helix by Atri Nundy, ft. performers Yuichiro Inoue, Megumi Kokuba, Rachana Joshi, Peter Kelly, and Purawai Vyas. Photo by Joshua Rille, Presented at Convergent Divergency March 2023
Through our Pilot program we realized that support for caregivers cannot be addressed through a one-size fits all approach. Creating streams of open dialogue, being transparent about what types of support are available, making that support accessible, and allowing those who identify as caregivers to communicate their individual needs have informed our working processes with both our artistic and administrative teams.
Toronto Dance Theatre
Toronto Dance Theatre
Caregiver Support Program
Level UP! Strategy Area: Pathways to Agreement
Pilot Project: Caregiver Support Program
Project Duration: October 2022 – April 2023
Continuing to Implement: Yes.
Resources Shared: Caregiver Interview Questionnaire, Needs Assessment Survey, Caregiver Support Program: Program Development Process Steps, Program Overview Support Request Form, Caregiver Support Plan Template, Post-Program Surveys
About Toronto Dance Theatre
Location: Ontario
Artistic Discipline: Dance
Operating Budget: More than $1,000,000
Toronto’s original dance provocateurs, TDT brings the city’s dance creativity to the world and the world to Toronto.
Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) is the legendary artistic home and collaboration hub where, since 1968, curious creators, ensemble performers and audiences inspire each other to create and celebrate new explorations of dance that reflect our times, our diverse cultures and communities.
Ever fresh and adventurous, TDT is one of Canada’s leading innovators in dance while being one of the very few dance companies in the country with a full-time ensemble of dancers. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Andrew Tay, TDT is driven to make a significant impact in Canadian dance by developing new works, supporting artists in their choreographic practices, and creating empowering dance experiences in the community.
Toronto Dance Theatre’s Level UP! Project
Facilitated by Special Projects Manager Alison Daley, Toronto Dance Theatre’s Caregiver Support Pilot Program focused on supporting the care needs of seasonal and continuous employees (dancers, creative team and staff), many of whom were parents. The pilot, initiated by Artistic Director Andrew Tay and Jessica Whitford, Managing Director at the time, was carried out within the 2022-23 season.
Project Highlights:
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- Integrating caregiver support into all aspects of programming
- Including supportive measures such as a stipend, a caregiver friendly schedule, and a process for communication of stress points
Resources
Toronto Dance Theatre | Caregiver Interview Questionnaire
Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) created the following Caregiver Interview Questionnaire as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. Interviews were conducted with current and past TDT employees who were caregivers during their time working with the company,...
Toronto Dance Theatre | Caregiver Needs Assessment Survey
Toronto Dance Theatre created the following Caregiver Needs Assessment Survey in 2022 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. The original survey was created as a Google Form and sent to Toronto Dance Theatre employees to increase understanding of...
Toronto Dance Theatre | Caregiver Support Pilot Program: Program Development Steps
Toronto Dance Theatre created the following Caregiver Support Pilot Program: Program Development Steps in 2022 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project.
Toronto Dance Theatre | Caregiver Support Pilot Program: Program Overview
Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) created this Caregiver Support Pilot Program: Program Overview document as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. The document was shared with TDT team members to explain the pilot and encourage team members with caregiving...
Toronto Dance Theatre | Caregiver Support Request Form
Toronto Dance Theatre created this Caregiver Support Request Form in 2022 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. The original form was created as a Google Form that team members could fill out to request support (financial and non-financial) related...
Toronto Dance Theatre | Caregiver Support Plan Template
Toronto Dance Theatre created this Caregiver Support Plan in 2022 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. After an employee/contract worker requested support during the pilot, this resource was used to articulate details of support being provided.
Toronto Dance Theatre | Survey (For Team Members Who Accessed Caregiver Support)
Toronto Dance Theatre created this Post-Program Participant Survey in 2022 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. This survey was created as a Google Form and shared with TDT team members who requested support through TDT’s Caregiver Support Pilot...
Toronto Dance Theatre | Survey (For Team Members Who Did Not Access Caregiver Support)
Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) created this Post-Program Survey in 2022 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. This survey was created as a Google Form and shared with TDT employees and contract workers who did not access support through TDT’s Caregiver...
More Information
For more information about Toronto Dance Theatre, visit www.tdt.org
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