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Une professeure dirige deux jeunes danseuses dans un cours de ballet
A large crowd gathered for Sharing Dance Day.
Students perform in Arise.
Five dancers jumping in unison.

Canada’s National Ballet School Campus Project

Canada’s National Ballet School Campus Project

Exploring a Campus Optimization Project

At Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS), programming excellence, access and inclusion fuel our belief in sharing the transformative power of dance to change lives for the better. This drives the organization’s commitment to making dance a part of all Canadians’ lives.

 

The largest dance training organization in Canada, NBS continues its focus on excellence in ballet training—with a track record for driving systemic, progressive change, evolving dance education significantly over time—while leveraging our artistic core to expand NBS’ program offerings to engage more people through recreational and community dance programs and initiatives. Further, we understand that ballet will fully flourish only when it reflects and embodies the full diversity of society, making the art form more relevant and vital than ever before.

An Artistic Mission and Vision Emboldened by an Optimized Campus

An Artistic Mission and Vision Emboldened by an Optimized Campus

Evolving ballet’s culture and practices has been embedded in NBS’ 65+ year history—from combining academic education alongside Olympic-calibre training and centering health and wellness of the whole child, to sharing the transformative power of dance with all Canadians and on the global stage.

 

Now, it’s time to welcome the world to NBS. As we look to the future of an optimized campus, we envision the next stage of evolution within a social environment that fuels the education and training of globally conscious, actively engaged dancers. A future campus offers a space where NBS’ values and ethos mingle with diverse artists, creating collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships to evolve the culture of dance.

 

For us, ballet is the focus, and for us, ballet represents the dynamic pivot point for change. From the professional ballet student preparing for the world stage, to the future teacher in studios and companies across the globe, to the child or older adult embracing the joy of dance for the first time: the student experience and their personal aspirations are NBS’ anchor.

What does NBS hope to achieve with this project?

What does NBS hope to achieve with this project?


For the purpose of evaluating and defining the Project Scope, NBS’ Board of Directors and senior management groups have articulated these five key priorities when considering Campus Optimization:

  • Foster a meaningful sense of on-campus belonging: Make dance training, creation, presentation, and participation more accessible to all Canadians;

  • Enhance/expand programming in all NBS programming streams: Engage more children and older adults in creative movement and dance, foster a love for ballet and make it more accessible;

  • Contribute to addressing an acute need for rehearsal, creation and presentation spaces for the wider dance sector in Toronto: Create meaningful artistic, social and economic outcomes—both with/for a diverse group of sector partners (including NBS), and with/for underserved and equity-deserving communities, groups and artists;

  • Attain industry-leading accessibility and sustainability standards: Increase the availability of purpose-built versatile, high quality, accessible physical space for dance;

  • Achieve greater financial independence and increase sustained revenue.

What is the Campus Optimization Project?

In 2019, NBS acquired a freestanding building at the north-end of the current campus and is looking to begin the process of developing it in the next few years. With this acquisition, NBS has the potential to significantly expand our impact, develop meaningful partnerships, build capacity to innovate, and express NBS’ values through a physical campus that exemplifies sustainability and community connection with high social value.

 

Key goal for Pre-Planning Phase: Assess the potential for redevelopment of the north end of NBS’ Jarvis Campus, as well as its properties on Maitland St. A key consideration in this work is how to reconcile (design, function, etc.) with plans for new construction with the following existing buildings:

  • 400 Jarvis (the Celia Franca Centre)

  • 404 Jarvis (the Betty Oliphant Theatre)

  • 406 Jarvis (The Shoe Room)

  • 410 Jarvis (newly acquired)

  • 105 Maitland (Currie Hall and NBS residence facilities)

 

Taking these broader campus assets into account, this project addresses NBS’ 2022-2025 Strategic Priorities by advancing equity through meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships; building our capacity to innovate and design a campus built for the future; and growing our reach and impact by collaborating with historically under-served communities. 

 

In addition, given the changing funding models of arts organizations, we need to unlock the full financial potential of NBS’ real estate holdings. While more studio, presentation and community space is certainly part of the plan, the project will also explore further development undertakings to maximize the land value capture of the site, with strong considerations of including residential developments on Jarvis and Maitland Street.

What could be the impact of an expanded facility?

An expanded physical facility will mean significant community impact and increased engagement in and love of dance:

Well-Rounded Students

Professional Ballet-Academic students thriving within a values-based ecosystem of dance at NBS to flourish in the art form and beyond as active and engaged citizens.

Engaging Children in Creative Movement

More children engaging in creative movement classes to support the development of the whole child, fostering expression, collaboration and creativity while developing fundamental aspects of physical literacy.

Better Health Outcomes

Older adults living with Parkinson’s disease and dementia achieving better health outcomes through the artistry and physicality of dance to support overall physical, emotional and social well-being.

Unique Dance Journeys

More part-time/recreational dancers embracing their unique dance journeys and training with joy, confidence and a sense of community built around artistic expression.

Educational Evolution

Dance teachers training within a world-renowned program to explore established and emerging practices in ballet and dance who will then go on to foster healthy, inclusive training environments.

For the broader community, an expanded facility can mean:

Shared Models

Exploring models for sharing equity and governance of the future space with equity-deserving partners.

Community Hub

A dance-centered community hub that engages and inspires a sense of belonging for the neighbourhood, for Torontonians and all Canadians.

Affordability & Access

Affordability and accessibility of space for under-resourced dance artists and organizations.

Space

Addressing the acute need for space among the broader dance community in Toronto.

Partnerships

Partnering with equity-deserving artists and organizations.

How has NBS initiated engagement with the community?

In addition to feedback gathered via extensive surveys from within the NBS community – i.e. staff, dancers, participants, partners – NBS has worked with Monumental Projects, a third-party consulting firm, and Dance Umbrella Ontario (DUO), to engage the broader community. 
 
