program. Ado's music has been broadcasted across Canadian radio stations including CBC, CKUA, X.92.9, UMFM.
Learn how to dig deep and express yourself.
Learn how to dig deep and express yourself.
Learn how to dig deep and express yourself.
In 4-weeks, you’ll learn how to creatively express your burning thoughts, dreams, and passions with conviction! Throughout this series, you'll explore your favorite moving works of art and take part in group discussions. You’ll also have the chance to create your own work and say what’s on your mind in a safe, collaborative, and supportive environment.
This class is great if you love music, poetry, movies, theatre, and more. Come ready to discover your power through words and images!
Register here: https://accessarts.ca/whats-on/say-it-like-you-mean-it/
Ever wanted to dance like your favorite pop stars? This 8-week class is all about learning fun, energetic moves inspired by the biggest names in pop music. No experience needed—just bring your energy and get ready to move.
We’ll break down iconic choreography from music videos, making it easy to follow and fun to perform. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just looking to try something new, this class is for you.
Our Community Dance Classes at NaAC are for anyone 18 and older, no matter your dance skills, gender, or background. All movement styles and abilities are welcome!
Register here: accessarts.ca/whats-on/music-video-moves-popstar-edition
Performing Arts Manager, Ashley Brodeur, became enthralled with the National access Arts Centre in the dance studio. After leading a movement session, her time with the artists at the NaAC ignited a passion that has inspired a career shift holding great potential of impact to the performing arts ecosystem. Creator and Director of Maven Movement, providing professional level performance and training opportunities on an equitable scale has been her focus for the past 7 years.
With professional performance credits that include Culture Shock Washington, D.C., the Dubai Shopping Festival, The Fringe Festival, TIFF, BravoFact!, collaborations with brands such as Loreal, Labatt and XBox, Toronto’s Choreographer’s Ball and the Much Music Video Awards with PSY, she believes it is essential to ensuring high caliber performance opportunities are available to all, especially those underrepresented in traditional professional atmospheres.
An attendee of the BFA Dance Program at York University, the Commercial Dance Program at George Brown College and the Professional Training Program at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, she has actively trained in Los Angeles, Toronto and Saint Petersburg, Russia. Previously, she has taught coast to coast in Canada, the Dominican Republic and has shared her skills with hundreds of students throughout various school residency programs.
A long-time faculty member at the School of Decidedly Jazz and iLLFX Education, she has also guest taught at numerous dance studios throughout Ontario and Alberta resulting in an extensive wealth of knowledge and adaptability to dance and the performing arts.
Have fun dancing to the biggest hit songs!
Have fun dancing to the biggest hit songs!
Have fun dancing to the biggest hit songs!
Ever wanted to dance like your favorite pop stars? This 8-week class is all about learning fun, energetic moves inspired by the biggest names in pop music. No experience needed—just bring your energy and get ready to move.
We’ll break down iconic choreography from music videos, making it easy to follow and fun to perform. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just looking to try something new, this class is for you.
This hands-on program introduces artists to the world of digital music creation and soundscapes. Participants will explore sound fundamentals, digital tools, beat-making, melodic design, and audio layering techniques. Each session includes interactive activities, collaborative projects, and creative experimentation with both traditional and unconventional sounds. By the end of the program, participants will have created their own unique soundscapes and compiled a digital portfolio of their work. No prior experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to explore sound in new ways!
No prior experience required! NaAC Sound Haven is for people 16 and older and is open to mixed-ability participants and community members.
The skills that you will be acquiring from this class are techniques for sound recognition, digital music production, rhythm creation, recording, and collaborative composition.
You will enjoy this class if you love experimenting with sound, creating music digitally, or exploring new ways to express creativity through audio.
Register here: accessarts.ca/whats-on/sound-haven
SJ Obatusin is a musician, producer, and audio engineer with a deep passion for fostering creativity through music and sound. With over 15 years of experience in music production, recording, and composition, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the NaAC’s music programming, aiming to introduce artists to the world of digital audio, production, and sound design.
SJ has experience teaching and leading workshops with artists of all skill levels. He believes in adapting his teaching methods to meet the needs of each participant, ensuring accessibility and engagement. His goal is to create a welcoming environment where artists feel empowered to explore sound, experiment with new ideas, and express themselves through music.
Learn about digital music creation at the NaAC.
Learn about digital music creation at the NaAC.
Learn about digital music creation at the NaAC.
This hands-on program introduces artists to the world of digital music creation and soundscapes. Participants will explore sound fundamentals, digital tools, beat-making, melodic design, and audio layering techniques. Each session includes interactive activities, collaborative projects, and creative experimentation with both traditional and unconventional sounds. By the end of the program, participants will have created their own unique soundscapes and compiled a digital portfolio of their work.
This program guides artists through the exciting process of crafting original songs in a fun and collaborative environment. Participants will explore song structure, lyric writing, melody creation, and performance techniques through hands-on activities and group collaborations. Each week offers new opportunities to create, refine, and share music, culminating in the recording of original compositions.
No prior experience required! Verse, Hook & Harmony is for people 16 and older and is open to mixed-ability participants and community members.
Artists will develop skills in lyric writing, melody and rhythm creation, song structuring, and performance. They will also learn basic recording techniques and gain confidence in presenting their work.
You will enjoy this class if you love writing songs, exploring musical ideas with others, or bringing your stories to life through music.
Register here: accessarts.ca/whats-on/verse-hook-harmony
SJ Obatusin is a musician, producer, and audio engineer with a deep passion for fostering creativity through music and sound. With over 15 years of experience in music production, recording, and composition, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the NaAC’s music programming, aiming to introduce artists to the world of digital audio, production, and sound design.
SJ has experience teaching and leading workshops with artists of all skill levels. He believes in adapting his teaching methods to meet the needs of each participant, ensuring accessibility and engagement. His goal is to create a welcoming environment where artists feel empowered to explore sound, experiment with new ideas, and express themselves through music.
Take a class on songwriting and performance at the NaAC.
Take a class on songwriting and performance at the NaAC.
Take a class on songwriting and performance at the NaAC.
