Toward a sustainable future for critical dance writing in Canada
A survey for the dance community

Purpose
This survey was developed to help guide a roundtable discussion as part of the Canadian Association for Theatre Research (CATR) conference in June 2026. Responses gathered will also help to inform future conversations and directions for dance publications in Canada. We hope to gather feedback and perspectives from across a broad cross-section of the dance community in Canada, including dance practitioners, dance writers, dance archivists, dance enthusiasts, and CATR members.

Roundtable members
Shanny Rann (moderator), Tessa Perkins Deneault, Emily Pettet, Alana Gerecke, Carolina Bergonzoni

Roundtable summary
Over the past few years there has been a dramatic decline in the number of publications dedicated to writing about dance in Canada. In 2020, Dance International magazine went from a quarterly print magazine to an online-only operation. In 2024, they ceased publication. The Dance Current, Canada’s national dance magazine, paused operations in 2025. A couple of small publications remain: Dance Central, published three times per year by The Dance Centre in Vancouver and an annual print magazine from Dance Collection Danse.

A lack of writing about dance will result in a lack of knowledge and documentation to pass on to future generations. What will exist to add to the archive, and what will future generations inherit? What kind of dance future do we want to create? In thinking about the future of dance writing, we must also consider inclusivity and access.

Our roundtable will foster discussion on these topics and aim to find ways to fill the gap, toward a sustainable future for dance writing in Canada.

Whether or not you plan to join us online for this roundtable, please complete this survey to help guide the discussion and ensure we can draw on the expertise of all members of the dance community in Canada.

Question Title

1. Where do you currently learn about dance in your local community and in other parts of the country?

Question Title

2. Where have you historically learned about dance in your local community and in other parts of the country?

Question Title

3. Have you ever read a dance magazine?

Yes

Question Title

4. Are you interested in reading about dance?

Yes

Question Title

5. Would you subscribe to or purchase a dance publication?

Yes

Maybe

Question Title

6. Would you be interested in contributing writing or editorial support to a dance/performance publication?

Yes

Maybe

Toward a sustainable future for critical dance writing in Canada
A survey for the dance community

Question Title

1. Where do you currently learn about dance in your local community and in other parts of the country?

Question Title

2. Where have you historically learned about dance in your local community and in other parts of the country?

Question Title

3. Have you ever read a dance magazine?

Question Title

4. Are you interested in reading about dance?

Question Title

5. Would you subscribe to or purchase a dance publication?

Question Title

6. Would you be interested in contributing writing or editorial support to a dance/performance publication?

Question Title

7. What do you see as the gaps in the dance writing in Canada?

Question Title

8. If you could envision a new platform or publication for writing about dance or performance, what would it look like?

Question Title

9. Let us know if you have any other thoughts about dance writing in Canada that may help shape a discussion about this topic.

Question Title

10. Please share your name and email if you'd like to be in touch with the roundtable members and stay informed about how this discussion progresses.

Toward a sustainable future for critical dance writing in CanadaA survey for the dance community

Question Title

* 1. Where do you currently learn about dance in your local community and in other parts of the country?

Question Title

* 2. Where have you historically learned about dance in your local community and in other parts of the country?

Question Title

* 3. Have you ever read a dance magazine?

Question Title

* 4. Are you interested in reading about dance?

Question Title

* 5. Would you subscribe to or purchase a dance publication?

Question Title

* 6. Would you be interested in contributing writing or editorial support to a dance/performance publication?

Question Title

* 7. What do you see as the gaps in the dance writing in Canada?

Question Title

* 8. If you could envision a new platform or publication for writing about dance or performance, what would it look like?

Question Title

* 9. Let us know if you have any other thoughts about dance writing in Canada that may help shape a discussion about this topic.

Question Title

* 10. Please share your name and email if you'd like to be in touch with the roundtable members and stay informed about how this discussion progresses.

Toward a sustainable future for critical dance writing in Canada
A survey for the dance community

1. Where do you currently learn about dance in your local community and in other parts of the country?

2. Where have you historically learned about dance in your local community and in other parts of the country?

3. Have you ever read a dance magazine?

4. Are you interested in reading about dance?

5. Would you subscribe to or purchase a dance publication?

6. Would you be interested in contributing writing or editorial support to a dance/performance publication?

7. What do you see as the gaps in the dance writing in Canada?

8. If you could envision a new platform or publication for writing about dance or performance, what would it look like?

9. Let us know if you have any other thoughts about dance writing in Canada that may help shape a discussion about this topic.

10. Please share your name and email if you'd like to be in touch with the roundtable members and stay informed about how this discussion progresses.