Photos by Michael Slobodian (above), Jason Tse (below)
Zachary Cardwell shares dance with people of all ages, physical capabilities, and skill levels across North America. He is proud to be a queer artist working on Indigenous land we call Canada.
Motivated by quality and accessible arts education, Zachary leads contemporary dance, ballet, and movement workshops at established and developing institutions. Included are: University of Toronto, Canadian Contemporary Dance Company, Assemblée Internationale, and he currently teaches at Canada’s National Ballet School among public schools in the GTA.
Programs engaged with community impact drives Zachary to question what dance can be, how dance can be, and for whom. Zachary teaches in the Adaptive Dance Program co-created by Canada’s National Ballet School and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital providing creative movement classes for children with diverse cognitive, physical and developmental needs. Additionally he co-leads ballet, modern, and improvisation workshops for dance studios in rural BC and Ontario. Everyone can –and should have access to– share in the magic and joy of dance!
A graduate of Arts Umbrella in Vancouver BC, Zachary has had the pleasure of working closely with Crystal Pite. He performed remounted repertoire, engaged in creation processes, and participated in a choreographic mentorship program supporting 6 young choreographers to create work under the guidance of Crystal Pite over two years. All of this shaped Zachary's love for choreography, discussion, and enabling young dancers.
Zachary has performed with Toronto Dance Theatre, Echo Chamber Toronto, Dusk Dances, Zata Omm, and hART dance as well as independent artists such as Samantha Sutherland, Jane Alison McKinney, and Alison Keery. His international presence spans Holland, Mexico, and Italy, sharing Canadian made work world wide.