We have now completed a Statement of Requirements, which is a summary of measurable real estate and facilities requirements considered necessary to achieve our above key priorities. The development of the Statement of Requirements was informed by feedback from the extensive community consultation and engagement processes shared above, and internal discussions and inputs; and will continue to be reviewed and refined based on feedback from community members, architects, consultants and planners in the coming months.
 
Explore the reports below to learn more about their process, recommendations, and more. 

Monumental Projects, a third-party consulting firm led a community consultation and engagement process, centering equity-deserving groups in this process to ensure that the privilege of the space is shared with those who most need it and/or have the greatest barriers to accessing space. Monumental made recommendations to assist NBS in developing design considerations, while also establishing foundational community connections with groups who may use the future space.

To read Monumental's recommendations, click here.

Dance Umbrella Ontario (DUO) is advising on and leading engagement with independent dance artists and small-scale professional dance organizations in Ontario, focusing on equity-deserving communities primarily within Toronto as part of the broader community engagement and multi-phased feasibility study process.

To read DUO's report, click here.

The Statement of Requirements is a summary of measurable real estate and facilities requirements considered necessary to achieve the key priorities of this project. The development of the Statement of Requirements was informed by feedback from the extensive community consultation and engagement processes within the NBS community and through Monumental Projects and Dance Umbrella Ontario. The Statement of Requirements will continue to be reviewed and refined in the coming months based on feedback from community members, architects, consultants and planners.

To read the Statement of Requirements, click here. 

Graphic placeholder for Module 24

Are we represented, or do we belong? Is there a space for our voices to be heard too? [For] challenging the idea of what is ballet? What is dance? Or the community? Who's in our community?

Older adults enjoying creative movement.

Consider a way for us to leave our mark within the space.

Members of the community at NBS block party.

If a door is open, you know you'll hear different types of music, see different forms of dance, and, of course, difference sizes and shapes [] of people, which just automatically [] makes folks feel welcome.

Quotes gathered from contributors during campus project community consultations and engagements.

Working with Consultants on a Feasibility Study

Following a request for proposals in summer 2024, NBS began work with consultants to gather information needed to make decisions about scope, scale and direction of a potential project. This process was led by SOCA (Studio of Contemporary Architecture) – an award-winning Toronto-based architecture practice crafting beautiful spaces rooted in culture and community. SOCA worked in partnership with:

  • Two Row Architects (Indigenous-led architecture firm)

  • Parcel (Real estate consultant/land economics)

  • DVDL (Cultural planning and visitor experience)

  • Renata Soutter (Dance accessibility consultant)

  • ERA (Heritage consultant)

  • Turner and Townsend (Order of magnitude cost estimates)

In addition, NBS is engaging with:

  • An Indigenous Advisory Circle made up of independent artists and members of the wider community.

  • Mass Culture for the development of shared governance models of specific spaces on the campus. These models will be community-centered and reflective of Indigenous values.

SOCA has now wrapped up the feasibility study. See the Feasibility Study Summary Report here.

Where Are We Now?

NBS is now moving to the next phase of the project. The aim is to work with the NBS Board to arrive at a decision on scope and scale for the project by the end of the 2025 calendar year.  A comprehensive project master plan will outline NBS’ intentions in terms of what we will undertake, who the development partner will be, and what the required financial model will be. 

 

As described by the team at SOCA:

 

“This next phase of NBS’ campus development is an animating opportunity to deepen the organization’s commitment to education around equity, diversity, reconciliation, and well-being in cultural production, offering meaningful contributions to arts and wellness in the city, as well as a model for the transformation of dance culture at large.” 
 

Documents and Resources

Learn more about the NBS campus project with these documents and resources. Stay tuned for more information to come!

DUO Report

Read Dance Umbrella Ontario's (DUO) report here.

Open PDF

Monumental Report

Read Monumental's recommendations here.

Open PDF

SOCA Feasibility Study Summary

Read the summary report of SOCA's Feasibility Study here.

Open PDF

Statement of Requirements

Read the Statement of Requirements here.

Open PDF

What are NBS’ values?

NBS is committed to being an equity-informed organization. We recognize our responsibility as Canada’s largest arts training organization, and one of its oldest, to address anti-Black racism, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and systemic oppression within the Canadian arts and dance sector. Building an inclusive sense of belonging at NBS for every dancer and employee is our primary imperative. NBS invests heavily in work and practices that foster positive change internally while driving a progressive evolution in the wider sector.


NBS also recognizes our responsibility to build community and support the larger dance sector in Toronto and Canada. Dance organizations and artists in Ontario—including those that focus on dance creation, presentation and training—face an acute shortage of space. Their capacity to be resilient, innovate, and drive progress in inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility in the arts sector regionally and nationally can be supported by more physical spaces that meet these intersecting priorities.


Further, NBS is committed to a campus that reflects the highest accessibility standards, commits to environmentally sustainable practices, and demonstrates sustainability excellence and green building leadership (e.g. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification).

 

How much will this cost?

NBS received support from the federal government through Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to initiate this pre-planning work and to conduct the feasibility study. This investment highlights how NBS' values resonate with the government’s interests in how NBS, and this project specifically, contributes to the community as a whole. 

 

The actual cost of a future campus expansion is not known at this time. Integral next steps include a full understanding of required resources, anticipated costs for the project, and building a plan that will address how to secure funding from both public and private sectors. In addition, we are exploring how this campus optimization project will generate more revenue on an ongoing basis while also creating opportunities for new sustainable revenue models.

Where can I learn more about NBS?

Learn more about Canada's National Ballet School, our history, our values, our programming, and more, by clicking here.

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Virtual Campus Tour

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