The MA in Dance at York University is a two-year programme designed to foster the understanding of dance in its cultural, intellectual and social contexts. Established in 1976, the programme was the first anywhere to establish an advanced degree concentrating on dance history and criticism and it subsequently broadened to include the areas of ethnology, movement analysis and reconstruction. The programme offers training in theory and practice based on the approaches of history, criticism, ethnology, movement analysis and reconstruction. Each year guest specialists in various fields enrich course offerings through lectures, workshops and colloquia. Students participate in courses, seminars, field trips and independent research. To complete the Master’s in Dance students have the option of writing a Thesis or Major Research Paper or they may choose to complete entirely by course work. Students also have access to courses in other disciplines such as Music, Anthropology, Visual Arts, English and History. In addition, there is a combined three-year programme that leads to both the MA and MBA degree. Strong links are also established with the Graduate Centre for Study of Drama at the University of Toronto. York graduates are involved in teaching, writing, performing, administration, and also work in libraries, archives and museums. Several graduates have sought doctorates or further education.

The city of Toronto is a vibrant community only a short subway ride away from the main campus. Toronto is a multicultural city of over two and a half million people on the north shore of Lake Ontario. The city offers a wide range of dance performances by ballet, modern, contemporary and multicultural groups. The National Ballet of Canada performs regularly at the Hummingbird Theatre. Touring dance companies perform at the Premiere Dance Theatre at Harbourfront. Local groups such as Toronto Dance Theatre, Dancemakers, Ballet Creole and the Danny Grossman Dance Company are seen regularly at various venues including the Winchester Street Theatre, Betty Oliphant Theatre and the du Maurier Theatre. There is a vibrant independent dance community who perform regularly. In August many local and international dance artists perform at fFIDA (fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists) for a two-week season. Also, Toronto is an internationally recognized site for dance on film, the Moving Pictures Festival showcasing a wide range of established and emerging dance filmmakers.

The Canadian Opera Company, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Tafelmusik and Opera Atelier make their homes in Toronto. There are frequent jazz and alternative music performances also. There are numerous art galleries including the Art Gallery of Ontario and the McMichael Gallery, featuring works by the Canadian Group of Seven. Various museums including the Royal Ontario Museum and the Bata Shoe Museum house strong collections of interest to dance students. Toronto has a large theatre community that offers productions ranging from mainstage spectacles to smaller venues, many concentrating on experimental stagings. In April, there is the du Maurier World Stage, a two-week festival of international theatre. In September, the Toronto International Film Festival features screenings of hundreds of new films from around the world.

Graduate students may take technique classes on campus, but there are also a number of excellent dance studios in downtown Toronto offering instruction in a wide range of dance forms.