Our Story
The founder and driving force behind the company, Sonia Clarke, understood at a very young age that to make a living from art, you have to be versatile. With a varied dance background, she has had a prolific career as a performer and choreographer since 1990. Over the years, she has observed that the dancers she hired are often highly specialized, hindering her creative impulses rooted in the mixing of styles.
Forced to reinvent herself during the pandemic, she returned to school to study arts and cultural management, where the idea emerged to create a program that would meet the needs of the industry as she had identified them throughout her career. It was in this context that Sonia approached Christine and Véronique, two impressive businesswomen who had not only kept their dance school afloat, but had made it grow despite uncertain times.
The project was simple, but ambitious: to create from scratch a professional training program that would allow dancers to live fully from their passion. To do this, Sonia needed a right-hand person with whom she could share her ideas and concretely implement her vision. That's when she contacted Lisa-Marie, a colleague and former student who had impressed her at the time with her analytical skills and the quality of her teaching. This is how the four women began this large-scale adventure that they are proud to call National Dance School of Canada.
→ Our vision
To be a national and international leader in the development of sustainable careers for professional dancers and choreographers.
→ Our mission
The mission of the ÉNDC is to train versatile, inclusive, and innovative dance artists who are ready to meet the challenges of a constantly evolving artistic landscape. To achieve this, it offers high-level professional training that integrates artistic practice, health and well-being, career management, and new technologies.
ÉNDC aims to support sustainable and mindful career paths while making dance accessible to a diverse range of young talents from various cultural, social, and personal backgrounds. It is committed to fostering the emergence of strong and representative artistic voices, actively contributing to the enrichment of the cultural landscape in Quebec, Canada, and beyond.
→ Our values
Artistic Excellence – Diversity – Empowerment – Creative Innovation – Community
→ Our philosophy
We believe that nurturing a dance community rooted in diversity and inclusion creates the landscape for creativity and innovation. We rely on excellence to shape talents in a supportive and challenging environment that cultivates rigor and curiosity and instill a strong work ethic.
Our Founder
Producer, choreographer, dancer and teacher, Sonia has been working in the show business sector for over 25 years. With a background in classical ballet, jazz, modern, Afro-Caribbean and street dance, her career has given her the opportunity to work for dance companies in Quebec and Europe, as well as in the commercial sector such as television and corporate events. Working backstage as a stage manager, both locally and on tour, she quickly developed her management skills. As a choreographer, Sonia has created for dance companies in Europe, commercial events, films and festivals, as well as for Cirque du Soleil. In 2021, she completed a Master's degree in Arts and Cultural Management, which she immediately put to use in the development of the National Dance School of Canada project.
Sonia Clarke
With Gratitude to our Founding Partners Véronique Sévigny Leclerc & Christine Langston
We wish to sincerely thank Véronique Sévigny Leclerc and Christine Langston for their invaluable support as early believers in the vision of the ÉNDC.
As founding supporters, their trust, encouragement, and investment helped make this bold idea a reality. Their belief in the importance of nurturing artistic excellence, diversity, and community played a key role in the launch of this project.
Although they are no longer part of the current team, their early commitment continues to resonate in the foundation of ÉNDC and in the growing community that surrounds it.
Thank you, Véronique and Christine, for believing in the dream—right from the start.
Thank You to Lisa-Marie Villeneuve
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Lisa-Marie Villeneuve for her meaningful contribution in helping bring the vision of the ÉNDC to life.
Her support in structuring and shaping the early stages of the project was instrumental in turning our ideas into action. While other opportunities led her to move on before the school officially opened its doors, her impact remains part of ENDC’s foundation and ongoing journey.
Thank you, Lisa-Marie, for helping lay the groundwork for what we are building today.