Our Mandate
The ESDF builds connections between local professional artists and young dancers. We aim to increase equitable access to fine arts programming through the provision of dance workshops, lectures, community-based dance programs, and mentorship opportunities. It is essential that young dancers relate to their instructors, feel represented within the content they are studying, and are exposed to a wide variety of cultural dance forms, their history, and evolution within socio-political and racial justice contexts.
We provide leadership opportunities for young artists and grow their capacity to make a positive impact in their local communities. We provide training and performance opportunities, fostering artistic, interpersonal, social-emotional, and multimedia skills in dance. The result is the emergence of a new generation of holistically healthy, resilient citizens, lifelong learners, patrons, and participants in the arts.
Our Mission
The Eastside Dance Festival is committed to promoting personal and cultural identity, facilitating community building, and creating career pathways for young artists through dance.
- Dance is an expression of cultural identity, a way for young people to explore, create and convey who they are in the world. ESDF Society removes barriers preventing young people from training and performing in Dance.
- Dance facilitates the capacity for community building and empowers young people to make meaningful contributions to the greater society.
- Dance is a bridge to post-secondary education and career development. Our alumni continue to be a part of the inclusive arts community in Calgary as artists and patrons after they leave our program.
Our History
Our News
ATB Powering Possibility Through the Arts Award
The ATB Powering Possibility Through the Arts Award, part of the Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts Awards, recognizes organizations that enrich Calgary through arts programming that empowers the local creative community. For the 2025 awards, the East Side Dance Festival Society received this recognition for their work in inspiring dance artists and promoting socially conscious dance education.
YYC Award Recipient
We are so proud to announce that the East Side Dance Festival Society was the recipient of the the City of Calgary Arts Organization Award for 2023.
Alumni Speak
Our alumni continue to be a part of the inclusive arts community in Calgary as artists, support and participate in our advisory board and are patrons after they leave our program.